A 3.5mm female to 6.3mm(1⁄4) male extension?

Cutshaw · 2 Feb 2012 at 13:11

I've been hunting high and low for a headphone extension cable terminated in this way. I realise I could avoid this just using adapters here and there, but I'm trying to do away with adapters.

Does anyone know of a place that sells this type of cable or that would make one for a sensible amount of money?

I'm after the reverse of this cable.

haaammit · 2 Feb 2012 at 13:59

Would using an adaptor be the end of the world? I've not seen a pre-made lead like the one you're after.

If not, you could always make one yourself!!

realBabelfish · 2 Feb 2012 at 14:19

silly question but why do away with adaptors? if you are using an extension you already have a weak link

Cutshaw · 2 Feb 2012 at 14:21

Quink said:
Would using an adaptor be the end of the world? I've not seen a pre-made lead like the one you're after.

If not, you could always make one yourself!!

Not the end of the world. But The fewer adaptors the better and the cable itself is already one.

I've fancied making my own cables for a while, but it's biting the bullet and the initial cost of the kit I would need to do it.

realBabelfish said:
silly question but why do away with adaptors? if you are using an extension you already have a weak link

Indeed. As above. I would rather keep it to the one and adaptors just aren't ideal. Coming out with the headphones, misplacing them, generally being a bit crap.

Another Edit: My headphones are "modular" mini XLR at the phones themselves to 3.5. I could buy a couple of cables with 3.5mm and 6.3mm jacks, but I would rather save the wear and tear at the headphone end.

monkeyspank · 2 Feb 2012 at 14:47

I've got a 1/4" extension cable with big fat neutrik connectors on that lock the connector inside the socket end, so would lock the adaptor in your case

Cutshaw · 2 Feb 2012 at 18:25

monkeyspank said:
I've got a 1/4" extension cable with big fat neutrik connectors on that lock the connector inside the socket end, so would lock the adaptor in your case

I think I have found something, but I will look into that. I'm trying to convince myself to get an iron and get making... or trying to make cables.

lucid · 2 Feb 2012 at 22:47

Cutshaw said:
...or that would make one for a sensible amount of money?

What's a "sensible amount of money"?

Cutshaw · 2 Feb 2012 at 23:25

It would really have to do with the type of cable I was getting. When I said sensible I meant I wasn't interested in anything like this. Which I found earlier, I love the looks and I'm sure the build quality is amazing, but £50 for a 6'' cable is bananas.

lucid · 3 Feb 2012 at 06:40

Yeah, fair enough, that's OTT. But I'm still curious; campared to the cost of buying the tools on top of the parts, and then messing about wih trying to make your own that works properly and also looks right too, what do you think is the right sort of price for someone else to do that for you?

monkeyspank · 3 Feb 2012 at 10:22

Cutshaw said:
I think I have found something, but I will look into that. I'm trying to convince myself to get an iron and get making... or trying to make cables.

bit like this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3m-Neutri...essional_RL&hash=item1e6508d8ce#ht_1685wt_710

Cutshaw · 3 Feb 2012 at 20:14

lucid said:
Yeah, fair enough, that's OTT. But I'm still curious; campared to the cost of buying the tools on top of the parts, and then messing about wih trying to make your own that works properly and also looks right too, what do you think is the right sort of price for someone else to do that for you?

I've a sneaking suspicion you might be offering me your services? I would have to know more about cables you had built previously before I committed to anything. Parts and options etc etc. Looking above at the popular auction site, they have a Van Damme cable with neutrik connectors, twice the length I need for £18. I wouldn't like to go much higher than that, but nothing is set in stone.

monkeyspank said:
bit like this...

Thanks a lot. As it turns out they have a really cheap version of the cable I'm after, that would do till I got something more flashy.

lucid · 3 Feb 2012 at 20:57

Cutshaw said:
I've a sneaking suspicion you might be offering me your services? I would have to know more about cables you had built previously before I committed to anything. Parts and options etc etc. Looking above at the popular auction site, they have a Van Damme cable with neutrik connectors, twice the length I need for £18. I wouldn't like to go much higher than that, but nothing is set in stone.

Actually no I wasn't. I'm certainly capable of making something very professional, but a little one-off job like this would be more trouble than it's worth. So really my inquiry was more to do with perceived value and whether you had some notion of of what would be involved compared to the price of an off the shelf part from a factory mass-producing 1000's of cables a day.

Cutshaw · 3 Feb 2012 at 21:12

lucid said:
Actually no I wasn't. I'm certainly capable of making something very professional, but a little one-off job like this would be more trouble than it's worth. So really my inquiry was more to do with perceived value and whether you had some notion of of what would be involved compared to the price of an off the shelf part from a factory mass-producing 1000's of cables a day.

While we are on the subject of idle curiosity. What do you think a quality 1.5m cable with neutrik or comparable connectors of the type I need should cost? Assuming that it's not being mass produced and made by someone.. someone like yourself?

lucid · 3 Feb 2012 at 23:16

If you could find a dealer to do it, and if you just said something like "I want a 0.5m neutrik/van damme/neutrik 3.5mm plug to 1/4" socket" then my guess would be around £30-£40 depending if one wanted the straight or 90 degree 3.5mm. The dealer would have to warranty the lead for 12 months of course, and comply with European legislation for 6 years in total. Starting the conversation with "I want something bespoke, but I need to know about the the cables you've built before" would probably result in a very short discussion

lol

The fact is so very few of these type of little bespoke projects ever turn in to real orders. That's why it's getting harder to find companies willing to take on the work. Ebay and cheap Chinese imports have kind of dragged the whole market down. Don't get me wrong. Prices being low on common items is a good thing. It also keeps suppliers on their toes which is good for me as a dealer and you as customers. But if you want something out of the ordinary... well that's when you see what's missing in the market. Forums like this fill some of that gap. Enthusiastic amateurs can often help, and there's always plenty of advice.

Cutshaw · 4 Feb 2012 at 21:35

lucid said:
Starting the conversation with "I want something bespoke, but I need to know about the the cables you've built before" would probably result in a very short discussion lol

It's not the first thing I would to say to someone or some place I had contacted because they are in the business of making something I want. Where you are just some guy on OcUk, you dig? Because I mistakenly thought this was a vague offer, I checked your ocuk trust(of which there is none) and your history on the avforums, nothing led me to believe you were an accomplished cable builder.

I'm a great fan of getting down to brass tacks as soon possible. If I offended you, I apologise. I appreciate the insight and time taken to share. Thanks.