Beginners Guide to connectors

[Stagesound]

This is about as basic as it gets, but you'd be surprised how many people getting into audio don't know the proper names of the connectors we use! So in the spirit of a picture being worth 1000 words, here goes...


Connector 'A' - 1/4" (or 6.25mm if you prefer) TRS Jack plug. AKA "stereo jack plug", or "balanced jack" depending on where it's used. Used on professional headphones, balanced connections to 'line level' inputs and outputs on equipment, and on patch bays.

Connector 'B' - 1/4" TS Jack Plug. AKA "mono jack plug", or "unbalanced jack". Used on guitar and other instrument leads, unbalanced 'line' level inputs and outputs. Sometimes used as speaker connectors.

On both of the above, the photo shows the 'A' gauge variant of these. They are also available as 'B' gauge, and although they look very similar, the two are not interchangeable. Virtually the only place you'll find 'B' gauge nowadays is on broadcast patch bays, and some broadcast equipment.

Connector 'C' - 1/8" (more commonly referred to as 3.5mm) TRS jack plug. Commonly used on computer I/O connections, domestic headphones, and anywhere else there's not enough room for a 1/4" jack!
The stereo version is illustrated - also available as a mono plug, though this is less common.

Other variants not shown. The "bantam" jack - similar design, though not interchangeable with any of the others. Generally only found on professional patch bays.

"Jack" plugs are sometimes referred to as "phone" plugs (NOT 'phono' - see below!) because historically, they were used in telephone switchboards.


The phono plug - AKA "RCA plug" - beloved by hi-fi users the world over. Illustrated is a pro quality metal bodied plug - phonos are very commonly found as plastic moulded body connectors. On audio equipment they are used for 'line' level signals, but often at "consumer" levels, which are considerably lower than "professional" levels. Also used on domestic equipment for video connections. These are often colour coded when multiple connectors are handled on one piece of equipment or in one cable. Red is "right channel audio", white (or black) is "left channel audio", and yellow is "composite video".


XLR's - the defacto "pro" connector. On the left, XLR female line connector, and on the right, XLR male line connector. In general (though not always) a connector with pins (the male connector) is the source of signal, whereas the female connector is the destination. (So microphones have male connectors, and mixing desk inputs have female connectors).

Commonly used on audio equipment for both microphone and line level signal connections. The photo shows the most common 3-pin variant, however many other variations are available, and are used for headsets, DMX lighting connections, and other non-audio applications, such as carrying power to cameras etc.

[sureno]

excellent post mate, would be great if you added spdif and ADAT im always getting all that stuff confused
can i add this article to HOTLINKED words in my Glossary?

[Stagesound]

Originally Posted by sureno

excellent post mate, would be great if you added spdif and ADAT im always getting all that stuff confused
can i add this article to HOTLINKED words in my Glossary?

No problem - I'll be happy to add to this as I get around to taking some more pics. Suggestions welcome! (Polite ones anyhow - nothing like "do you know where you can stick that connector mate"! )

[sureno]

Originally Posted by stagesound

no problem - i'll be happy to add to this as i get around to taking some more pics. Suggestions welcome! (polite ones anyhow - nothing like "do you know where you can stick that connector mate"! :d )

lmao
yeah ADAT, S/PDIF even maybe Coaxial would be ideal and digital phono being orange in colour to indicate type and red and white for stereo etc

[Wilty]

Originally Posted by Stagesound

No problem - I'll be happy to add to this as I get around to taking some more pics. Suggestions welcome! (Polite ones anyhow - nothing like "do you know where you can stick that connector mate"!

As long as you have a compatible destination connector anyway

Seriously tho thanks, embarrassingly that corrected some ill-thinking on my part.

[sphelan]

+1 Stagesound. Informative and to the point!