Simple habits that stop IEM cables failing, why cables turn green, how to diagnose crackling or cut-outs, and when a repair makes sense.

The detachable connectors used on audiophile headphones from Audeze, ZMF, Focal, Beyerdynamic and Shure, and how to order the right cable.

Which connector each Sennheiser HD headphone uses, from the HD 600 family to the HD 800 S, and how to choose a replacement or balanced cable.

Which connector Moondrop, Truthear, 7Hz, Kiwi Ears, Simgot and Tin HiFi IEMs use, and what a replacement cable really changes.

Three ways to use wired IEMs with a phone that has no headphone jack, compared: a DAC cable, a dongle DAC or a Bluetooth adapter.

What copper, silver, silver-plated copper and gold-silver conductors really change, what OCC, 7N and Litz mean, and which Null Audio cables use each.

What an upgrade cable can measurably change on in-ear monitors (resistance, fit, microphonics, the right plug) and what is a matter of taste.

What balanced output is, how 3.5 mm, 2.5 mm and 4.4 mm plugs differ, and how to choose the right plug for your DAP, dongle or amp.

How to tell 0.78 mm 2-pin, qdc 2-pin, MMCX, IPX and Pentaconn Ear apart, flat vs recessed sockets, and which Null Audio plug to choose.

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