Low-Fi Hi-Tech Headphones – 2013
The Low Fi Hi Tech headphones is a research Project
to find out a way to create a fully functional pair of audio
headphones without any manufactured part, this means
all the parts of this headset are raw materials, such as
wire, tape, solder, magnets and of course 3D printed parts.
The most challenging part was to make the right combination
of 3D printed elements such as the speaker piece, the ear part
had to be a good acoustic case and should to include a holder
for the magnet, the speaker itself is a very thin printed part with
a very thin rail to be able to insert the copper wire in it.
Once I got that part working, I decided to go further, drawing
the plug to fit a standard Jack connector, this was a very tricky
part because the model of this was a very thin part to print and
creating the connections only with wire was a real challenge.
Again it worked! And even if many people would hesitate to plug
this weird looking but familiar plug, I can assure you it works
with no risks on jamming inside your portable audio device.
Anyway, the sound quality is very nice against all expectations
but will necessitate a power amplifier to be louder when using
only portable sources like pods or phones.
The files are open to anyone who want’s to try to make a pair of these!
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:67975
Special thanks to Martin De Bie, Hannah Perner Wilson,
Jean Baptiste Labrune whose work inspired me a lot in this particular Project.
The box contains the unassambled set
lo fi high tech headphones from j.c.karich on Vimeo.
Fully 3D printed, none of the parts are traditional components found in a regular headset
The casing is 3D printed, the speaker itself is a spiral of copper thread, the cable is not a sable but a fabric connector from
fabrickit 3 lines make this perfect to a 2 way stereo line.
The plug is also 3D printed, 3 parts of it are covered with wire that runs inside the print to be connected inside the plug to the
fabrickit ribbon wire.
The head band is also 3D printed but flexible thanks to a lighter and spring structured material
Even if the headset can be plugged direclty into a portable device, the volume is low without a amplified source or a pre amp.
Low Fi Hi Tech Headphone
3D printed jack plug & Copper coil speaker
