Last Updated: on November 11, 2023 by Jack
Braided headphone cables aren’t that common, as the material of choice for wired headphone and earphone cables these days is rubber.
Braided cables have their advantages for headphones, but there’s no reason to switch from a rubber design for most users if you’re content with the cabling and audio produced.
Key Takeaways
- Braided cables are a popular choice for headphones because they last longer and avoid wear better than non-braided ones.
- They still deliver excellent sound quality by reducing electromagnetic interference from other devices.
- The unique design of braided cables also makes them a stylish addition to your headphones, adding a touch of elegance.
- Although durable, both types of cables still require good care and maintenance to ensure their longevity.
Differences Between Braided and Non-Braided Cables
When deciding whether to opt for headphones with a braided or non-braided cable, it’s essential to understand the differences between the two types.
| Features | Braided Cables | Non-braided Cables |
|---|---|---|
| Durability | Braided cables are considered more durable and have a longer lifespan than their non-braided counterparts. | Non-braided cables, although durable, don’t stand up to wear and tear as well as braided ones. |
| Appearance | Braiding is often seen as a decorative alternative, adding a stylish touch to headphones. | Non-braided cables have a simple, less embellished appearance. |
| Protection | Braided cables offer better protection against damage, making them a good choice for preserving headphones for a longer period. | Non-braided cables provide less protection against external damage. |
| Material | Headphone braided cables are typically made of thin twisted copper wires, offering flexibility and damage resistance. The material used, such as copper or silver, can affect their performance. | Non-braided cables are also typically made of copper or silver. Still, their performance may be less optimal due to the lack of braiding. |
Benefits of Braided Cables
Durability and Resistance To Wear and Tear
Braided cables add an extra layer of durability to your headphones. They feature a mesh-like shell that prevents unnecessary bends, reducing the risk of internal wire damage, especially when coiling them for storage.
Having multiple layers, these cables stand up well to daily use and resist tangles better than traditional rubber-coated wires. The extra strength adds longevity to your headphone cables, saving you from unnecessary stress and time wastage due to persistent entanglements.
Investing in headphones with braided cabling might be a smart choice for frequent gamers or serious music setups that constantly deal with tangled cables because they add years to your headphone’s lifespan, even amidst rough and constant handling. Usually, the longer, better quality extension cables use braid for extending audio across rooms rather than rubber, as it’s more reliable overall to move around at length.
Improved Signal Quality
Braided cables significantly enhance the signal quality of your headphones. Layers of intertwined wires in a braided cable help reduce electromagnetic interference from other devices, ensuring clean and clear sound output.
The copper or silver used in these cables further boosts their performance, translating into rich and detailed audio. In the realm of gaming, this superior signal can make all the difference, delivering crisp sounds for an immersive experience.
Using multicore wires over single-core ones also proves advantageous for improved sound transmission through braided cables. Plus, they offer protection against damages such as cuts and snaps, which might disrupt your audio experience otherwise.
There’s not much difference regarding sound quality between braided and rubber headphones.
Style and Aesthetics
Braided cables not only offer durability, but they also look pretty nice to the eye to go along with it. Their intricately woven patterns impart an aesthetic appeal that rubber or plastic cables lack.
With rubber cables, you typically only get two colours – black and white, whereas with braided ones, you have a lot of different colours and patterns to choose from. They’re quite popular with gamers looking to add a touch of style to their gaming setups.
Is aesthetics enough of a reason to go with a braided design? They are more popular than you would think based solely on their appearance.
Most audiophiles would argue that the only real appeal of a braided cable is the appeal of the aesthetics.
What About Flexibility?
Rubber is slightly more flexible than braid for twisting the cable around in different directions, as there’s simply less resistance. It’s harder to bend the woven braid because it’s a little stiffer than the rubber and holds its shape better. Also, as mentioned further up, it has less chance of damage when being twisted and turned around continually.
Therefore, although the rubber is easier to shift about and twist, the braided cable is probably designed better for flexibility in the long term.
Types of Cable Braids
Distinguishing between different types of cable braids is crucial when choosing headphones. Here are the various types that you will typically come across:
- Twisted pair: A common type found in headphone cables involves twisting two wires together to enhance flexibility and resistance to damage.
- Regular braid: This design includes several wires braided together for an improved aesthetic approach and added strength.
- Spiral braid: This type features wires spiralling around a central wire, offering superior protection against damage.
- Shielded braid: Often used for high-quality headphones to protect the inner wires from any interference.
- Double braid: For ultimate toughness, double braids consist of two layers of braiding, increasing durability significantly.
Importance of Proper Cable Maintenance
Taking care of your cables prolongs the life of your headphones and optimises their performance. Here are some handy tips to ensure your headphone cables, whether braided or rubber, stay in top-notch condition:
- Avoid winding the cables too tightly, which can stress them out and cause damage over time.
- Ensure you’re not frequently yanking or pulling on the cord, which can lead to internal damage.
- Avoid exposing your cables to extreme temperatures, as this might impact their functionality.
- Keep your headphone wires away from sharp objects; they can easily cut into thin cables and cause irreversible harm.
- Clean regularly with a dry cloth, keeping in mind that moisture and dirt can degrade the quality of material used in wiring, like copper or silver.
- When storing headphones, loosely coil the cable without tight bends to prevent internal breakage.
- Even though braided cables are great for durability, they still demand proper maintenance for optimum longevity.
- Wireless headphones may have a lower risk of cable damage, but the same precautions apply if they come with charging cables.
Conclusion
Braided is more durable and long-lasting than rubber in the long run. Still, there’s not much between braided and non-braided headphone cables overall. There’s no reason to switch if you’re content with what you have.
Although braided should offer a better sound quality on paper, the sound difference is negligible between the two and probably comes down to the manufacturing quality of the headphones rather than the cable.
One of the biggest selling points is the different designs and patterns that you get with braided cables.