Custom Headphone Cables: Connector, Plug, Length and Conductor

Custom headphone cables are cables built to order for your headphones: you choose the headphone connector, the player plug, the length and the conductor. At Null Audio, every cable is made by hand in Singapore to that spec. Most lines come in lengths from 1.2 m to 3.0 m, and the plug can be 3.5 mm, 4.4 mm balanced, 4-pin XLR and more.

Not sure which connector your headphones use? The headphone cable finder lists 170 headphones from 25 brands.

This guide is for anyone who wants a replacement or upgrade cable for full-size headphones. It explains what "custom" means when you order custom headphone cables from us, which headphone-end options exist, and how to choose the plug, length and wire. It ends with how to order and what to check first.

What are custom headphone cables?

A custom headphone cable is a cable made for one pair of headphones and one source. Instead of buying a fixed cable off the shelf, you pick each part. The result fits your headphones, reaches your amplifier and suits how you listen.

At Null Audio, "custom" is not a premium tier. Every cable is built to order by hand in Singapore, and we have done this since 2008. The configurator on each product page is where you make your choices. Lead time is around 1 week.

Replacement or upgrade?

A replacement cable is one you buy because the original failed, was lost or is the wrong length. An upgrade cable is one you buy for a different conductor, a balanced plug or better handling. Most orders are a bit of both. For an honest look at what a cable can and can't change, read Do IEM Upgrade Cables Make a Difference? The same physics applies to headphones.

The four choices in a custom headphone cable

Every custom headphone cable comes down to four choices. The table shows each one and where to check before you order.

The connector must match exactly, or the cable won't fit. The plug must match your source. Length and conductor are matters of comfort and taste.

Which headphone connector should you choose?

The headphone connector is the hardest choice, because makers use many different sockets. In the configurator this option is called Headphone connection. Start by looking at the earcups and counting the sockets.

• Dual-sided headphones have a socket on each earcup, so the cable splits into two leads.
• Single-sided headphones take one cable into one earcup.

Common headphone connectors

• Mini XLR 4PIN: Audeze LCD-2, LCD-X, LCD-5 and MM-500, and ZMF headphones, use a 4-pin mini XLR in each earcup (Thomann).
• Focal Utopia: the 2020 and 2022 Utopia use LEMO connectors (Focal).
• Beyer T1/T5P: the T1 2nd and 3rd gen, T5p 2nd gen and T5 3rd gen use 3.5 mm jacks with Beyerdynamic's locking mechanism.
• Shure SRH1540/1840: MMCX in each earcup. Shure says the connection is not designed for frequent use (Shure).
• Mini XLR 3PIN: common on single-sided headphones.

Some headphones need a check first. Focal Clear, Clear MG, Stellia and Elegia use a 3.5 mm jack in each earcup. Current Hifiman models such as the Sundara and Arya do too, while older ones such as the HE-400i use 2.5 mm. Dan Clark Audio uses Hirose connectors. For these, contact us before you order. Our guide to headphone cable connectors covers every family in detail.

Custom cables for Sennheiser HD headphones

Sennheiser uses several connectors across the HD range, so pick by family. We make cables for all Sennheiser headphones.

• Sennheiser HD600/650: the HD 580, HD 600, HD 650, HD 660S and HD 660S2 use a 2-pin plug in each earcup (Sennheiser).
• Sennheiser HD800: the HD 800, HD 800 S and HD 820 share one connector (Sennheiser).
• Sennheiser HD700: the HD 700 has its own connector.
• 2.5 mm twist-lock: the HD 560S, HD 599 and related models take a single-sided twist-lock plug. Look up your model in the finder for the exact option.

Two exceptions: the HD 490 PRO uses mini XLR, but sources disagree on its pin count, so contact us. The HD 280 PRO cable isn't plug-detachable.

Length is a common reason to go custom here. The HD 650 ships with a 3 m cable, and the HD 660S2 with two 1.8 m cables (Sennheiser lists 3 m cables for the HD 800 S). At 300 Ω, the HD 600 and HD 650 also benefit from a balanced output. See our Sennheiser HD cable guide for more.

Which player plug do you need?

The player plug is the end that goes into your source. Match it to the output you'll use most.

• 4-pin XLR: balanced, with 4 contacts, for desktop amplifiers.
• Pair of 3-pin XLR: balanced, for amplifiers with dual XLR outputs.
• 4.4 mm: balanced, with 5 contacts (4 signal plus ground), for portable players and dongles.
• 2.5 mm: balanced, with 4 contacts.
• 3.5 mm: single-ended, with 3 contacts: left, right and a shared ground.

A balanced cable is one where each channel has its own return wire. With a bridged amplifier, a balanced output roughly doubles the voltage swing. JEITA added the 4.4 mm 5-pole balanced plug to standard RC-8141C in 2016 (Phile-web). A dual-sided headphone can go balanced by changing only the cable. Compare plugs in 3.5 mm, 2.5 mm or 4.4 mm balanced?

How long should a headphone cable be?

Choose the shortest length that reaches comfortably. A cable that is too long gets stepped on, snagged on a chair or coiled on the desk.

• 1.2 m: the standard length. Suits a portable player or a dongle in your pocket.
• 1.5 or 1.8 m: suits a desktop amp within arm's reach.
• 2.0 to 3.0 m: suits a listening chair away from the rack.

Choose Cable length in the configurator. The extra cost shows before you add to cart. For any other length, contact us or WhatsApp +65 8731 5476.

Choosing the conductor

The conductor is the metal inside the cable. Silver's resistivity is about 5% lower than copper's at 20 °C (HyperPhysics). Beyond that, the choice is mostly about handling, looks and the sound you prefer. Sound descriptions below are our own.

• Arete MKV: high-purity UPOCC copper, 100 strands per cable at 24 AWG. We describe it as dynamic, with deep bass.
• Lune MKVIII: silver/copper fusion alloy, 212 strands per cable, a Null Audio best-seller for 15 consecutive years.
• Tiburon MKIII: cryogenically treated monocrystalline 7N copper.
• Hakone MKIII: 7N silver and copper combined.
• Thera MKIII: cryogenically treated monocrystalline 7N silver.
• Aoraki MKIII: a gold and silver Tri-Hybrid in a 28 + 28 + 8 strand geometry.

For a fully bespoke build, Moebius Gold Fusion uses an 8.8% gold/silver fusion core. Compare the metals in Copper vs Silver vs Silver-Plated Copper, or use the checklist in How to choose an earphone cable.

How to order custom headphone cables

1. Look up your headphones in the headphone cable finder and note the option under Choose.
2. Pick a cable from Cables for Headphones.
3. In the configurator, set Headphone connection, the player plug and Cable length.
4. Add to cart. We build it by hand, usually in around 1 week.

Custom spec, length or connector builds can't be returned for a change of mind once production starts. Standard builds can be returned within 14 days with a 30% restocking fee; see shipping and returns. Shipping is by FedEx worldwide, free from USD 250.

Every cable has a 1-year warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship. Products bought within 3 years can also get a flat-rate repair, from USD 30 for most lines; see our warranty page. To keep it working longer, follow How to Make Your IEM Cable Last. If you're unsure about anything, tell us your headphones and amplifier and we'll confirm the build.

Frequently asked questions