Well your questions sparked me to look again for a short cable that's not $40...

And whatdaknow found these, look like same quality as the expensive ones and like $6. I ordered the blue and silver ones.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256809616408632.html

Once they get here in two weeks I'm going to try them out...but now I need to find a DAC/amp combo that's clip on lol