I've several pairs of DPA 4060/4061 which have failing cable jackets. These microphones have built-in cables and while the microphones are working fine, the cable jackets have grown stiff and are cracked and crumbling. In some places the jacket is missing entirely, exposing the fine twisted-wire shielding. In others, sections of stiff jacket remain, which creates a bending strain point at each section edge.
I've posted previously that I wish these mics were supplied with a microdot connection at the microphone such the cables could be easily replaced. Lacking that, I've been intending to try and re-sheath these cables with small diameter Techflex or the equivalent, in the hope that I will not need to resort to replace the cables by making a splice near the mic and rewiring with new cable. Finally got around to doing it..
I ordered 1/8" diameter (the smallest diameter available)
Techflex Flexo noise-reduction sleeving-
https://www.techflex.com/specialty/flexo-noise-reduction, which has a softer "hand" to it designed to reduce cable handling noise and slide more smoothly against fabric and skin. It is recommended for body-harnesses applications, and has a denser, less shiny appearance. Also ordered some 1/4" to use for bundling 4 of these small diameter cables together in a loom, which I have not done yet. Although not as thick, this stuff is very much akin to "Crokie" eyeglass holder type material, and could easily substitute for that application.
The initial repair on two failed cable jackets and as protection on two others in good condition seems to work very well. It does increase the diameter somewhat, but not overly so. It is very comfortable and flexible and also serves to make the mic cables much easier to handle without tangling.
I did remove obvious flaking portions of jacket that were about to fall off, but did not remove the failing jackets entirely, treated any slight-green corrosion of exposed shielding with Caig, then slid the mic through the Techflex, pulled it taught, and inverted/tucked the ends under to prevent fraying rather than heat-shrinking them in place. I may heatshrink them in place later once I determine if I actually need to remove all failed jacket portions, and initial impression is that its good as is without completely stripping the old jackets off. I cannot tell were the jacket portions are missing or in place, and the new sheathing supports and protects the exposed shield areas. Overall the cables now handle nicely again and there seems to be no obvious remaining strain hazzard.
I also considered the possibility of using conductive shield techflex in cases where the exposed shielding has failed as well as the jacket-
https://www.techflex.com/metal-shielding/flexo-shield , yet that is only available in silver and would not have the same soft/quiet "hand". It may be possible to use a layer of that under the noise-reduction type sheathing where necessary, at the expense of greater thickness and reduced flexibility, if it can be soldered to the existing shielding at each end.
Also of interest is the Shrinkfex conductive EMI shielded heatshrink-
https://www.techflex.com/heatshrink-tubing/2-1-shield-shieldingPhotos of DPA 4060 inserted into 1/8" Flexo noise-reduction sheathing, with ends tucked under-