Cardas Audio Clear Headphone Cable for HiFi Man Headphones - 0.5 Meter

Clear Headphone Cable for HiFiMAN, With Screw-On SMC Connectors

A headphone cable must physically match both ends of the chain: the connector on your headphones and the connector on your amplifier or DAC. Getting either wrong means the cable simply will not plug in, which is why the fit matters as much as the build quality.

This version of Cardas Clear Headphone Cable ends in two SMC connectors at the headphone end, one for each earcup, and a Cardas 1/4" (6.35mm) stereo plug at the amplifier end. SMC is a small gold-plated connector that screws onto the earcup socket, so it locks in place. HiFiMAN used it on its earlier planar headphones.

Which HiFiMAN Headphones Does It Fit?

The SMC version fits HiFiMAN headphones with screw-on SMC sockets on the earcups: HE-4, HE-5, HE-5LE, the original HE-6, HE-300, the original HE-400 and HE-500, plus early-production HE-400i and HE-560.

It does not fit HiFiMAN models with 2.5mm or 3.5mm earcup sockets. Current HiFiMAN models use 3.5mm earcup sockets and need a different cable. That includes the Sundara, every Ananda and Arya version, the Edition XV, HE600, HE1000 Unveiled, HE1000 Stealth, the current HE1000se and the current Susvara.

Grade 1, 99.9999% Pure Oxygen-Free Copper

Cardas builds Clear Headphone Cable around a dual mono run, two completely isolated cables for left and right, the same approach used in its speaker cables. The conductors are Matched Propagation Kevlar-core Litz wire, Grade 1, 99.9999% pure oxygen-free copper with SPN clear coat, gauge sizes scaled to Golden Ratio proportions, insulated in an FEP tape-wrapped jacket.

Dual Mono Geometry in a Braided Nylon Jacket

Cardas winds the two conductors concentrically, flanked by anti-static fibers, and finishes the cable in a braided nylon jacket. The gauge runs 8x26.5 AWG for an outside diameter of 0.170 inches, or 4.31mm.

The Connectors, Explained

At the headphone end are two screw-on SMC plugs, marked L and R. Thread each one onto the matching earcup socket by hand until it is snug. At the amplifier end is a Cardas 1/4" (6.35mm) stereo plug. If your earcups have plain 2.5mm sockets instead, choose the 2.5mm version of this cable.

Who Is This Headphone Cable Best For?

• You own an earlier HiFiMAN planar with screw-on SMC sockets — such as the HE-6, HE-500 or HE-400; this is the connector those earcups take
• Your amplifier or DAC has a standard 1/4" headphone output — the amp end is a Cardas 1/4" stereo plug, the most common headphone jack size
• You want to replace a worn stock cable on a headphone you plan to keep — Clear Headphone Cable is Cardas's dual-mono replacement line, scaled down from its Clear speaker cable
• Your HiFiMAN has 2.5mm or 3.5mm earcup sockets — this SMC version will not fit; see the list above before ordering

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Screw the L and R SMC plugs onto the left and right earcups by hand. Then plug the Cardas 1/4" (6.35mm) end into the headphone output on your amplifier or DAC.

Then power up the system as usual. Other and longer lengths available. Call for prices.

Pairs Well With

A headphone cable is one link between your headphones and an amplifier or DAC. It usually joins these categories.

• Headphone Amplifiers — the amp end of this cable plugs directly into one
• Headphones — the cable only helps once it's matched to the right pair
• Digital-to-Analog Converters — many desktop DACs include a headphone output this cable can feed
• Headphone Accessories — stands, cases and other gear for the same headphone this cable serves

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an SMC connector?

A small, gold-plated coaxial connector that screws onto its socket. HiFiMAN fitted SMC sockets to its earlier planar headphones, so the cable could not be pulled out by accident. Look for a threaded gold socket on each earcup.

What happens if I order the wrong connector for my headphones?

It simply won't plug in. The SMC, 2.5mm and 3.5mm earcup connectors are not interchangeable, so check the sockets on your earcups, or the plugs on your current cable, before ordering.

What is the amp-end plug made of?

Cardas machines its own GRQ-series 1/4" plug from eutectic brass and plates it rhodium over silver, a non-magnetic combination Cardas says keeps the contact clean for years. The cable itself carries a Cardas lifetime warranty against bad or intermittent internal connections, shorts, and loose connectors.

What does dual mono construction mean here?

Cardas runs two completely isolated cables, one for the left channel and one for the right, rather than sharing a single jacketed cable for both. It's the same geometry Cardas uses in its speaker cables, scaled down for headphone use.

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