RidingTheClutch.com

Here's how to get most Sony earbud-style headphones to fit the iPhone without one of those ridiculous 6" extenders available from Belkin and others.

I'll be using a pair of Sony MDR-EX90LP earbuds (highly recommended, by the way). Most, if not all, Sony earbuds have this same right angle connector on the end:

Here's the infamous iPhone port. The actual port is sunk down 3/16ths of inch or so making it very difficult for headphones with a normal plug to fit:

Here's what happens when we try to plug in our Sony headphones as they are right out of the package:

Not ideal. Luckily all we need to remedy this situation is your standard razor blade:

I've done this with another pair of headphones so I already know that we need to remove about 1/8 inch of rubber around the plug:

Simply repeat this cut all the way around the plug:

Peel off (may need to touch up your cuts if they weren't deep enough the first time):

And there we go!

Let's try to plug them in:

Whoops. Need to remove a little of the plastic as well. We'll need to remove the corners from the "bottom" edge—the same side that the cord is on. Here's one edge cut and another scored, ready to be cut:

Ahh, much better. The plug will go in like this but doesn't quite rotate freely in the socket unless we trim the other two corners as well:

Here's the final trim on all corners:

Now that's a good fit! You'll feel it lock right in and it should rotate freely in the socket. Enjoy!

P.S. These in-ear earbud style headphones are the most comfortable type I've found. While none will ever sound as good as a nice pair of over-the-ear phones, even those make my ears "tired" after a while (something about them being constantly covered) and they're just not practical for most travel. The standard earbud style, like the ones that come with the iPhone/iPod just irritate the edges of the inside of my ear. But I can wear these in-ear style all day and they never become uncomfortable.