Will extension-cable affect impedance?

[Mortis Angelus]

In my computer I have a dedicated soundcard (Creative Sound Blaster AE-5) and it can run headphones up to 600 ohms via its dedicated headphone jack (separate from speaker jack).

 

But I would like to have easier (and cleaner) access to plug in/out my headphones. Is it possible to use an audio extension cable  from that plug, or will this hinder the impedance somehow? Headphones requires 65 ohms of impedance.

 

And no, I'm not gonna buy an external DAC, as the AE-5 is more than excellent once it is setup properly.

 

 

[Dujith]

As for your title question, yes. Any extra length of copper will affect impedance as it will add (a tiny amount) of resistance.

Will you notice this? no. Unless you get absolute crap extension cables it will not matter.

[The Flying Sloth]

If it helps answer your question, a very reputable audiophile ran tests, thousand dollar speaker cables against aluminium foil, surprising nobody there wasn't a difference.
Yes the Impedance will change slightly but as Dujith said above it really won't make a difference so long as the extension cable has metal in it.

Sloth

[Mortis Angelus]

2 hours ago, Dujith said:

As for your title question, yes. Any extra length of copper will affect impedance as it will add (a tiny amount) of resistance.

Will you notice this? no. Unless you get absolute crap extension cables it will not matter.

 

2 hours ago, The Flying Sloth said:

If it helps answer your question, a very reputable audiophile ran tests, thousand dollar speaker cables against aluminium foil, surprising nobody there wasn't a difference.
Yes the Impedance will change slightly but as Dujith said above it really won't make a difference so long as the extension cable has metal in it.

Sloth

 

Thanks guys! I was just worried that transferring the "power" would be dependent on the cables somehow; like you'd need something special like an "active" audio cable or something.

 

But if I understand you correctly, if I use a 1 meter extension cable of good quality and use e.g. a shorter headphone cable (I have 1.2 m and 3 meter) the signal should be the same as if I plugged the 3 m cable directly into the headphone jack? It's all about the source being capable of producing enough power, cable is irrelevant?

[Dujith]

3 minutes ago, Mortis Angelus said:

cable is irrelevant?

At that distance yes. the couplings are gonna be a bigger issue then the cable itself  You will not notice a difference.

A quick calculation tells you this: 1m of extension cable with a copper core 0.8mm2 will be 0.021Ohm extra...so nothing  

[Mortis Angelus]

1 minute ago, Dujith said:

At that distance yes. the couplings are gonna be a bigger issue then the cable itself  You will not notice a difference.

A quick calculation tells you this: 1m of extension cable with a copper core 0.8mm2 will be 0.021Ohm extra...so nothing  

Thanks! I'm just such a noob when it comes to audio.