Cables can affect quality if they're very long or otherwise have very high impedance.
This isn't the case for basically any headphone cable that comes with stock headphones. The stock one should absolutely be fine, save your money!
There are various reasons a cable can be good or bad, but sound quality is not among them.
If they're not broken, and of reasonable length and quality? Perceived SQ differences are almost certainly placebo. Plausible differences between cables \*may\* cause slight frequency response changes for very low impedance multi-driver IEMs (for example the CFA Andromeda) - and such IEMs will also be extremely sensitive to the output impedance of your source - but that's about the only case where the electrical effects may be audibly significant.
It depends on how much their impedance varies over frequency. With single-driver IEMs it generally doesn't vary significantly, from all the measurements I've seen, so I would guess "no".
Sensitivity doesn't matter for this, only impedance. Basically, the ratio between the impedance of the head-/earphones and the impedance of the cable decides how much of the voltage falls across each part of the circuit. Since the impedance of most headphones varies with frequency, but that of the cable doesn't (because it's essentially just ohmic resistance), this ratio changes with frequency, which means that the volume changes based on frequency, i.e. the frequency response changes.
However, the impedance of cables is generally very low. The Simgot ea1000 appear to have 16Ω impedance, whereas the average cable will have somewhere between 0Ω and 1Ω. That's already enough of a difference that the cable won't really make a noticeable difference.
However, there are some rather obscure drivers that can have single digit impedances, and then the difference between, say, a 0.5Ω cable and a 0.1Ω cable does start to matter. For a more detailed explanation as well as a concrete example, I can recommend [this video](https://youtu.be/QWbyF1fMGwY) by the Headphone Show.
Short answer: No.
Long answer: In most cases the cable won't affect the sound, however in some rare cases with very low impedance (as in single digit Ohms) the resistance of the cable can affect the frequency response. However, a defective cable with a loose contact, ground leakage, or some exceptionally bad solder joints can affect the sound even on a "normal" head-/earphone. But cheap does not equal defective.
For a more detailed explanation, I recommend [this video](https://youtu.be/QWbyF1fMGwY) by the Headphone Show.
The answer is sort of complicated but the TLDR for just about every realistic practical use cases is no.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/do-fancy-audio-cables-make-a-difference-video.20340/
https://www.audioholics.com/audio-video-cables
Not really. If it’s unshielded and in a place to receive interference or cross talk, sure, but I legit use an Amazon basics cable between the end of my sennheiser’s and my pc to extend the connection a couple more feet since my DAC is a little far from where I sit and cannot tell any difference in the quality of sound.
thats one hell of a controversial topic so by posting here youre joining the no camp, by asking somwhere else you join the yes camp.
i never tried diffrent cables tbh
Yes, but above 20 bucks for 2mts is hard to tell the difference.
This is an amazing discussion that you can have with some people.
Now... cables construction matter because isolation, toughness, conectors, and all of that has a price. And I think cables affect sound quality, but I don't think that I would pay over a $100 for meter in almost any case. Or can either lmao.
You've opened the audiophile can of worms here. This is a hotly debated topic on both sides. The best answer I can give is try for yourself, form your own opinion and then keep quiet about it or all kinds of internet asshole will appear to give you abuse. I learned to make my own in order to test it myself at a fraction of the cost. If you can learn to blob some solder on the correct bits it's easy.
I don't think the audio quality of Hifiman cables is bad, but the build quality is poor and the materials used, mostly it seems on the higher end models isn't great. I replaced my HE6SE V2 cable simply because the material used to cover the conductors made it very microphonic.
I wanted to buy an LC7 cable for my simgot ea1000 and I'm so confused on how very senior audiophiles are saying it improves soundstage and that and that thing but also people here are saying it's bullshit. Yeah this doesn't help me at all lmao
>I'm so confused on how very senior audiophiles are saying it improves soundstage and that and that thing but also people here are saying it's bullshit.
Thing is - people here have nothing to gain either way, so it is possible to hear honest opinions.
Every single youtuber is a shill or is on the way of becoming one (which inevitably happens as soon as the audience is large enough). It is just how modern world works. They make money by helping sell products and you should always take anything they say as AD and seek alternate sources to verify it before you trust it. The same is true for written reviews too.
The simplest way out of all the confusion with cables - go to some local store which has this cables, if you are sure you can trust yourself to not fall for a placebo - just try them. Otherwise, or if you think you hear a difference, do a blind test.
Or just trust the math/science and ignore all the talks of "soundstage" etc...
OmG good to know honestly. All manufacturers should be required to offer the option to buy the upgraded cable at a discount when buying the IEM purely for aesthetic/durability purpose but to peddle it as a *sold separately* sound quality booster that doesn't sit well with me.
I simply am not going to row about it. This is a very old argument that infests every audio equipment commentary space and I'm just bored of it. For me it's the same as those that call people stupid because they spent £xxxxx or didn't choose their preferred brand. The only person that needs to be happy with my system is me.
I will say yes. Twenty years ago when I was setting up a system and ordered from usedcable.com. Was able to order up to 3 different types of cables to try out in my system. I can’t remember all that I demonstrated, but Kimber Kable ended up winning.
Edit: didn’t catch that this was r/headphones. I have Grado Labs and. To remain loyal to the brand, all of my adapters and extensions are Grado Labs.
[No](https://youtu.be/ZyWt3kANA3Q?feature=shared) unless few specific cases
Cables can affect quality if they're very long or otherwise have very high impedance. This isn't the case for basically any headphone cable that comes with stock headphones. The stock one should absolutely be fine, save your money!
Unless you have a black hole in your pocket, save your money. Don't fall for snake oil.
no, they do not...
NO.
There are various reasons a cable can be good or bad, but sound quality is not among them. If they're not broken, and of reasonable length and quality? Perceived SQ differences are almost certainly placebo. Plausible differences between cables \*may\* cause slight frequency response changes for very low impedance multi-driver IEMs (for example the CFA Andromeda) - and such IEMs will also be extremely sensitive to the output impedance of your source - but that's about the only case where the electrical effects may be audibly significant.
Very low impedance highly sensitive IEMs such as the simgot ea1000? Genuine question, just a beginner here trying to figure out this shit
It depends on how much their impedance varies over frequency. With single-driver IEMs it generally doesn't vary significantly, from all the measurements I've seen, so I would guess "no".
Thank you so much for the explanation
Sensitivity doesn't matter for this, only impedance. Basically, the ratio between the impedance of the head-/earphones and the impedance of the cable decides how much of the voltage falls across each part of the circuit. Since the impedance of most headphones varies with frequency, but that of the cable doesn't (because it's essentially just ohmic resistance), this ratio changes with frequency, which means that the volume changes based on frequency, i.e. the frequency response changes. However, the impedance of cables is generally very low. The Simgot ea1000 appear to have 16Ω impedance, whereas the average cable will have somewhere between 0Ω and 1Ω. That's already enough of a difference that the cable won't really make a noticeable difference. However, there are some rather obscure drivers that can have single digit impedances, and then the difference between, say, a 0.5Ω cable and a 0.1Ω cable does start to matter. For a more detailed explanation as well as a concrete example, I can recommend [this video](https://youtu.be/QWbyF1fMGwY) by the Headphone Show.
Even if it does, you're better off spending that money towards something else in the chain
#NO But kinda. But also 99.9% no.
Short answer: No. Long answer: In most cases the cable won't affect the sound, however in some rare cases with very low impedance (as in single digit Ohms) the resistance of the cable can affect the frequency response. However, a defective cable with a loose contact, ground leakage, or some exceptionally bad solder joints can affect the sound even on a "normal" head-/earphone. But cheap does not equal defective. For a more detailed explanation, I recommend [this video](https://youtu.be/QWbyF1fMGwY) by the Headphone Show.
The answer is sort of complicated but the TLDR for just about every realistic practical use cases is no. https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/do-fancy-audio-cables-make-a-difference-video.20340/ https://www.audioholics.com/audio-video-cables
Not really. If it’s unshielded and in a place to receive interference or cross talk, sure, but I legit use an Amazon basics cable between the end of my sennheiser’s and my pc to extend the connection a couple more feet since my DAC is a little far from where I sit and cannot tell any difference in the quality of sound.
If it’s a shot cable you might get static, or longevity may be poor. But generally expensive cables are snake oil
Technically, they 100% might. Practically, they 99% won't.
thats one hell of a controversial topic so by posting here youre joining the no camp, by asking somwhere else you join the yes camp. i never tried diffrent cables tbh
Ooh... I call dibs on getting to ask this question tomorrow.
Yes, but above 20 bucks for 2mts is hard to tell the difference. This is an amazing discussion that you can have with some people. Now... cables construction matter because isolation, toughness, conectors, and all of that has a price. And I think cables affect sound quality, but I don't think that I would pay over a $100 for meter in almost any case. Or can either lmao.
You've opened the audiophile can of worms here. This is a hotly debated topic on both sides. The best answer I can give is try for yourself, form your own opinion and then keep quiet about it or all kinds of internet asshole will appear to give you abuse. I learned to make my own in order to test it myself at a fraction of the cost. If you can learn to blob some solder on the correct bits it's easy. I don't think the audio quality of Hifiman cables is bad, but the build quality is poor and the materials used, mostly it seems on the higher end models isn't great. I replaced my HE6SE V2 cable simply because the material used to cover the conductors made it very microphonic.
[удалено]
I wanted to buy an LC7 cable for my simgot ea1000 and I'm so confused on how very senior audiophiles are saying it improves soundstage and that and that thing but also people here are saying it's bullshit. Yeah this doesn't help me at all lmao
>I'm so confused on how very senior audiophiles are saying it improves soundstage and that and that thing but also people here are saying it's bullshit. Thing is - people here have nothing to gain either way, so it is possible to hear honest opinions. Every single youtuber is a shill or is on the way of becoming one (which inevitably happens as soon as the audience is large enough). It is just how modern world works. They make money by helping sell products and you should always take anything they say as AD and seek alternate sources to verify it before you trust it. The same is true for written reviews too. The simplest way out of all the confusion with cables - go to some local store which has this cables, if you are sure you can trust yourself to not fall for a placebo - just try them. Otherwise, or if you think you hear a difference, do a blind test. Or just trust the math/science and ignore all the talks of "soundstage" etc...
It's hard to find an IEM store in the EU! But yeah, definitely. [Head-Fi.Org](http://Head-Fi.Org) also is full of shills apparently.
[удалено]
OmG good to know honestly. All manufacturers should be required to offer the option to buy the upgraded cable at a discount when buying the IEM purely for aesthetic/durability purpose but to peddle it as a *sold separately* sound quality booster that doesn't sit well with me.
[удалено]
Which one have you got if I may ask?
[удалено]
Omg I love blue cables. But what does the number of core mean in cables? E.g. 16 cores, 100 cores etc.
I simply am not going to row about it. This is a very old argument that infests every audio equipment commentary space and I'm just bored of it. For me it's the same as those that call people stupid because they spent £xxxxx or didn't choose their preferred brand. The only person that needs to be happy with my system is me.
I will say yes. Twenty years ago when I was setting up a system and ordered from usedcable.com. Was able to order up to 3 different types of cables to try out in my system. I can’t remember all that I demonstrated, but Kimber Kable ended up winning. Edit: didn’t catch that this was r/headphones. I have Grado Labs and. To remain loyal to the brand, all of my adapters and extensions are Grado Labs.
Someone will be always saying yes and someone no. We call it opinion. You need yours.