Owners of Xiaomi’s wireless headsets often face the need to maintain their devices, especially when cleaning sound filters. TWS-And the pattern of these models is that they accumulate earwax, dust and pile, which inevitably leads to a deterioration in sound quality. The protective net is the first barrier that bears the brunt of pollution, and it's the one that most often requires attention.
Understanding how to properly dismantle this element can save your headphones from completely breaking or having to replace speakers. Many users mistakenly believe that the grille is a non-removable part of the case, and try to clean it aggressively, damaging the membrane. In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of the design and safe ways to remove this component.
It is important to note that the dismantling process requires a certain skill and suitable tools. Improper actions can damage the dynamic driver or impair the tightness of the housing. Removing the mesh almost always implies irreversible action or the use of a special tool, since it is planted on glue. So before the procedure, you need to weigh all the risks.
Design features of Xiaomi sound filters
Engineers at Redmi AirDots, Mi True Wireless Earbuds and others use a variety of attachment techniques to build the safety features. Most budget and mid-budget models use a grid that is glued directly into the seat on the headphone body. The adhesive base provides tightness and moisture protection for the interior, but makes it much more difficult to extract.
In more expensive or specialized models, you can find a modular design, where the mesh is mounted in a plastic ring, which can be removed with tweezers if the design provides a technological gap. TWS-Xiaomi headsets we are dealing with a stationary glued metal grille.
- 🔹 The main material of the mesh is a small metal fabric (stainless steel) with micron-sized cells.
- 🔹 Fixing is carried out along the perimeter using industrial glue or thermal welding of plastic.
- 🔹 The diameter of the mesh varies from 4 mm to 7 mm depending on the model of headphones.
⚠️ Warning: Attempting to remove the mesh without heating or adhesive solvent in 90% of cases leads to deformation of the seat, which will make it impossible to install a new filter.
Necessary tools for safe dismantling
To do a good job, you'll need a minimal set of tools, which you can often find in your home drawer with trivia or buy from your nearest electronics store. Thin straight-ended tweezers are the main tool for grabbing or tampering with the edge of the grid.
As an adjunct to soften the adhesive, isopropyl alcohol or a special liquid to remove the adhesive is well-oiled. The use of aggressive chemicals such as acetone is not recommended, as it can dissolve the plastic of the headphone body itself, leaving permanent surface damage.
You may also need a dryer to heat locally, although this method is rarely used in micro-grids because of the risk of overheating the battery, and it is best to use a thin needle syringe to accurately apply the solvent under the edge of the grid.
| Tool. | Appointment | Risks in use |
|---|---|---|
| Thin tweezers | Grabbing and pulling the net | Puncture of the membrane dynamics with careless movement |
| curved needle | Fakening the edge of the grid | Scratches on the body, damage to the speaker |
| Isopropyl alcohol | Dissolving glue | Liquid entering the body (minimum) |
💡
Use a magnifying glass or magnifying glass when working with small parts of headphones – this will help to avoid accidental damage to internal components.
Step-by-step instructions for removing the net
The dismantling process begins with careful workspace preparation, make sure the surface is clean, well lit, and you have a place to stack the small parts so they don't get lost.Be sure to discharge the earphone to a minimum or disconnect it from the charging case before starting work to eliminate the risk of short circuit.
The first step is to soften the adhesive layer, soak the cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol and gently wipe the perimeter of the mesh, trying not to wet the center part, let the alcohol absorb for 2-3 minutes, if the design allows, you can drop a microscopic drop of solvent directly on the junction of the mesh and the housing.
Once the glue has weakened, take a thin needle or scalpel and gently tuck the edge of the mesh. The movements must be measured and not deep. Once there is a small gap, use tweezers to grab the edge and smoothly pull the mesh up. Sharp jerks are not acceptable, because they can tear the mesh itself, leaving parts inside.
☑️ Checklist for preparation for dismantling
Cleaning the seat and installing a new grid
After successfully removing the old filter, you will see a speaker that may also be contaminated, and you should be very careful when cleaning the speaker itself using a dry soft brush or a blowing pear, and you should not get alcohol or liquids on the speaker membrane.
The landing site from which the old grid was removed must be cleaned of the residues of old glue, which can be done with a toothpick or a thin blade, scraping the dirt with circular motions, and the surface must be smooth and clean so that the new grid will lie flat.
You'll need glue to install the new mesh. You'll want to use a special electronics glue, or B-7000, which remains elastic after drying out. Apply the minimum amount of glue around the perimeter of the seat, avoiding getting into the center hole. Carefully install the new mesh with tweezers around the edges.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use superglue (cyanacrylate) as it emits vapors that can settle on the speaker membrane and worsen sound, and also makes the structure brittle.
Where can I get new nets?
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
One of the most common mistakes is to use tools that are too rough, like scissors or thick needles, which often causes the edge of the mesh to break and the bulk of it to stay inside, making it even harder to extract, and accuracy is more important than force.
Another common mistake is ignoring the need to replace the mesh after removing, and many users remove the filter to clean and then try to paste it back or leave the speaker open, which leads to a rapid failure of the headphones, as dust and moisture freely enter the interior.
Also worth mentioning is the mistake of choosing the diameter of the new grid: if the grid is too large, it will not get in the groove and interfere with the groove; if it is too small, it will fall in or remain unreliable. Always measure the diameter of the seat with a rod or ruler with high accuracy.
- 🔸 Mistake: Trying to wash the net with water without removing - water drives dirt deeper into the cells.
- 🔸 Mistake: Using cotton wool to clean - villi get stuck in the mesh and make sound worse.
- 🔸 Mistake: Pushing the net with a needle - it only widens the holes and lets the dirt further.
💡
Main conclusion: The mesh from Xiaomi headphones can be removed, but this is a one-time procedure that requires subsequent replacement of the filter with a new one to preserve acoustic properties.
Alternative methods of cleaning without removal
If you're unsure of your abilities or you're afraid of damaging the device, there are less risky methods of restoring sound, and often the problem isn't the complete clogging, but the surface layer of dirt that can be removed without being dismantled.
Using plasticine or a special cleaning clay (cleaning gel) allows you to pull the contaminants from the pores of the mesh, you press soft material against the headphone mesh and sharply pull back, repeating the procedure several times, you can significantly improve the sound permeability.
Also effective is the use of Scotch tape, which is a sticky piece of tape on the mesh, tightly pressed and sharply removed, and it's safe for the body and the glue that holds the mesh, and helps remove the surface plaque.