My YZF-R6, my RGX-120D, and my RBX375 have all gone through some level of repair and/or modifications during their time in my care. Now it’s time for my HPH-PRO400s to go under the knife.
It all started when I wore them constantly for years and then they went and broke. Unfortunately the combination of my fat head and their use of plastic-as-a-spring was too much and it fractured at a critical point. The strap held on by a sliver for a couple of weeks with the help of some gaffer tape, but eventually it split completely.
Now, I’m not one to throw things away prematurely. I’m also one who, when I find something I like, I hold on to it until I die or it crumbles apart so far beyond the point of repair that I give up. So far I haven’t died, and the headphones were still electrically connected, so I figured I could have a go at fixing them.
I wasn’t in the mood to do any plastic welding (nor do I have the equipment) and I wasn’t confident that I’d be able to disassemble them far enough to make a support that goes inside the core of the head strap. Luckily I have a large collection of very small screws, some scrap aluminum, and a workshop. I decided to fabricobble a bolted-on plate to tie the halves together.
The first attempt, while admirable, worked about as well as I’d hoped it wouldn’t - not at all. It successfully clamped the halves together but wasn’t nearly stiff enough to keep the strap from bending. To the bench vise!
I folded the brace down the middle, filed down the corners, and gently beat it in to a slight curve.
Much better! It’s not the prettiest but neither am I so who’s to judge? I’m happy to say my headphones are back in service and work pretty well. Just in time to work from home where I can play music out loud without needing headphones!
If you made it this far, thanks for reading and wash your hands!