Headphones and Earbuds with non-detachable cables can be a pain in the butt for two reasons.
If you accidentally damage your cables then you have no other option but to buy a new pair of headphones or earphones.
If your cable gets worn out with time then also you have no other option but to replace your headphone with a new one.
But, if you have an option for a detachable cable then you can replace the old cable with a new cable and prolong the life of your headphone.
Now, how do you pick a headphone or earbud with a detachable cable? To make this decision easier I have compiled a list of best headphones and earbuds with detachable cables.
Page Contents
Quick Summary
If you don’t have the time to go through all my suggestions then you can check out my quick summary of the two best headphones and earbuds.
HEADPHONES
My Top Pick for Headphones with detachable cable is Audio Technica ATH-M50x because of its amazing Sound Quality and great noise cancellation.
My best Budget Pick is OneOdio Headphone because of the decent sound quality and comfort level for the price.
EARBUDS
My Top Pick for Earbuds with detachable cable is SIGMOT EN700 PRO because of its High-Resolution Audio with great Noise Isolation.
My most affordable pick is KZ ZSN because of the decent sound output along with the noise cancellation feature that you get for the price.
Detailed Review of the Best Headphones and Earbuds With Detachable Cable
I gave you a summary of best picks earlier but now it’s time to dig in deeper to the individual reviews with detailed analysis. I have listed 4 headphones and 4 earbuds to make it easier for you to pick one.
AUDIO TECHNICA ATH-M50x HEADPHONE – BEST SOUND QUALITY
The Audio Technica ATH-M50x is a beast when it comes to sound quality.
The detailed clarity of every single beat is something that these headphones are famous for. That is why these headphones are used for Audio Monitoring and Studio Recording. These headphones have a high frequency response and good impedance.
These headphones have narrow soundstage which means the music is played close to your ears. These headphones also provide active noise cancellation which is great for outdoor use in noisy environments.
Build Quality is decent and sturdy but the earcups are made of cheap leather. These headphones can be folded very easily and the earcups can be rotated up to 90 degrees. This makes them Portable.
The Cable length is around 1.2m – 3m and you get a coiled cable. The detachable cable is straight and you get around three detachable cables along with a small bag to keep them.
These headphones can be a little discomforting if you use them for a long period of time say like 6-7 hours continuously. If you use them for a shorter duration then you won’t find any problems with the comfort level.
Overall this is a great pair of headphones if you want beautiful and crisp sound quality without breaking the bank.
PROS
(a) Excellent Sound Quality with Active Noise Cancellation.
(b) Earcups can be swivelled and Headphones are Foldable.
(c) Build Quality is Sturdy.
(d) Long Cable Length and Three Detachable Cables.
CONS
(a) Earcups are made of cheap leather.
(b) You ears will get sweaty if you use them continuously for a long duration.
PHILIPS SHP 9500 HEADPHONE – MOST COMFORTABLE OPTION
These headphones are one of the lightest headphones you’ll get in the market. The earcups are open back and breathable which allows air to come in and get out. The lightness and the quality earcups makes it one of the most comfortable option among all others.
These headphones are over the ear and are full-sized headphones but your ears don’t sweat that much even after prolonged use. The main reason for this is the open back earcups. However, the Earcups are non-replaceable.
The sound quality is also good and you can use them for most tasks. Another great thing about these headphones is that the sound is very loud and you don’t need to turn your volume to max to pick up the minute beats.
The cable length is decent and it is around 1.5m in length. You also get two detachable cables with the product.
The only problem with these headphones is that the open back earcups leak sound which is why they are not considered as Noise Cancelling or Noise Isolation headphones. This makes them a bad choice for outdoor use. However, they are a great fit for indoor use.
Overall, the Philips SHP 9500 is an ideal option for heavy users because of the comfort level.
PROS
(a) Extremely Comfortable to use for long periods.
(b) Good Sound Quality with attention to detail.
(c) Sturdy Build Quality.
(d) Cable quality is decent and cable length is long enough.
CONS
(a) No Noise Cancellation feature.
(b) Sound leaking problem.
(c) Earcups are non replaceable.
SONY WH-CH700N HEADPHONE – BEST WIRELESS OPTION
The Sony WH-CH700N headphones have two models the Wireless and the Wired with detachable cable. The wireless model has a Lithium battery and buttons to control the volume.
The build quality is good and the outer part is made of premium plastic which looks great. The earcups are made of leather with foam inside and feel very comfortable to the ears. The headphones overall are very lightweight.
When it comes to Sound quality these headphones won’t disappoint you. The sound is clear and you can easily differentiate between the beats. However, these headphones don’t block noise properly so they cannot be considered as Noise Cancelling headphones. They are not the best fit for noisy environments.
The Wireless model uses a battery to charge the headphone. The battery life is very good and lasts for around 30 hours of continuous use after a single charge. But, the charging takes a lot of time which is why you should fully charge it before going out.
The Wireless model has buttons to control the volume. These buttons are good quality and register every action without any problem.
These headphones also come with a mic but the quality of the mic isn’t that great. If you’re using the mic for gaming or talking on the phone then you’ll face some problems. It’s better to not use the mic.
The wired model has a decent cable with a length of around 1.5 m which is ideal. You get one detachable cable free with the model.
If you can ignore the noise cancellation feature, the mic and the long charging time of battery then it is a very good headphone to own.
PROS
(a) Very Comfortable to Use for long periods of time.
(b) Good Build Quality and earcups are quite soft.
(c) Good Sound Quality with No Overpowering Bass.
(d) Battery life of Wireless model is excellent.
(e) Cable quality of Wired model is good and the cable is long enough.
CONS
(a) Noise Cancellation feature is absent.
(b) Quality of Mic is poor.
(c) The battery in the wireless model takes a long time to charge.
ONEODIO ADAPTER FREE HEADPHONE – BEST BUDGET OPTION
The OneOdio Adapter Free headphones don’t have the best build quality but considering the price of the product, it is okay.
The outer part of the headphone is made of cheap plastic which doesn’t feel premium at all. The earcups, however, are much better in quality and feel soft which is comfortable to the ears.
These headphones come with two detachable cables of different lengths. The cable lengths are around 1.5 m in length. You have one cable with 3.5 mm jack and another with 6.33 mm jack. The cable with 6.33 mm jack doesn’t come with an adapter. You have to buy it separately.
The Sound Quality of these headphones is not the best. You won’t be able to distinguish between the small and minute beats. The bass also overpowers other sounds. If you are moving to them after using a premium headphone then the sound quality will disappoint you.
These headphones also don’t have Noise Cancellation or Noise Isolation feature.
These headphones also have a mic and again the quality of the mic is terrible to be fair. You cannot use them for calling or chatting while playing multiplayer games.
The battery life of the wireless model is impressive and you can use it for around 24 hours with a single charge. This makes them a good fit for frequent travelers.
If you don’t have a lot of money to spend then the OneOdio is a pretty decent option for you.
PROS
(a) Earcups are of decent quality.
(b) Two Detachable Cables are provided with the product.
(c) Good Cable length.
(d) Sound Quality is okay for the price.
(e) Great battery life.
CONS
(a) Build Quality is Poor.
(b) Noise Cancellation is absent.
(c) Mic Quality is poor.
SIMGOT EN700 PRO EARBUD – BEST SOUND QUALITY AND COMFORT
The Simgot EN700 Pro earbuds are made entirely from Aluminium metal and there is no plastic used in this product. Build Quality is very impressive for an Earphone. The cable comes with crystal Copper and Silver plating which makes it one of the coolest looking Earbuds in the market.
These earphones are very lightweight and are over the ear. The cable is made of copper and silver plating and doesn’t use rubber. This means that the wires won’t get tangled.
These earphones are very comfortable and you will feel like you’re wearing a cloud. You can wear these headphones for a very long time without feeling any kind of pain in your ears.
There are 3 different pairs of ear tips of different sizes namely small, medium and large. Each one of the tips is designed to enhance a particular feature like bass, mids, and treble. You can interchange the tips to find the perfect one for you.
The sound quality of these earphones is impressive. You can hear every tiny detailed beat without missing anything. These headphones also have Active Noise Cancellation and provide Noise Isolation. This makes them a great fit for Noisy Environments and Outdoor use.
They are shipped with two detachable cables and a small pouch to carry them. Overall these earbuds are one of the best in the market if you have the budget.
PROS
(a) Excellent Build Quality.
(b) Impressive Sound Quality.
(c) Active Noise Cancellation and Noise Isolation.
(d) 3 Ear tips are shipped with the Earbud.
(e) Cables don’t get tangled.
CONS
(a) Cables get worn out if you use them roughly.
(b) Costly.
HiFiHEAR BLON BL-03 EARBUD – BEST DESIGN
The BLON BL-03 has a beautiful metallic design and has Carbon Diaphragm Dynamic Drive. These are in-ear earbuds and very lightweight. You won’t feel as if you’re wearing them. These earbuds have 2 pin connectors with a cable length of 1.2 m.
The sound quality of these headphones is quite good for the price. You can clearly identify bass, mids, and treble. The bass can sometimes overpower the others though. The noise cancellation isn’t great but it does perform better than most high-end earphones.
The cable quality is okay but may get worn out quickly after prolonged use. But, you get two detachable cables which pretty much makes up for it.
The Ear Tips are not of the best quality and the nozzle of the ear tips is much shorter. So, they won’t go completely in your ear. These are not comfortable for long term use.
These are a great option for budget friendly users who are not long term continuous users.
PROS
(a) Beautiful Metallic Design. Looks very Sleek.
(b) Decent Build Quality.
(c) Decent Sound Quality.
(d) Two detachable cables with good cable length.
(e) Affordable.
CONS
(a) Ear Tips are not of the best quality.
(b) No Active Noise Cancellation.
(c) Not Comfortable for prolonged use.
MEE AUDIO M6 PRO EARBUD – BEST PACKAGING
The Mee Audio M6 Pro has a plastic build with silicone tips. These silicone tips make the bass quality a little bad but there is no effect on the mids and the treble. The silicone tips may need changing after prolonged usage. Overall the build quality is decent and the sound quality is also good.
These earphones come with two detachable cables and the cable quality is decent. The cable length is not too long which is great because the cable won’t tangle.
There is active noise cancellation and it provides great noise isolation. This feature makes them a great fit for outdoor use in noisy environments.
The volume level is not the best and you may find that the maximum volume of the earphone is not too loud for you.
Another problem with the earphone is that the ear tips get uncomfortable for your ears after prolonged use. If you’re a heavy earphone user then this one is not for you.
However, this is a great option for the price you will be paying. You won’t get such noise cancelling earphones paired with the sound quality for this price.
PROS
(a) Great Sound Quality.
(b) Active Noise Cancellation.
(c) Excellent Packaging.
(d) 6 pairs of ear tips are present in the package.
CONS
(a) These earphones are not very loud.
(b) Silicone tips get worn out quickly.
(c) Not Comfortable for prolonged use.
KZ ZSN EARBUD – MOST AFFORDABLE OPTION
The KZ ZSN has a plastic earpiece but the overall build quality doesn’t feel cheap at all. These are over the ear earbuds and you won’t get tangling cables. The cable quality is one of the best you’ll find and you also get two detachable cables with the product.
The Cable quality is excellent and you won’t get those cables tangled. The cables don’t get worn out easily.
These earphones have a very unconventional design and are much heavier than most. The bulky design makes it uncomfortable for prolonged use.
The sound quality is quite good and you can feel those beats that you generally don’t find with cheap earphones. The overall sound profile is balanced without any overpowering of the bass.
These earphones have Active Noise Cancellation and it is quite good for the price you pay for it. It doesn’t block every single outside noise but blocks most of it.
These earphones are a great fit for people with big ears and want a earphone for rough use.
PROS
(a) Decent Sound Quality.
(b) Two detachable cables are present in the package.
(c) Active Noise Cancellation.
(d) Affordable.
CONS
(a) Quite heavy for a earphone and isn’t comfortable for prolonged use.
(b) Design is unconventional.
What To Look For When Buying Headphones And Earbuds With Detachable Cable – Buyers Guide
There are some things you should consider before buying headphones or earphones. Here is the list of things you should look out for.
EXTRA CABLES
If you’re looking for a headphone or earbud with detachable cable then the most important factor becomes the extra cables that come with the box.
All of my recommended products come with more than one extra cable with some products having up to three extra cables.
The Wireless model doesn’t have any cables so excluding this all other models come with extra cables.
SOUND QUALITY
Some headphones and earbuds have better sound quality than others. A metallic design generally has better sound output than plastic headphones and earphones.
Headphones with higher Frequency response will have better sound quality. Similarly, headphones with a high-frequency range will be able to differentiate between the different beats and you’ll get better sound quality.
Wired headphones have better sound quality than wireless headphones.
FORM
Headphones are generally over the ear and on-ear. On-ear headphones just fit on your ears but Over the ear headphones enclose your entire ear.
In the case of earphones, there is another type known as in-ear. These contain ear tips in the form of nozzles that directly go inside the ear.
Over the ear headphones provide the best sound quality with high active noise cancellation and noise isolation than On-ear headphones. In-ear earbuds also provide better noise isolation than on-ear earphones.
TYPE
There are two different types of headphones Wired and Wireless.
Wired headphones have better sound quality but they are not good for certain cases like playing sports and working out in the gym.
Wireless headphones run on battery and the sound quality is not better than wired headphones. You have to charge your wireless headphones for prolonged use.
Wired headphones generally have better noise cancellation than wireless headphones.
SIZE and COMFORT
The size of headphones is an important factor for your comfort. Bigger headphones are generally uncomfortable for prolonged use because they sweat your ears.
Smaller headphones are generally lightweight and are more comfortable to use for longer periods.
Bigger headphones are a great option for people with big heads and Small-sized headphones are better for people with small heads.
Smaller sized headphones will leak noise and won’t provide active noise cancellation and noise isolation. Bigger headphones have much better noise cancellation.
CABLE LENGTH
The cable length is another factor that affects your decision of buying an earbud. Generally, headphones have much shorter cables and since there is only one wire so there is no possibility of tangling of the wire.
Earbuds have much longer cables and since there are two wires there is a high possibility that your wires will get tangled.
Therefore, it is important that you get an earbud with a medium cable length of around 1.2 meters to 1.6 meters.
BATTERY LIFE and CHARGING TIME (FOR WIRELESS)
The battery life matters if you’re using a Wireless headphone. Some headphones can go up to 30 hours with a single charge while some last only for 12 hours. You have to be careful while looking for headphones with good battery life because most of them don’t offer what they write in their product description.
The charging time also matters if you’re using a wireless headphone. Some headphones take a long time to charge so you should always charge them until the battery is full.
PRICE
The most important factor before you buy a headphone or earbud. One thing you must remember is that a high price doesn’t mean quality.
Some costly headphones don’t have the best sound quality and noise cancellation while other affordable headphones have a much better sound quality and noise isolation.
Conclusion
Headphones and Earbuds with detachable cables are far better than ones with non-detachable cables.
The headphones with detachable cables are good for rough use and you don’t have to worry about the cable getting worn out or damaged.
With so many options available in the market it is difficult to pick one. I hope my list of headphones and earbuds has made this decision easier for you.
If you have any questions regarding anything don’t shy away to comment below. You can even mail me using the contact form in the Contact Us section.