Bit of a short one today, to share a piece of information I couldn't find anywhere else on the whole wide fucking interwebz. This is something of a continuation of my post on [making your own cables](/blog/posts/make_your_own_cables/), in that this little tidbit is critical information for making one of the cables from that article, that I recently had to re-reverse-engineer.

For context, I currently use a Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro as my main set of headphones. These headphones don't have a removable cable stock, so I ordered mine through a company called [Custom Cans](https://customcans.co.uk/) that deals in boutique modded headphones and can put one in for you, at the recommendation of popular Youtuber DankPods<sup id="n1r"><a href="#n1">1</a></sup>. I had them put in a weird, seemingly unstandardized 4-pin mini XLR port<sup id="n2r"><a href="#n2">2</a></sup>, so when the fancy ass snake-oil-and-paracord cable they gave me broke it was either shell out 80 quid for another one or make my own.

<aside class="aside">
  <div class="aside-image">
    <img src="/images/reactions/notamused.png" alt="me looking decidedly unamused">
  </div>
  <div class="aside-content">
    <p>I'd be convinced the headphones they sell are just loss leaders for these crazy overpriced cables if that idea didn't fall apart under a modicum of scrutiny.</p>
  </div>
</aside>

The latest of my hodgepodge adapter cables recently broke again, and today I set about fixing it. It had been just long enough since I last did this that I had forgotten the pinout and had to reverse engineer it again, and this time I vowed not to put myself through that again. So for my benefit moreso than yours, I have enshrined this diagram of the pinout Custom Cans uses on their 4-pin single-connector cables here on this page for all eternity:

<figure class="media">
  <img src="pinout.webp" alt="The aforementioned 4-pin mini XLR connector. It's the connector on the cable that would plug into the headphones, held with the locking mechanism towards the top. The top left pin is labeled Right Signal, the top right pin is labeled Left Signal, the bottom pin is labeled Left Ground, and the center pin is labeled Right Ground.">
</figure>

I'm pretty sure this is my third new cable for these headphones, which means I've now saved north of $400 on cables for this thing. With this combined with my continued disinterest in Starbucks and avocado toast, I'll be able to afford a house in no time!

I've also fired off an email to Custom Cans' support line for official confirmation. **UPDATE**: As of January 19th, I've received a response:

<figure class="media">
  <img src="supportemail.webp" alt="Hi [Deadname], I'm afraid we can't provide a free solution to this one as it's a couple years outside of warranty. Four years is a pretty good run though. The cable might still be fixable. Usually if a wire breaks in a cable, it breaks under the 4 pin mini XLR where the cable touches your shoulder. The pinout is: 1. L+; 2. L-; 3. R+; 4. R-. It's the same as the HD490 so you might be able to find some cables for that headphone for a cheaper price. Cheers, [Support Guy]">
  <figcaption>That's a pretty good response, by my estimation. I guess I can now recommend this company. </figcaption>
</figure>

Bang on, baby!! But wait, I didn't know they made it pin-compatible with an existing Sennheiser product. A quick search on Amazon for "HD490 replacement cable" reveals that they can be had for less than 20 *Canadian* dollars. Well now I look like a real numpty, don't I?

---

<p id="n1"><a href="#n1r">1</a>. He mentioned them in a video, I didn't meet the guy or anything.</p>

<p id="n2"><a href="#n2r">2</a>. Credit to Custom Cans here, I could have had them put in a more normal port that didn't have this problem, so this situation is entirely my doing. Credit away from them, the only replacement cable they sell makes Apple's cables seem like a deal. Also their fancy fucking cable broke, I guess.</p>