Cardas Audio Clear Headphone Cable for HiFi Man Headphones - 1.0 Meter - 2.5mm to XLR

Clear Headphone Cable, Built for HiFiMAN With 2.5mm and XLR 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.

Cardas Clear Headphone Cable is built for HiFiMAN headphones that use the 2.5mm connector, with an XLR connector for headphone amplifiers that have an XLR output, such as those from Woo Audio and others.

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

This cable is terminated with 2.5mm connectors for HiFiMAN headphones and an XLR connector for headphone amplifiers with an XLR output. Check which connector your HiFiMAN model uses, and which output your amplifier has, before ordering.

Who Is This Headphone Cable Best For?

• Your HiFiMAN headphones use the 2.5mm connector — this cable is built for that connector
• Your headphone amplifier has an XLR output — this version ends in an XLR connector for it, as on amplifiers from Woo Audio and others
• You want Cardas's dual mono construction, the same approach used in its speaker cables — Clear Headphone Cable scales that design down specifically for headphones
• You are replacing a stock or worn cable on a reference-level planar headphone — Clear Headphone Cable is Cardas's dual-mono replacement line, scaled down from its Clear speaker cable for the best headphones

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Connect the 2.5mm connectors to your HiFiMAN headphones and the XLR connector to the XLR output of your headphone amplifier.

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 the 2.5mm connector?

A special headphone connector that HiFiMAN uses on some of its headphones. Check your headphones or your existing cable to see which connector your model uses.

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

It simply won't plug in. Headphone connectors aren't interchangeable the way many amplifier connectors are, so check your headphones' own connector before ordering.

Why does this version have an XLR connector?

Some headphone amplifiers, such as those from Woo Audio and others, have an XLR output. This version ends in an XLR connector so it can plug into them.

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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Learn More

Want to learn more about headphone cables, headphone amplifiers, or system setup? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.