Do Headphone Extension Cables Affect Sound Quality? (We Checked)

What is the significance of the gold plating in IEM headphones?

How important is it to have gold-plated connector/jack on a headphone cable? Does it affect your sound quality, or even make your music sound better? Will your songs will sound clearer if the connector is made with gold instead of copper?

This article will tell you a lot about whether you should extend the cable of your headphone or not.

Here’s How Headphone Extension Cables Affect Sound Quality:

There is very little difference in sound quality between longer and shorter cables. The only exception to this is if the cable has a poor-quality connector that can’t transmit the signal properly, but this is true of any cable. The length of the cable itself does not really affect sound quality unless we’re talking +100 feet cables.

Do Headphone Extension Cables Affect the Sound Quality?

The short answer is that they can. But it’s not as simple as just saying “yes” or “no.”

There are a number of factors that go into making a good audio cable:

• the type of wire used,
• whether it’s shielded or unshielded,
• the physical construction
• and more.

If you’re looking for a quick fix, you can get away with using any old extension cable and not worry about sound quality.

However, if your headphones use an especially high-quality connection (like USB-C or Lightning) or if you want to make sure you’re getting the most out of your expensive headphones, then this guide will help you find the best headphone extension cable for your needs.

The most important thing to remember when looking at cables is that there’s no such thing as one perfect solution for everyone. So take these recommendations with a grain of salt and try them out for yourself.

Do Really Cheap Headphone Cables Reduce the Audio Quality?

When it comes to headphones, their cables are not that important. This is because the cable is only responsible for transmitting signals from your music player (or whatever device) to your ears.

Often, you’ll get better sound quality with ANY cable when compared to Bluetooth-connected headphones.

The wire will cause very little loss in sound quality.

What Makes a Good Headphone Cable?

A good headphone cable has low resistance and high conductivity.

It should also be flexible enough to withstand bending without snapping or breaking at the point where it enters the jack or plug.

A good headphone cable will also be durable enough to survive regular use over time without developing any cracks or breaks in its insulation or shielding used to protect against interference from external sources (like electric fields).

Can You Actually Hear the Difference with Average Headphones?

If you’re using a pair of average headphones, you can probably not hear the difference between a long extension cable and a shorter one. If you’re using a high-end pair of headphones, it’s also unlikely that even a $20 cable will make much difference.

The reason is that there are 3 main factors that govern sound quality:

• the quality of the driver (in earphones and headphones)
• the speakers quality
• and the quality of the cables used to connect them.

Cable quality is determined by how much resistance (measured in ohms) there is between each end of the cable and ground (or zero volts); this resistance causes distortion in music signals as they travel through the wire.

So if you have less resistance between your headphones’ drivers and their plugs, music will be less distorted when it reaches your ears — leading to better sound quality.

Do Expensive Headphone Cables Actually Improve the Sound?

The question of whether expensive headphone cables are worth it has been answered by many audiophiles and bloggers over the years. The consensus: no, they’re not worth it.

You don’t need gold-plated and super-expensive headphones cables – unless you’re working with music production or you are a TOTAL music nerd who needs to have the absolute best.

The problem with most expensive headphone cables is that they’re made from materials that are good conductors but often not very flexible.

This means that the cables tend to be stiff and heavy, which can lead to breakage and other problems.

And if you’ve ever seen what happens when a cable becomes frayed or damaged due to wear or moisture exposure, then you know that this isn’t something you want for your headphones.

How Long Should a Headphone Cable Be Before It Affects Performance?

The length of the headphone cable is probably one of the most contentious debates in the headphone community. Some people believe that shorter is better.

But what are the actual benefits and drawbacks of having a longer or shorter cable? And does it really make any difference?

Some people prefer shorter cables because they’re easier to manage and store when not in use. They also help keep your music player close at hand so that you don’t have to worry about where to put it.

However, some people may find that shorter cables are less comfortable than longer ones because they tend to tug on your ears more often, causing discomfort over time.

If you’re using earbuds or in-ear monitors, you don’t need much length at all — just enough so that they stay comfortably in place while you’re listening to your favorite music.

If they fall out easily or become uncomfortable after a few minutes, try replacing the stock earbud tips with foam ones or double flange tips that will provide better isolation from outside noise and improve comfort by keeping them in place better than traditional silicone tips do.

Do Headphone Extension Cables Affect the Sound Volume?

The answer to this question is no. There are no differences between using a short or long cable. The length of the wire does not affect how loud or soft the music will be played.

The sound quality may suffer (at a level you probably cannot detect) but the sound volume will come through even if you decide to go with a 10 foot extension cable for your headphones.

What Are Some Good Cheap Headphone Extension Cables?

If you’re looking for an affordable pair of headphones, here are some good cheap headphone extension cables that will work with your current headphones or earbuds.

AmazonBasics 3-Pack 3.5mm Male to Male Stereo Audio Extension Cable

The AmazonBasics 3-Pack 3.5mm Male to Male Stereo Audio Extension Cable is a great cheap option if you already have a headset and want to extend the length.

The cable is only five feet long, so it’s not meant for long distances, but it’ll work fine if you want to plug in your phone or tablet at night while lying on the couch or listening to music while sitting at your desk.

It also comes in different colors, so you can pick one that matches your device or decor.

Read our blog here about do extension cords contain copper?

Sources

• Head-Fi: Would Using An Extension Cable Affect The Sound Quality Of The Headphones?
• Headphones Jack: Does Using an Audio Extension Cable Reduce Sound Quality?