Category: DIY

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USB-C Modding Adventure: Upgrading My Bose QC35 II Headset

In my quest to embrace the USB-C standard as much as possible, I turned my attention to my trusty Bose QuietComfort 35 II headset, which still relied on the outdated micro-USB port. The journey to upgrade it was both challenging and rewarding, and I’m excited to share the process with you.

The Inspiration

I stumbled upon a GitHub project that offered plans for a new electronic board with USB-C compatibility. However, the components were incredibly tiny, and I wasn’t keen on diving into micro-soldering. Fortunately, I discovered that the Bose QuietComfort 45 (QC-45) uses USB-C, and its electronic board is somewhat compatible with the QC-35. 

Gathering the Parts

I found the QC-45 PCB on AliExpress for just 8 euros, which was a steal. With the PCB in hand, I was ready to dive into the mod.. but first, I had to tackle the iPod that had been gathering dust on my desk for far too long  😁

Dismantling the QC-35

The first step was to disassemble the QC-35:

      1. Remove the Foam Earcup and Sheet: Gently remove the foam earcup and the foam sheet across the speaker grill on the right earpiece.
      2. Unscrew the Outer Shell: Remove the three Philips screws holding the metal outer shell in place. This reveals the USB daughter board and mainboard.
      3. Detach the Main Cable: Cut away and remove the silastic holding the cable for the mainboard, and unplug the main cable.
      4. Remove the USB Board: Unscrew the two Philips screws holding down the USB board and remove it.
      5. Detach the Button Board Cable: Gently pull the button board cable from the USB board.

        Old and new PCB (USB-C on top)

Modifying the Housing

The USB-C port requires a larger hole, so I applied some tape to the USB-C port and filed it gently to create a template. A Dremel with a round head was perfect for enlarging the hole.

Additionally, the interior needed some adjustments: remove the small square and enlarge the side by 0.5mm on each side to accommodate the new USB-C board.

At this point, you can plug everything back in to check the fitting.

Addressing the Blue LED Issue

You might notice that the blue LED still shines even when the headset is off. This is due to a small power leakage on the QC-35, which becomes visible with the new PCB. There’s a tiny resistor that controls the blue LED.
Removing it will solve the issue while keeping the orange and white LEDs functional. This operation is tricky due to the component’s size, so I chose to rip it off with a tweezer instead of attempting to unsolder it.

Credit to drose6102 for this picture

Reassembling the Headset

Finally, put everything back together.
The 2 Philips screw will probably have an angle, but that’s not an issue, just be gentle.
I added some hot glue to the main cable to ensure it stays secure. The hole isn’t perfect, but it’s barely noticeable from a meter away, so I’m satisfied with the result.

Conclusion

Upgrading my Bose QuietComfort 35 II to USB-C was a rewarding project that brought my headset into the modern era. If you’re looking to do the same, I hope this guide helps you on your journey. Just remember to take your time and be careful with the delicate components. Happy modding!

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Car fix

Last weekend, my car started a new behaviour: running the ventilation at maximum, even with the engine off.. A few days before a long trip by car, it would have been a nightmare !

Internet was partially helpful, I was not the only one with that issue, but it was difficult to have a clear answer, so I played the safety card and took an appointment with a mechanic.

Unfortunately this mechanic cancelled the appointment, a few days later, without explanations. 🤬

Fortunately, I had a talk with a colleague, more mechanic than me, and after some minutes he convinced that the fix was achievable, even by me ! Challenge accepted ! I’m sure I can

I had to dismantle the full glove box, and many covering parts around, to reach this little guy.

Helped by: https://youtu.be/_ZamtgCttdE and https://youtu.be/vjNvuI9bUXs

The famous A43002900 !

This heater resistance (?) with a small electronic card was causing my ventilation to go mad!

Once a replacement was ordered, arrived in 2 days, and mounted, everything went back in order. 🙂

Moral: Don’t get discouraged, talk with people and just try. YouTube is full of really helpful video.

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Ortho Project : Conclusion

That idea came around December 2019, and I try to implement it from January 2020 to March. COVID situation was a great help, because it gave me time and the possibility to wear my aligners.

I started wearing them on March 12th, and I’m currently wearing my last piece. It’s been 5 months, and I’ve almost reach my goal ! (photos will come soon)

I still want to do another round of aligners : As my teeth moved, my 3D model is not good enough to work on it, and need a more recent one. I also want to correct some small imperfections. I’m on holidays now, far from my 3D printer and tools, so I will resume it in September.

From now, here is what I can conclude on this project :

      • Time : I spend some time on this, probably close to a hundred hours between research and testing. The thermoforming part was clearly the longest, more than 3/4 of my time.
      • Money : It’s was really cheap (Alginate powder, plaster and 60 sheets of dental plastic were bought for less than 30€). I used around 1kg of PLA (15€) and already owned the tools.
      • Efficiency : It’s really efficient ! (wait for photos) Now, I need to find a dentist to put me a small contention metal cable behind my incisors to maintain them durably.
      • Pain : Ok, I had some. First aligner was new, and it was a little painful during the first 24 hours. Then, between each aligners, I sometimes feel a small pain with new ones. Probably because I wanted to move to fast between each aligners.
      • Speech : As expected, I had some difficulties to talk properly the first 3 weeks, but I get used to it.
      • Cleaning process : Each day, I needed to brush my aligners to keep them clean, same for my teeth. Mouthwash was also effective to keep a good hygiene.
      • Attendance : I was really focused during the process. Now with the summer, I’m feeling a bit bored and forget them sometimes.

 

Stay tuned 🙂