Headphone Cable Connectors Explained: Mini XLR, Focal, Beyerdynamic and More

Headphone cable connectors on audiophile headphones fall into a few families. Audeze and ZMF use 4-pin mini XLR. Hifiman, Focal Clear and Beyerdynamic use 3.5 mm or 2.5 mm jacks in each earcup. Shure's SRH1540 and SRH1840 use MMCX, while Sennheiser and the Focal Utopia use their own connectors. Identify the earcup connector first, then pick the player plug.

Looking for a specific model? The headphone cable finder lists the connector on 170 headphones.

This guide is for anyone replacing or upgrading a detachable headphone cable. It explains the main headphone cable connectors, how to tell them apart, and which option to choose when you order a Null Audio cable. It also covers the player plug, which is a separate choice.

What are headphone cable connectors?

A headphone cable has two ends. The earcup connector is the end that plugs into the headphone. The player plug is the end that goes into your amplifier, DAC or player. When people talk about headphone cable connectors, they usually mean the earcup end, because it varies the most between brands.

A detachable cable is one you can unplug from the headphone without tools. It means a damaged cable can be replaced, and you can change the length or plug later. In-ear monitors have their own set of connectors, covered in 2-pin, MMCX, IPX or Pentaconn Ear and our IEM connector guide.

How to identify your connector

• Count the sockets. One socket per earcup means dual-sided; one socket in total means single-sided.
• Look inside the socket. A round jack hole, a set of pins or a small coaxial post each point to a different family.
• Check for a lock. Note any collar, latch or twist action on the original plug.
• Compare with the table below. If your model is missing, take a close-up photo and send it to us.

Which headphone cable connectors do popular models use?

The table lists common headphones, the connector in the earcup, and the option to choose when you order from us.

Sources: Audeze's mini XLR from retailer listings such as Thomann, LEMO on the Focal Utopia page, and MMCX on Shure's SRH cable page. Makers sometimes change connectors between revisions, so check the sockets on your own headphones. If in doubt, send us a close-up photo before you order.

Mini XLR: 3-pin vs 4-pin

Mini XLR is a small locking connector. It comes in more than one pin count, and the versions look alike.

4-pin mini XLR

Dual-sided headphones such as Audeze and ZMF use a 4-pin mini XLR in each earcup. Both use the same connector, so one cable design fits both brands.

3-pin mini XLR

Single-sided headphones, where one cable carries both channels into one earcup, often use a 3-pin mini XLR. Sennheiser's HD 490 PRO also uses mini XLR in a single earcup, but sources disagree on its pin count. Contact us to confirm that one.

Does dual-sided or single-sided matter?

A dual-sided headphone is one with a connector on each earcup, so the cable splits into two leads. A single-sided headphone takes one cable into one earcup and runs the other channel through the headband.

What it means for balanced

A balanced cable is one where each channel has its own return wire, rather than a shared ground. On a dual-sided headphone, every channel already has its own wires. That makes a balanced cable simple: only the player plug changes.

On a single-sided headphone, it depends on the connector's contacts. A 4-pin connector can carry a balanced signal. A 3-pin one can't, because left and right share a ground.

Why do locking connectors matter?

Several headphone connectors lock: Beyerdynamic's 3.5 mm jacks, mini XLR, Focal's LEMO and Sennheiser's twist-lock. A lock stops the cable pulling out when it snags. When you replace a cable, the new plug needs the matching locking feature, or it may pull out or not seat fully. We build the matching connector for each headphone listed above.

MMCX on headphones

MMCX is a small snap-on coaxial connector that can rotate in its socket. It is common on in-ear monitors, and Shure uses it on the SRH1540 and SRH1840. Shure says the connection is not designed for frequent use. Audio-Technica lists loose fit, overly tight fit and dropouts when rotating as known MMCX problems (Audio-Technica: A2DC). If you own an SRH1540 or SRH1840, plug and unplug it as little as you can.

A2DC

A2DC is Audio-Technica's Designed Detachable Coaxial connector. Choose "A2DC Headphone" for Audio-Technica headphones with A2DC sockets.

Choosing the player plug

The player plug should match the output on your source. For headphones, the usual choices are below.

• 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, for players with a 2.5 mm output.
• 3.5 mm: single-ended, with 3 contacts (left, right and a shared ground).

JEITA added the 4.4 mm 5-pole balanced plug to standard RC-8141C in 2016 (Phile-web). A balanced output with a bridged amplifier roughly doubles the voltage swing. That helps high-impedance headphones such as the 300 Ω Sennheiser HD 600 and HD 650. See 3.5 mm, 2.5 mm or 4.4 mm balanced? and our player plug guide.

Which cable material should you choose?

Every Null Audio cable for headphones is built to order in Singapore with the connector, length and plug you choose. Browse Cables for Headphones to see the range.

• Arete MKV (from USD 109): high-purity UPOCC copper, 100 strands per cable at 24 AWG.
• Lune MKVIII (from USD 149): silver/copper fusion alloy, 212 strands per cable.
• Tiburon MKIII (from USD 199): cryogenically treated monocrystalline 7N copper.
• Aoraki MKIII (from USD 699): gold and silver Tri-Hybrid, 28 + 28 + 8 strand geometry, cryogenically treated.

Compare the metals in Copper vs Silver vs Silver-Plated Copper. Every cable has a 1-year warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship; see our warranty page.

Order the right cable

Start with the earcup connector, then choose the player plug and length. If your headphones aren't in the table, or you're unsure, tell us your headphones and amplifier. Send a close-up photo of the sockets, and we'll confirm the connector before we build.

Null Audio has built cables by hand in Singapore since 2008. Shipping is by FedEx worldwide, free from USD 250; see shipping and returns.

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