I was looking for a very specific cable that can work in combination with a Motu M2 USB audio interface. What I found is this Devinal 1/4 inch jack to 3.5mm stereo extension cables. These are pretty niche because I was unable to find them locally. Stores like Guitar Center only had those small adapters. If you're in a situation like mine, they could be exactly what you need.
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I have an audio interface that uses 1/4 inch jacks for its headphone output. While that's common for professional audio gear, most of my everyday headphones and earphones use the smaller 3.5mm jack. On top of that, I often find myself needing a bit more cable length for the simple earphones I use when I don't want the stuffy feeling of over-hear headphones. Earphones like the ones I use tend to have shorter cables.
Term definition: An audio interface is a device that connects microphones and other audio gear to your computer. It typically handles analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion, and often includes preamplifiers for microphones and outputs for speakers and headphones. The 1/4 inch jack, also known as a phone jack, is a common connector in professional audio for its robustness. The 3.5mm jack, sometimes called a mini-jack or headphone jack, is more prevalent in consumer electronics like gaming headsets. |
| Showing both the 1/4 inch male connector and the 3.5mm female connector of this extension cable. |
Previously, I've relied on those tiny, single-piece 1/4 inch to 3.5mm adapters. I've not had the best of luck with them. Sometimes the connection isn't solid, the audio cuts out, and I wanted a bit of extra length with as few conversions of connectors as possible. So, I was hoping these Devinal extension cables would offer a more reliable and convenient solution.
Let's take a look at the cables themselves. The package I got includes two of these extension cables.
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| The cables have decent flexibility. |
The build quality feels pretty good right out of the bag. The 1/4 inch jacks are probably gold-plated, which is typical for audio connectors to help with conductivity and prevent corrosion. Importantly, these are stereo jacks, which you can tell by the "Tip-Ring-Sleeve" (TRS) configuration. This means they can carry both left and right audio channels, which is essential for headphones.Term definition: A TRS connector has three conductive parts: the Tip (T) usually carries the left audio channel, the Ring (R) carries the right audio channel, and the Sleeve (S) is the common ground.
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| A close-up shot focusing on the gold-plated 1/4 inch TRS (Tip-Ring-Sleeve) male connectors of the cables. |
The housing around the 1/4 inch jack is metal, which adds to the sturdy feel. The part where the cable enters the housing seems to be a plastic strain relief.
The cable itself is braided, which I generally like as it can help with durability. It has a good amount of flex to it and seems to be a nice quality. It's also pretty thick, which I think is probably a good thing for an audio cable, suggesting it might be well-shielded or have decent gauge wires inside.
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| Bending the braided cable to show its flexibility. |
On the other end, we have the female 3.5mm connection point. This is where you'll plug in your standard headphones or earphones. This end also features a metal housing, maintaining the quality feel.
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| A close-up of the female 3.5mm connector end of the extension cable. |
Inserting my earphones into the 3.5mm port is not an especially easy or smooth with insertion, but it goes in there and makes a solid strongly locking connection.
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| A 3.5mm earphone's jack being inserted into the female end of the Devinal extension cable. |
With this setup, I now have that additional bit of length from the extension cable, plus the original length of my headphone cable. This is exactly what I was looking for to connect to my audio interface.
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| The 1/4 inch jack of the extension cable being plugged into a MOTU M2 audio interface. |
The sound quality is good, with no noticeable issues, crackling, or dropouts if I push on the two ends of the extension cable while in use.
Of course, the real test will be how these hold up over a longer period of time. I'm hoping these will work better and be more reliable than the tiny little adapters I've used in the past. Time will tell, but my initial impressions are very positive.
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| The Devinal 1/4 inch to 3.5mm extension cable in its original packaging. |