What Does An Auxiliary Cable Do: 8 Things To Know About

Auxiliary cables, mostly shortened as “Aux” cables are digital audio cables for connecting devices that support/feature a 3.5mm jack input/output.

Most Bluetooth and portable speakers support this digital audio input/output. A perfect example of 3.5mm cables (or aux cables) is earphones and headphones.

Notwithstanding, there are standard aux cables sold in the market for audio connections where necessary. With aux cables, you can stream music from your device through your car stereo speakers.

There are pretty many important tips and facts you should know about What Does An Auxiliary Cable Do and they are explained below.

What Does An Auxiliary Cable Do: 8 Things To Know About

Hereunder are the commonest questions you may want to ask about auxiliary cables.

1. What Does An Auxiliary Cable Look Like?

A perfect example of how auxiliary cables look is earphone jacks. Aux cables have the same cable ends as earphones and wired headphones.

The mouth is designed to fit into 3.5mm jack inputs/outputs on any device that supports such connections.

While aux cables may flaunt different aesthetical looks and appearances, they all have the same cable end – a gold/bronze/silver-coated end, made to be lengthy to fit perfectly into 3.5mm inputs.

2. Where Can i Buy An Auxiliary Cable?

Apparently, you will find audio cables in any store that sells speakers, earphones, and audio appliances.

You can buy aux cables from offline stores and online stores like Amazon, eBay, and other places. Interestingly, aux cables are among the cheapest audio cables in the market.

However, since the cables are produced by different companies and the platted end is usually made from different materials, there are a few pricey aux cables in the market too.

But, for as low as $3, you can get high-quality aux cabled from Amazon.

3. What Does An Auxiliary Cable Do?

what is an auxiliary cable used for? The function of aux cables is pretty simple, transmit digital audio from one device to another.

It is important to note that auxiliary connection is a type of digital audio just as USB and HDMI.

Using an aux cable, you can transfer the audio playing on your mobile device to a portable Bluetooth speaker or even your car stereo speakers.

Also, auxiliary cables can be used to connect two audio devices for music playback.

There are pretty many connections you can make with an auxiliary cable. Aux connection is a perfect alternative to use when there’s no USB or HDMI interface on the other device.

4. What Is The Best Auxiliary Cable?

There are many aux cables in the market – finding the best one to buy can be a challenging task. Well, most aux cables are good, but we recommended these few options as among the “top best” buy on Amazon.

4.1.: FosPower Audio Aux. Cable

The FosPower Audio Cable is a sturdy auxiliary cable with a length of up to 15ft. It can be used on vehicles, connecting mobile devices to portable players, and other audio connections.

Interestingly, the connector ends are crafted with 24-karat gold, while the body is made with copper braided shielding and aluminum foil for maximum durability.

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4.2.: Oldboytech Auxiliary Cable

This is one of the most affordable 3.5mm cables on Amazon with gold-plated connectors.

The Oldboytech Auxiliary Cable is available in different sizes and colors, and it is suitable for all kinds of connections where an aux cable is needed.

More so, the design is pretty and the cable is made from a durable material.

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4.3.: Syncwire Nylon Braided Aux Cable

Syncwire is a notable brand in this space; this nylon-braided aux cable from the brand works on all devices, including home audio systems and car stereos.

It is a powerful aux cable, sure to last for a very long time. The Syncwire aux cable guarantees HiFi sound transmission.

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4.4.: iXCC Universal Aux Cable

There is the 6ft option and a 10ft option available on Amazon. iXCC Universal Aux Cable is a 3.5mm cable designed for all auxiliary applications.

It is built with dual-shielding, corrosion-resistant, polished gold-plated metal connectors. The plugs are sturdy enough to withstand heavy usage, and they transmit Hi-Fidelity sound.

5. Are Auxiliary Cable Used In Networking?

No, aux cables are not used in networking environments. There are three major types of networking cables; they are optic-fiber cables, twisted pair cables, and coaxial cables.

If you use auxiliary cables in network connections, apparently, you won’t get any transmission.

6. Why Won’t My Auxiliary Cable Work?

 Well, maybe you bought a bad auxiliary cable and that’s why it is not working, even after you’re sure the connection is properly done.

Also, you should make sure that the cable is well fitted inside the ports, and it’s not loose on any of the ports.

Furthermore, before concluding that the fault is from your aux cable, check if your device is in “Aux Mode.”

Some audio devices require that you put them in “Aux Mode” before they transmit audio through the 3.5mm jack port.

7. Do Auxiliary Cables Affect Sound Quality?

Compared with wireless audio connections, auxiliary cables deliver better and more stable sound quality. Also, the length of auxiliary cables does not affect the audio quality they transmit.

Basically, the same sound quality transmitted by a 3ft aux cable is exactly what you’d get with a 10ft aux cable. Auxiliary connection is not like HDMI that tends to degrade after traveling a certain length.

8. Why Do Auxiliary Cables Go Bad?

As you use your aux cable every day, chances are that one or more times, you’d have to bend or unbend the cable to make your connections.

This constant bending and unbending can cause the cable to go bad (but that doesn’t happen too soon).

wear and tear can also make 3.5mm cables go bad, and if the connectors corrode, definitely, it’d be difficult to get the cable to work again.

What More?

These are the most common questions people ask about auxiliary cables. Yes, just like other audio cables, aux cables can go bad over time, especially when you use them every day.

They are quite affordable in the market, and you can buy them in any audio store around you.