HOWTO use a WWII radio-operator's headset with your MP3 player

Steampunk builder Jake von Slatt sez, "Here Molly 'Porkshanks' Friedrich shows us how to mod a pair of WWII era headphone to work with an MP3 player or iPod." Link

[#1 posted by eclectro , February 22, 2008 2:14 AM]

You know, there are some ideas better left in the past, and this is one of them.

When they made these headsets, no thought was given to ergonomics whatsoever. So much so, that many of these headsets are like putting your head in a metal vise, they are so uncomfortable and heavy. Using these headsets for any length of time will prove me out.

I like steampunk and all, but you do get to an age where comfort becomes increasingly important. Using these things as headsets would be akin to hitching up the horses and travelling from NY to LA in an covered wagon. Not that it can't be done, but there is a reason why there is cars with heat and ergonomic lightweight headsets with foam earpads.

[#2 posted by Thinkerer , February 22, 2008 4:25 AM]

I think this idea is only for masochistic steampunk fashionistas -- I can't imagine enjoying music for any time with these, much less running with them on and the Bakelite/metal construction would likely freeze your ears in winter.

[#3 posted by GaryG , February 22, 2008 4:47 AM]

Or buy a pair of Grados, look remarkably similar.

[#4 posted by OM , February 22, 2008 5:20 AM]

...I actually *have* a pair of these packed up in one of my "do not throw away - valuable junk" boxes. I'm almost tempted to try this when I get out of this hospital and back on my feet. I figure I'll still be on Narco or some other pain killer, and can tolerate wearing those damn things for more than 10 minutes!

As to why I had them originally, they actually looked cool back in 1977 when I had them wired into my CB Radio...:-P

[#5 posted by dhuff , February 22, 2008 6:06 AM]

Got a chuckle out of GaryG's comment :) Grado headphones are not only extremely retro-looking (part of the charm), but some of the best sounding $100 or less 'phones on the market (see their SR60 model).

I bet they'd respond to a bit of cosmetic modding quite nicely :)

[#6 posted by chromal , February 22, 2008 10:38 AM]

So, yeah, let me get this straight. I want to take an ancient set of headphones with all the fidelity of a telephone receiver and all the ergonomics of a brick and /use/ them?

Why?

I like old tube amps because they sound good. Like, I'm not opposed to old tech if it /makes sense/, but this seems about as appealing as using incandescent light bulbs: the arguments against using it outweigh the arguments in favor.

[#7 posted by Takuan , February 22, 2008 10:44 AM]

gut them and mount buds

[#8 posted by Baldhead , February 22, 2008 11:26 AM]

Alright.. read the article and basically it was: 1)take out old speakers 2) put in ones ripped from newer headphone set.

why the hell would someone trouble themselves to put a tutorial online for this? Anyone whoe wanted to do so could figure that out in about 5 minutes. Tutorials are for things that are actually hard to do. And preferably more useful than this.