Cardas Audio Clear Headphone Cable for HiFi Man Headphones

Clear Headphone Cable for HiFiMAN, in SMC or 2.5mm Versions

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 makes Clear Headphone Cable for HiFiMAN in two headphone-end versions, because HiFiMAN has used different earcup connectors over the years. Choose the version that matches the sockets on your earcups.

SMC Version: Screw-On Connectors

SMC is a small gold-plated connector that screws onto the earcup socket, so it locks in place. It fits 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.

2.5mm Version: Push-In Connectors

The 2.5mm version has small push-in plugs. It fits the original HE1000, the original Edition X, HE400S, HE4XX and the first-generation Susvara, plus later-production HE-400i and HE-560 and early-production HE1000se. A 2.5mm-to-XLR version is also offered for amplifiers with an XLR headphone output.

Neither Version Fits 3.5mm Models

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.

Who Is This Headphone Cable Best For?

• Your HiFiMAN has threaded, screw-on earcup sockets — choose the SMC (Standard) version
• Your HiFiMAN has small push-in 2.5mm earcup sockets — choose the 2.5mm version, or 2.5mm to XLR for an XLR headphone output
• 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 3.5mm earcup sockets — neither version fits; call us and we will help you find the right cable

How Does It Connect to Your System?

SMC plugs screw onto the earcups by hand; 2.5mm plugs push straight in. Match L and R to the left and right earcups, then plug the amp 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

How do I tell SMC from 2.5mm?

Look at the earcup sockets or the plugs on your current cable. SMC sockets are threaded and the plugs screw on. 2.5mm plugs are thin pins that push straight in. 3.5mm plugs look the same as 2.5mm but are slightly larger, and neither version of this cable fits them.

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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Learn More

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