Auxiliary cables solve the problem of connecting a media playing device to the audio setup of your vehicle. This allows you to listen to audio that’s stored on your smartphone, laptop, tablet or other device. For the small investment you’re getting a reliable connectivity solution, and we have researched the best aux cables for cars in the industry.
The Best Aux Cable
This is one of the shorter auxiliary cables on this list at three feet, but the gold-plated connectors ensure the levels of audio distortion are kept to a minimum. This auxiliary cable for cars can be combined with Samsung devices, Apple devices, MP3 players, and much more. If you’re looking for higher levels of audio flexibility in your car, then this iXCC 3-Ft auxiliary cable is a nice addition.
The dual shielding of the metal connectors has a nice finish, and it can withstand heavy usage for a long time to come. The format implemented is 3.5mm, which means you’ll need to use compatible devices when making a connection. The flexible jack can fit into tight spaces because of the slim design. This is an important design consideration because some auxiliary cables struggle with compatibly due to having thick connectors. Additionally, the tangle-free design is much appreciated since you’ll have lower levels of frustration whilst using the cable on a daily basis. The two-year warranty is another benefit that indicates the manufacturer is confident about its product.
- 3.5mm format
- 2 year warranty
- Gold plated finish
- 3 feet
- Brand iXCC
- Model i-stereo-mm-3ft-01
- Weight 2.4 ounces
One of the better auxiliary cables that are designed for the demanding user is the Monster Cable AI 800 MINI-7. It allows you to enjoy music, podcasts and talk radio in your car via a media playing device. The Dual Balanced conductors lead to natural audio reproduction, and it ensures the levels of distortion are kept to a minimum. There is a DoubleHelic construction that also keeps the electromagnetic distortion low, which allows the quality of the audio to not be reduced.
This is a seven-foot cable, so you can reach the port in your car from any seat. Furthermore, the 24K gold contact ensures the quality of the connection is not compromised. This feature is one that you need to look out for when trying to buy a wired connection of any type. The Monster Cable AI 800 MINI-7 auxiliary cable can help for those of you that are looking with more flexibility regarding the audio experience in your car.
- DoubleHelic construction
- 7 feet cable
- 24K gold contact
- Brand Monster Cable
- Model AI 800 MINI-7
- Weight 3.84 ounces
The AmazonBasics 3.5mm auxiliary cable is great value for the money that is reliable for long term use. It’s four feet, which is of a decent length, but if that’s too short then you can upgrade to the longer eight-foot version. The warranty is for one year, which means you have the peace of mind that you have protection during the first year of use. The compatibility is excellent as you can connect virtually any media playing device – like an iPod or notebook.
The gold-plated design contributes towards a non-static experience with next to no distortion. The uncoiled design mean tangling of the cable is kept to a minimum, which reduces the frustration of using the AmazonBasics 3.5mm auxiliary cable in your car. This cable allows you to have a lot of fun in your car as portable music devices can be used to allow you to enjoy the audio in your entire car. This means you can share music with other passengers using your personal smartphone.
- 4 feet/1.2m
- 3.5mm
- Gold platted
- Male to male connection
- Brand AmazonBasics
- Model AZ350001B
- Weight 0.48 ounces
Ringing in at 3 feet long, the Ugreen Nylon Braided Aux Cable is both affordable and effective. It’s compatible with all types of devices, ranging from standard auto speakers to smartphones. Running on a male-to-male connection, this aux cord streams high fidelity sound without the need for a converter. Thanks to the gold-plated connecting points, this cable is able to transmit sound without static. The result is a clean sound that lets you truly appreciate the music. Coated in woven nylon, the cord is flexible yet resistant to damage. It’s easy to store, since the nylon protects against tangles. Paired with the brass ends, the risk of cracking this cord is nominal. Touting an affordable price point and universal fit, this is a clear winner in terms of value.
The only downside of note is the length. Three feet is sufficient in many situations, but not all. You can get this cord in longer models, but the price point increases proportionately. However, if you’re looking for a cost-effective cord for your car, this is definitely a good pick.
- Nylon braided jacket
- 3 feet in length
- Male-to-male connection
- Gold-plated plug-in points
- Brand Ugreen
- Model 50355
- Weight 0.704 ounces
If you’re looking for an aux cord that connects via USB, the Esbeecables Auxiliary Cable is a solid option. The cord itself is over 3 feet long, with a gold-plated male plug on one end. The other end features an up-to-date aux chip so you can connect the cord to a modern smartphone. As for the wire itself, it’s made out of quality wire, housed in a dual-protected jacket. Everything from the streamlined USB chip to the flexible wire is meant to perfect the resulting sound. An added benefit is that this cord features a stylish, zebra-patterned exterior that makes it easy to spot in a car’s interior. Everything from the nylon braiding to the internal wire is meant to provide a high-fidelity sound, void of static from input to output. When it comes to type-c cables, this model sets the bar high.
Keep in mind that this aux cord connects to a USB on one end, rather than the commonplace male-to-male attachment. It’s ideal for connecting modern devices to older vehicles, just make sure that this is the type of connection you need.
- Standard 3.5 millimeter connectors
- Male-to-male design
- Measures 3.3 feet long
- 24 karat gold-plated connection
- Brand esbeecables
- Model FBA-RY-001
- Weight 0.774 ounces
Are you in the market for a reliable auxiliary cable that’s compatible with a wide range of media playing devices like iPods and smartphones? Then the AUX Cable Syncwire Audio Cord is an excellent choice that gets the job done for a long time to come. The polished gold plated design ensures the distortion levels will be extremely low – this allows the audio quality to be maintained at high levels. Also the friendly fit design means the cable can fit in tight spaces, which can sometimes be a problem with other auxiliary cables that have a bigger design.
The format is a 3.5mm and the ultra-durable design allows for 15,000+ in and out motions. This high bend life means you’ll go longer before you need to replace the AUX Cable Syncwire Audio Cord with an alternative. Furthermore, the premium support of the customer service department from Syncwire is another attractive feature that increases the value of this purchase.
- 15,000+ bend life
- 3.5mm format
- 3.3 feet
- Premium customer service
- Brand Syncwire
- Model SW-SC017
- Weight 0.64 ounces
Auxiliary Cable Buying Guide & FAQ
In this section of the best auxiliary cables for cars buying guide we will share the common questions asked and some background on how auxiliary cables work. Getting clued up on the details of these products allows you to make an educated choice from the marketplace.
However, keep in mind that our list of the 7 auxiliary cables represents the best options in the market right now – you’ll struggle to find a better choice out there. Nevertheless, you need to make a choice among them and it will be a straightforward process once you digest the info given in this buying guide.
The length of auxiliary cables for cars that you’ll find on our list range from 3.3 feet to 7 feet, and the most common size being 4 feet. The size that you buy depends on your requirements. If you are going to be connecting your media playing device from the front seat, then the shorter length is adequate. However, if you need to have the option to conveniently connect devices from the back seats to the control center.
Car auxiliary cables are one of those products where the brand isn’t as important as for other product. To work out the quality you simply need to pay attention to the most important features. This includes if the connectors are gold plated, the quality of the copper used, and the bend life. Furthermore, the quality of the customer service support should be considered. Brands like Syncwire provide an excellent level of customer service that provides solution during problems.
The cables on this list have a 3.5mm format, and that’s also the case for the majority of auxiliary ports in cars around the world. If your media playing devices has a 3.5mm jack, then you can use any of the cables on this list without worry of incompatibility.
An auxiliary input is the most popular audio connection where sound input is possible via an auxiliary cable. They have the appearance of a headphone socket, and are present in a number of devices. They can be used to play music in your car and are supported worldwide.
The 3.5mm auxiliary input is the most common one and it will be located in the glovebox, armrest or most commonly in the center console. You simply put one end of the car auxiliary cable in your device (for example, iPhone or laptop), and the other end would go in the aux input port. Also the stereo in your car must be placed in auxiliary mode, and then you would simply use the interface of your audio device to adjust the volume and select the audio you want to play.
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Choosing the Right Aux Cable
There are a number of different buying factors that must be considered when buying an auxiliary cable for your car. If you’ve never bought an auxiliary cable before, then these buying factors will allow you to understand which one will meet your requirements. Auxiliary cables for the most part perform a simple function, but there are subtle differences between cables that should be understood before purchase.
- Gold jack: mid and high-end products will contain a gold plated audio jack, and this is an important feature to have. That’s because gold is by far one of the best materials for transmitting an electrical impulse. This allows you to experience the best possible sound as the disturbance will be non-existent. The layer of gold is typically very thin, which means the price will not be significantly higher.
- Materials: the quality of the material used should also be considered. Pretty much all wires use copper, but the quality of the copper might differ from one wire to another. It’s better to look for a cable with a better copper compound so that you’re able to enjoy higher quality audio reproduction.
- Get the best cord, not the best deal: it’s important to consider the quality of the auxiliary cable as opposed to just paying attention to the price. To enjoy audio for the long term a quality cable is the way to go as opposed to looking to cut corners with the price.
- Compatibility: the majority of devices are setup to use the 3.5mm standard, but that isn’t always the case. Therefore, you need to check with your specific equipment to see what you need to purchase in order to ensure compatibility doesn’t become a problem.
- Bend life: the bend life is the number of times that the auxiliary cable can be inserted and taken out before signs of wear and tear begin to take place. Ideally this value should be above 10,000, but 15,000 is even better.
Sources:
- AUX Inputs – InCarCables
- 6 Best Aux Cables – Caroutfitter
- How to Plug Your iPod Into Your Car Stereo With an Auxiliary Cable – wikiHow