# Bluetooth Controlled NeoPixel Headphones ## Overview ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/029/474/medium800/leds_hero-5.jpg?1451928437) ## Smart LED HeadPhones Headphones are incredibly ubiquitous. They can range from different sizes to styles, comfort to noise cancelling and now even wireless bluetooth. Here's an upgrade you won't find on even the biggest brands. RGB LEDs. This DIY upgrade uses NeoPixel LED rings and an Adafruit Feather Bluefruit LE module to make slick lighting effects. With The Adafruit Bluefruit LE connect app for [iOS](../../../../bluefruit-le-connect-for-ios) or [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adafruit.bluefruit.le.connect), you can change the colors of the LEDs using a color picker and even trigger dope animations with the tap of a button. The 3D printed enclosures keep everything together and doesn't add too much weight or bulk to your pair of headphones. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/029/469/medium800/leds_hero-1.jpg?1451928430) ## Prerequisite Guides We recommend reading through the following guides to get familiar with the components used in this project. - [Adafruit Feather 32u4 Bluefruit LE](../../../../adafruit-feather-32u4-bluefruit-le) - [Adafruit Bluefruit Connect LE](../../../../bluefruit-le-connect-for-ios) - [Adafruit NeoPixel Uber Guide](../../../../adafruit-neopixel-uberguide) ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/029/465/medium800/leds_components.jpg?1451928363) ## Parts The following parts were used in this project. - [Adafruit Feather 32u4 Bluefruit LE](https://www.adafruit.com/products/2829) - [500mAh Lithium Polymer Battery](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1578) - 2 [16x NeoPixel Rings](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1463) - [Slide Switch](https://www.adafruit.com/products/805) ## Tools and Supplies You'll need the following tools to complete this project. If you don't have access to a 3D print, you can use a service like 3DHubs.com to print and ship the parts to you. - [3D Printer](https://www.adafruit.com/categories/245) w/ Filament - [Soldering Iron](http://www.adafruit.com/product/180) w/ Solder - [Jumper Wires](http://www.adafruit.com/product/1955) (300mm in length) - [Silicone Cover Stranded Wire](https://www.adafruit.com/products/2051) (30AWG) - [Panavise Jr.](http://www.adafruit.com/product/151) - [Helping Third Hand](http://www.adafruit.com/product/291) - [Wire Strippers](http://www.adafruit.com/product/527) - [Heat Shrink](http://www.adafruit.com/product/1649) - [Headphones](http://www.amazon.com/Coloud-4090668-On-Ear-Headphone-Transition/dp/B009RZTH3U) ## Headphone Design Matters **This project will not fit every style of headphones.** In this project, we're using a pair of [Coloud Boom](http://www.amazon.com/Coloud-4090668-On-Ear-Headphone-Transition/dp/B009RZTH3U) headphones by Nokia. They’re about $25 bucks on amazon. The enclosure is ideally for headphones with flat ear cups that are not covered by the headband. If you're looking to upgrade your favorite pair of headphones, be sure to carefully inspect the design and take measurements to see if the 3D printed case will fit. The case has a diameter of 58mm (2.28 inches). ![leds_headphones.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/029/467/medium640/leds_headphones.jpg?1451928365) ![leds_headphones-earcups.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/029/468/medium640/leds_headphones-earcups.jpg?1451928371) ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/029/472/medium800/leds_hero-3.jpg?1451928434) ## Project Expectations If you haven't done any 3D Printing + Electronics projects before, this is an intermediate project and slightly ambitious for a first time DIY project. It requires beginner level soldering skills. The 3D printed parts are relatively easy to print and will fit most build volumes. The most time consuming / challenging part of the project might be splicing some wires. - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/bluetooth-controlled-neopixel-headphones/software.md) ## Featured Products ### Adafruit Feather 32u4 Bluefruit LE [Adafruit Feather 32u4 Bluefruit LE](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2829) Feather is the new development board from Adafruit, and like its namesake it is thin, light, and lets you fly! We designed Feather to be a new standard for portable microcontroller cores. This is the  **Adafruit Feather 32u4 Bluefruit**  - our take on an... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2829) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2829/guides) ### NeoPixel Ring - 16 x 5050 RGB LED with Integrated Drivers [NeoPixel Ring - 16 x 5050 RGB LED with Integrated Drivers](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1463) Round and round and round they go! 16 ultra bright smart LED NeoPixels are arranged in a circle with 1.75" (44.5mm) outer diameter. The rings are 'chainable' - connect the output pin of one to the input pin of another. Use only one microcontroller pin to control as many as you can... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1463) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1463/guides) ### Breadboard-friendly SPDT Slide Switch [Breadboard-friendly SPDT Slide Switch](https://www.adafruit.com/product/805) These nice switches are perfect for use with breadboard and perfboard projects. They have 0.1" spacing and snap in nicely into a solderless breadboard. They're easy to switch no matter what size fingers you have, but not so easy that they'll get flipped by accident. Work great as... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/805) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/805/guides) ### Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 500mAh [Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 500mAh](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1578) Lithium-ion polymer (also known as 'lipo' or 'lipoly') batteries are thin, light, and powerful. The output ranges from 4.2V when completely charged to 3.7V. This battery has a capacity of 500mAh for a total of about 1.9 Wh. If you need a larger (or smaller!) battery, Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1578) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1578/guides) ### Premium Male/Male Jumper Wires - 20 x 12" (300mm) [Premium Male/Male Jumper Wires - 20 x 12" (300mm)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1955) These Male/Male Jumper Wires are handy for making wire harnesses or jumpering between headers on PCB's. These premium jumper wires are 12" (300mm) long and come in a 'strip' of 20 (2 pieces of each of ten rainbow colors). They have 0.1" male header contacts on either end... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1955) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1955/guides) ### Silicone Cover Stranded-Core Wire - 30AWG in Various Colors [Silicone Cover Stranded-Core Wire - 30AWG in Various Colors](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2051) Silicone-sheathing wire is super-flexible and soft, and its also strong! Able to handle up to 200°C and up to 600V, it will do when PVC covered wire wimps out. We like this wire for being extremely supple and flexible, so it is great for wearables or projects where the wire-harness has to... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2051) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2051/guides) ### PrintrBot Simple Metal 3D Printer - Black - Assembled [PrintrBot Simple Metal 3D Printer - Black - Assembled](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1760) New from Printrbot, the Metal Simple is a brand new rock solid, all metal, fully-assembled Printrbot Simple! As opposed to the [Printrbot Simple Kit](http://www.adafruit.com/products/1735), all of the laser cut wood parts have been replaced by rock solid metal and assembled. In... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1760) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1760/guides) ### Adjustable 30W 110V soldering iron [Adjustable 30W 110V soldering iron](https://www.adafruit.com/product/180) This 'pen-style' soldering iron is just about the best entry-level tool I've seen. It's not as powerful as a Weller WES51 but it _is_ self-contained and easy to use. With proper care, it will last for many years. Turn it off when not in use, clean the plated tip with a... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/180) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/180/guides) ## Related Guides - [Celebration Spectacles](https://learn.adafruit.com/celebration-spectacles.md) - [NeoPixel Ring Lamp](https://learn.adafruit.com/neopixel-ring-lamp.md) - [What is Web MIDI & BLE MIDI?](https://learn.adafruit.com/web-ble-midi.md) - [3D Printed LED Microphone Flag](https://learn.adafruit.com/3d-printed-led-microphone-flag.md) - [Jack-o'-LED·trix](https://learn.adafruit.com/jack-o-led-trix.md) - [NeoPixel LED Necklace Insert with USB Charging](https://learn.adafruit.com/neopixel-led-necklace-insert-with-usb-charging.md) - [Cyber Tank Girl Cosplay](https://learn.adafruit.com/cyber-tank-girl-cosplay.md) - [Adafruit Feather RP2040 with DVI Output Port](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-feather-rp2040-dvi.md) - [3D Printed NeoPixel Ring Hair Dress](https://learn.adafruit.com/neopixel-ring-hair-dress.md) - [Using Bluefruit BLE to Give Disabled Users Switch Control Access to IOS Devices](https://learn.adafruit.com/ios-switch-control-using-ble.md) - [Glitter Positioning System](https://learn.adafruit.com/glitter-positioning-system.md) - [Festive Feather Holiday Lights](https://learn.adafruit.com/festive-feather-holiday-lights.md) - [Kaleidoscope Eyes (Trinket-Powered NeoPixel LED Ring Goggles)](https://learn.adafruit.com/kaleidoscope-eyes-neopixel-led-goggles-trinket-gemma.md) - [STEAM-Punk Goggles](https://learn.adafruit.com/steam-punk-goggles.md) - [Bluetooth LE MIDI Controller](https://learn.adafruit.com/bluetooth-le-midi-controller.md)