MONO 3.5 MM OFC BALANCED UPGRADE CABLE

I bought this as a replacement headphone cable for my Focal Elex headphones, being powered by an iFi Hip DAC 3. I had never had any kit previously with a balanced output, but the Hip DAC offered this. The cable came nicely packaged, and is very easy to use with the Focals (everything snapped into place properly). Sound was definitely more resolving with the balanced cable than with the previously used non-balanced cable. If you headphone amp can accommodate a balanced output cable this is recommended.

The right cable on the 3.5mm stopped working after 2 months with zero visible stress or issue. No reason for it to have stopped working, yet I'm out $70 on this worthless cord.

The cable sound very good but broke at the splitting junction really easily.
My cat ran over it and got stuck on his leg so it tear it apart.

This cable is a necessity if you want to get the most out of your Meze Classic line of headphones. It's a magical sound stage emitting from my balanced SDAC. From there via XLR to my Loxjie P20 balanced tube amp. Output from single XLR to the balanced Meze cable. So everything is balanced. I love this cable, not the cost! Still, I am probably going to buy another because it works very well in my Hifiman 4XX and Sundara. I think 2.5mm is easier to use yet 4.4 Pentacon has its size benefits to lessen breakage. No matter, just have some adapters available to go up to 4.4 or down to 2.5. It's all relative in that respect. Remember this, to hear the difference, all ports and devices need to have that balanced handshake or you wont be getting a true balanced sound output. Leading to the sound. It's so amazing, clear and powerful! I do love balanced listening although it took me a while to really understand it. You wont be dissapointed, I can promise that. Yes, you will actually hear the difference, just remember you may need step up or down balanced adapters to go full bore. For my situation, I go from the Meze 2.5mm male jack to a balanced female 4.4mm adapter and finally to my balanced XLR input on my amp, via a XLR single female 4.4mm in. If it sounds like too much work, it isn't at all!! What you get back for your efforts are a sonicically balanced sound that reaches far out creating a very wide soundstage with everything in perfect harmony.

Linking my 99 Classics to the balanced port on my Astell Kern Kann with clear improvement in sound quality. Very easy to switch cables.