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If you want one cable that covers a wide spread of full-size headphones from Sennheiser and Audio-Technica, choose FAAEAL Replacement Audio Upgrade; if you need a longer, braided in-ear monitor cable with a choice of plugs and pin types, choose H HIFIHEAR 1.5m/4.92ft.
• FAAEAL Replacement Audio Upgrade — biggest strength: a 3.5mm-to-2.5mm twist-lock cable with a 90-degree L plug, built specifically for a long list of Sennheiser HD-series and Audio-Technica ATH-M-series headphones.
• FAAEAL Replacement Audio Upgrade — biggest trade-off: it's one fixed configuration (2.5mm headphone end, 3.5mm device end, black PVC, no length stated), so it only fits headphones that take that connector.
• H HIFIHEAR 1.5m/4.92ft — biggest strength: a 1.5m, 8-strand braided IEM cable with 14 cores per strand (112 inner cores total), 4N OFC silver-plated conductors and a choice of 3.5mm or 4.4mm plugs plus MMCX, 0.78mm 2PIN or 2PIN-QDC pins.
• H HIFIHEAR 1.5m/4.92ft — biggest trade-off: it's aimed at in-ear monitors, so it won't fit the Sennheiser/Audio-Technica full-size models the FAAEAL covers; you also have to pick the right pin and plug up front.
• Who each pick is for: the FAAEAL is for owners of compatible Sennheiser or ATH-M headphones who want a simple, secure drop-in replacement; the H HIFIHEAR is for IEM users who want more length, a braided build and the option of a balanced 4.4mm connection.
The FAAEAL Replacement Audio Upgrade is a purpose-built headphone cable. One end is a 2.5mm plug that twists and locks into the headphone; the other is a standard 3.5mm jack that goes into a phone, computer, player or any other device with a 3.5mm output. The headline feature for many buyers is the 90-degree right-angle L plug at the headphone end. An L-shaped plug sits flush against the cup instead of sticking straight out, which matters if you move around while listening or if the cable has ever caught on something and pulled. The twist-lock design adds another layer of security — once seated, the connector is meant to stay put.
Who should buy it: anyone whose compatible Sennheiser or ATH-M headphone cable has failed, gone scratchy, or is simply too short or too long for how they listen. Who should skip it: if your headphones use MMCX or 2-pin IEM connectors, or you want a balanced 4.4mm plug, this isn't the cable for you. It's also the wrong pick if you want a defined, published length — the sheet doesn't state one, so measure what you actually need before ordering.
H HIFIHEAR 1.5m/4.92ft: Who It's For
The H HIFIHEAR 1.5m/4.92ft is an in-ear monitor cable — the KBEAR ST12 Max — and its whole design brief is different. It's 1.5 meters, which is the point of the product: the listing is explicit that this exists for people who find a 1.2m cable too short, or who'd rather stay wired than go Bluetooth. For desktop listening, a longer run from your ear to your DAC or laptop is genuinely useful, and 1.5m gives you room to move your head without tugging.
The conductor spec is the other story. It's an 8-strand braided cable with 14 cores per strand, totaling 112 inner cores, made from 4N OFC silver-plated wire at 22AWG. The description claims this weaving and core count improves high-frequency clarity, midrange detail and bass fullness, and increases voice density and high-frequency extension. I'd treat the sonic claims as marketing language rather than a guarantee, but the physical spec — silver-plated OFC, 22AWG, eight strands — is a legitimately substantial conductor for an IEM cable, and braided builds like this resist tangling and store easily. The exterior is a soft, flexible braid with pre-shaped ear hooks that follow the curve of the ear.
Connector options are where this cable gets flexible. You choose a 3.5mm standard plug or a 4.4mm balanced plug, and you choose MMCX, 0.78mm 2PIN or 2PIN-QDC pins. Gold plating is used on the pins and plugs for wear resistance. The listed 2-pin compatibility covers a lot of ground: KZ models like ZST, AS10, ZSR, ES3, ES4, ZS10, ZS10 PRO, ZSN PRO X and EDX; TRN V80/V90/VX; Simgot EN700 Pro and EM6L; Moondrop Aria and Chu; BLON Jojo; Tangzu Wan'er S.G; Shure SE215 through SE846; and TinHiFi T2, T4, P1 plus and T2 plus. The cable uses one-piece injection molding and is described as passing a high-intensity tension test, with anodized aluminum alloy connectors and a gray finish (also offered in black and black-blue).
Who should buy it: IEM owners who want a longer, better-built cable, and especially anyone whose source has a 4.4mm balanced output. Who should skip it: full-size headphone owners — this won't fit them — and anyone who isn't sure which pin type their IEM uses, because the three options aren't interchangeable.
• Best for full-size Sennheiser or Audio-Technica headphones → FAAEAL Replacement Audio Upgrade. The compatibility list is the deciding factor.
• Best for in-ear monitors → H HIFIHEAR 1.5m/4.92ft. It's an IEM cable by design, with the pin options to match.
• Best for cable length certainty → H HIFIHEAR 1.5m/4.92ft. It's specified at 1.5m; the FAAEAL sheet doesn't state a length.
• Best for a secure, low-profile connection → FAAEAL Replacement Audio Upgrade. The 90-degree L plug and twist lock are built for that.
• Best for balanced audio setups → H HIFIHEAR 1.5m/4.92ft. The 4.4mm balanced plug option is only on this cable.
• Best for conductor spec → H HIFIHEAR 1.5m/4.92ft. 8 strands, 14 cores each, 112 cores total, 22AWG silver-plated OFC.
• Best for a no-decisions replacement → FAAEAL Replacement Audio Upgrade. One configuration, straight swap, as long as your headphones are on the list.
• Best for tangling resistance and storage → H HIFIHEAR 1.5m/4.92ft. The braided exterior is designed to stay soft and pack away neatly.
My Verdict
In my opinion, these two barely compete — they serve different headphones. If you own a Sennheiser HD598, HD560S, HD599 or an ATH-M50x and need a replacement cable, I'd buy the FAAEAL Replacement Audio Upgrade. The compatibility list, the twist lock and the right-angle plug are exactly what a full-size headphone replacement needs. If you're an IEM user, the H HIFIHEAR 1.5m/4.92ft is the one I'd pick, because the 1.5m length, braided 112-core silver-plated build and the 4.4mm balanced option give you far more to work with. Decide by your headphone connector first — that answers the question faster than any spec.
The FAAEAL Replacement Audio Upgrade. It's listed as compatible with HD560S, HD599, HD599SE, HD598, HD598CS, HD598SR, HD569, HD579, HD518, HD518SR and HD558. The H HIFIHEAR cable is for in-ear monitors with MMCX or 2-pin connections, not these headphones.
Yes — it's offered with either a 3.5mm standard plug or a 4.4mm balanced plug, so pick the 4.4mm version if your player or amp has a balanced jack. The FAAEAL cable is 3.5mm to 2.5mm only.
The H HIFIHEAR is 1.5 meters (4.92ft), and that length is the reason it exists — it's for people who find a 1.2m cable too short. The FAAEAL sheet doesn't list a cable length, so if length matters to you, that's a point in favor of the H HIFIHEAR.
I don't quote prices here because they change; check the current price on Amazon for both before deciding. On specs alone, the H HIFIHEAR packs more conductor and more connector options, while the FAAEAL wins on plug-and-play fit for specific full-size headphones — value depends on which of those you actually need.
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