[tjkohli]

Maybe it's just me, but I noticed a lot of IEMs and IEM cables terminate in 4.4mm. Why is that? Why not 3.5mm? I understand balanced etc. etc. but does that really make a difference? I've A/B tested balanced and unbalanced cables and, at least with Chord TT2 and Utopia, it makes no discernible difference in sound.

Just wanted to understand the prevalence of 4.4mm despite the fact that 3.5mm is so much more ubiquitous.

 

[skhan007]

I think you answered it in your opening post. People want balanced and perceive it as a benefit or being superior than single-ended.

 

[dunring]

The 4.4mm can carry more voltage and the ground wire can mean lower noise floor or less interference, but not all the time. I still prefer the positive snick of XLR cables, but the balanced 4.4mm is a better design than 3.5mm

 

[tjkohli]

Is there any tangible benefit to using a 4.4mm cable with a 4.4mm → 3.5mm converter or is it better to just have a 3.5mm cable?

 

[Jhwong]

The only thing I know is 4.4 having more power output.