The Benefits of Balanced and Unbalanced Headphone Cables

headphones xlr

A high quality headphone cable does more than just transmit an analog audio signal from one end to the other – it can also significantly improve the sound you hear, especially when listening to music or podcasts. That’s because balanced cables offer superior noise rejection, better tonal balance, and more of the subtle you-are-there spatial detail that can make a huge difference with even casual listening.

There are two common ways to connect headphones: unbalanced and balanced. Most traditional stereo headphones use a standard 3.5mm (one eighth inch) or 6.35mm (quarter inch) plug and socket, usually known as a TRS connector. This has three connections on the plug – the tip is connected to the left and right wires, and the sleeve connects to the ground. This provides a simple way to transmit stereo signals, which is all that most headphones need.

Most newer hi-fi gear and many consumer headphones have a user-detachable cable, making it easy to replace the stock cord with a balanced cable. However, older headphones may be hardwired in, or you may need to get a balanced headphone adapter which converts the standard 1/4″ TRS connection to twin 3-pin XLR connectors, or a single 4-pin XLR connection.

The advantage of balanced headphone wiring is that it separates the left and right signal wires on the headphones into their own dedicated ground and shield wires, so you don’t have to worry about picking up stray noise from other equipment in the same audio chain. While you can still have issues with ground loops if your amplifier or headphones are not designed to be balanced, the extra separation helps reduce these problems, making balanced connections a better choice for most situations.

Balanced headphone connections have the same general wiring as balanced microphone connections, but with the addition of a second ground wire for each channel. This enables the headphones to receive a more consistent and cleaner signal, particularly when used with an equalizer or headphone amp which has a balanced output.

Depending on the specific type of headphone, balanced connections can also provide an additional benefit: the ground and shield wires prevent EMI interference from leaking into the signal on the sensitive headphone drivers, resulting in less distortion and improved clarity.

While XLR connections are more commonly associated with professional audio gear, balanced headphones can be connected to most headphone amplifiers using a standard TRS or balanced 3-pin XLR connector. However, you’ll need to make sure your headphone and amplifier support balanced operation before upgrading to this more expensive option.