Waterproof Magnetic Headphone Adaptor for Minelab Metal Detectors

An original design to add a magnetic breakaway connection to the recessed 3.5 mm headphone socket used on Minelab metal detectors.

I designed this primarily for my Minelab Vanquish 460. The newer Minelab models use low-latency Bluetooth LE Audio with the LC3 codec, and I didn't particularly fancy buying yet another pair of Bluetooth headphones when I already have a set of Bose headphones that I like.

The other option was a normal wired connection, which works perfectly well until you get carried away in the throes of passion digging a promising target and the headphone cable suddenly reminds you that you're still physically attached to the detector.

This adaptor solves that problem by using a small 3-pin magnetic connector as a breakaway connection. If the cable gets pulled, the magnetic connector simply separates rather than yanking the headphones off your head, pulling the detector over, or putting unnecessary strain on the detector's headphone socket.

Compatibility

I designed and tested this around the Vanquish 460, but Minelab use the same, or very similar, recessed headphone socket arrangement across a number of detectors.

It should therefore be compatible with models including:

• Vanquish 340 / 360 / 440 / 460 / 540 / 560

• X-Terra series

• Equinox 600 / 700 / 800 / 900

• Manticore

There may be others using the same socket arrangement.

Parts Required

Alongside the printed parts you will need:

• 1 × 3-pin magnetic connector

• 1 × sacrificial 3.5 mm male-to-female headphone extension cable

• Small amount of wire/solder as required

• Optional rubber O-ring for improved sealing

I used this 3-pin magnetic connector from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0H9DXQRB8

Equivalent connectors can usually be found considerably cheaper from AliExpress and other Chinese suppliers if you don't mind waiting for delivery.

The printed housing is designed around this connector, so check dimensions carefully if using an alternative.

Wiring and Assembly

I haven't included a wiring diagram because the actual pin assignment isn't especially important, provided you are consistent on both halves of the magnetic connector.

Cut the sacrificial 3.5 mm extension cable and identify the three conductors. Solder them to the three contacts on one half of the magnetic connector, then simply repeat the same pattern on the other half.

For example, if a particular conductor goes to the left-hand contact on one side, make sure the corresponding conductor goes to the matching contact on the opposite side.

In other words: the magnetic connector is just replacing a short section of the original cable, so keep the connections straight-through and identical from one side to the other.

It is worth checking continuity with a multimeter before final assembly.

Waterproofing

The adaptor is designed to provide some protection around the normally exposed headphone connection when fitted.

A small rubber O-ring is optional and can be fitted to improve the seal between the adaptor and detector socket.

Treat this as improved weather and splash resistance rather than assuming the finished adaptor is suitable for complete submersion.

Why?

Because I already own perfectly good headphones.

And because being violently reminded that you're tethered to your metal detector while enthusiastically recovering a target gets old surprisingly quickly.