Removing Memory Wire…

REMOVING THE MEMORY WIRE FROM KNOWLEDGE ZENITH (KZ) CABLES

by Slater

Earphone cables that are worn behind the ear often have some sort of ear guide to help route the wire around the top of the ear. In addition to providing stabilization, it also reduces microphonics. The ear guide usually takes 1 of 3 forms:

1. A pre-formed piece of flexible polymer, permanently shaped around the wire and shrunk into place using heat. 
2. A short strip of material (plastic or metal) that is permanently shaped around the wire and shrunk into place using heat.
3. A short strip of moldablematerial (usually metal) that is shrunk into place using heat.

However, many people do not like these ear guides. The reasons vary, but the most common complaints are comfort issues with glasses and reduced flexibility of the cable due to the added stiffness/bulk of the ear guide.

Knowledge Zenith (KZ) uses the 3^rdtype (a ‘memory wire’). Luckily, this memory wire can be easily removed without tools, and if done properly results in no damage or permanent change to the cable itself.

This guide is the same for all Knowledge Zenith (KZ) cables, even stock cables. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Knowledge Zenith (KZ) 2-pin cable, or a Knowledge Zenith (KZ) mmcx cable (like the one I am using below). The onlydifference is in step #2. Most stock Knowledge Zenith (KZ) cables have opaque blackheat shrink tubing around the memory wires, whereas the upgrade cables have clearheat shrink tubing around the memory wires. The process is still exactly the same!

The whole process takes about 3-5 minutes tops.

Step 1:
Locate the end of the metal memory wire.

Step 2:
Pick at and dig out the end of the metal memory wire with your fingernail. This is surprisingly easy to do, as the heat shrink tubing covering the memory wire is very and thin weak. Do NOT use sharp objects like a knife or scissors; only use your fingernail!If you use your fingernail, there’s zero risk of damaging the copper cable itself.

Step 3:
Grab the exposed memory wire, and peel it back all the way to the bottom just like you are unpeeling a banana peel.

All peeled back!

Step 4:
Grab the plastic heat shrink and just tear it off at the very bottom of the cable. Do not use sharp objects to do this! Your fingers are all you need!

Step 5:
Grab the metal memory wire with your fingers, and pull straight UP. It will pop right out of the plug. Trust me, it will.
Ask someone with more hand strength for help if needed. It may help if you wrap the metal wire around your finger to make a little ‘pull handle’. If you still can’t get it, it’s OK to grab the metal wire with pliers and pull it out that way.

Bye bye memory wire:

Step 6:
Repeat the process for the other side. All done!

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