Specifications

Another popular audio connector is the male 1/4 inch phone plug, which

mates with the female 1/4 inch phone jack. The name originates from use of

this connector on early telephone switchboards. These can be found on

cables used with almost any type of audio equipment: headphones,

loudspeakers, amplifiers, signal processing gear, and microphones. Two-

conductor types (sometimes called “TS” or “tip-sleeve”, which refers to the

area of the connector used for each wire) have two distinct segments and

are used for unbalanced mono connections. Three-conductor types

(sometimes called “TRS” or “tip-ring-sleeve”) can be configured to carry a

balanced mono signal or an unbalanced stereo signal. Microphones and

microphone inputs on mixers using 1/4 inch phone connectors are almost

always of the unbalanced high-impedance type.

Another type of audio connector is the miniplug

. Miniplugs come in two

sizes. The 3.5 millimeter version is the same size as those used on

Walkman-type headphones; the 2.5 millimeter size is frequently used for the

earphones supplied with transistor radios. The miniplug resembles a

miniaturized version of the 1/4 inch type, and is notorious for bending or

breaking if bumped while plugged in. Due to their small size, however,

miniplug connectors are frequently used on consumer and even semi-

professional video equipment. They almost always indicate an unbalanced

audio connection, but whether the input is low-Z, high-Z or somewhere in

between is usually anybody’s guess. Most microphones that come

equipped with miniplugs are low-cost units designed for inexpensive tape

recorders. If your equipment only has a miniplug or 1/4” microphone input,

you can still use a good quality professional mic. You just need to obtain a

cable with the appropriate connectors, or in some cases, an impedance

transformer (more about equipment interconnection later).

The fourth type of connector you’ll run into is the male RCA plug

or phono

plug, which mates with the female phono jack. The name “phono” comes

from the fact that these are the standard for connecting phonograph

Connectors commonly used for audio (left to right): XLR (male), XLR (female),

1/4-inch phone plug, RCA or phono plug, 3.5 mm mini plug.