Jack connectors; Body colour:black
(142)Jack connectors – for professional and everyday use
We use jack connectors every day. They let us listen to music from mobile devices, PCs and consoles. The jack standard has been in use since as early as the 19th century — its first application was in manual telephone exchange systems. Currently, cables with jack connectors are one of the main methods used to send uninterrupted analogue sound signals by wire. There are many kinds of jack connectors. TME offers a wide selection of plugs and sockets.
Jack connectors – what should you pay attention to before you buy?
The main attribute that separates jack connectors is their type: “male” and “female”. Each male connector has a distinct pin. Those pins might all look identical at a glance, but it’s the small differences like number of rings or diameter that decide the use of each connector. Female connectors – or jack sockets – used to insert male jack connectors are similar in this regard. You should also pay attention to their size and mounting method – they can be surface-mounted (SMT) or through-hole mounted (THT).
Jack connectors can be categorised by the number of rings:
- Mono (TS) connectors have no rings and are used with studio equipment, e.g. to connect electric guitars;
- Stereo (TRS) connectors have one ring and are often used in computer/mobile phone headphones;
- TRRS connectors have two rings and enable the use of an additional built-in device. They are frequently used in headsets that send the audio signal to the left and right channels and also support the microphone.
Jack connector sizes
When choosing a jack connector, pay attention to their diameter. There are four sizes:
- 1.5 inch jack (6.35 mm), commonly known as “big jack”, used to connect instruments such as electric guitars or keyboards to mixing consoles and amplifiers. It enables asymmetric transmission (signal is sent individually);
- Minijack (3.5 mm) which is currently the standard in many mobile devices, including MP3 players, smartphones, or iPads, but it’s also used in laptops and PCs. Male 3.5 mm minijacks have become the standard used by most manufacturers of headphones and earbuds. When buying a jack cable, you should pay attention to the number of coloured rings on the plug – that’s what denotes whether the cable supports mono or stereo sound. TME is a comprehensive supplier of jack connectors. Our offer includes products from well-known manufacturers, such as AMPHENOL;
- Microjack (2.5 mm) is a smaller version of the 3.5 mm minijack. It was used in older mobile phones;
- 4.4 mm jack (bant) is mostly used in professional recording studio equipment.
Jack connectors and devices based on them
Since jack connectors have become extremely popular, devices that let you combine connection are becoming more common. Combining connections lets you send signals to or from a device without having the right connector. A whole range of adapters has been created, including the jack-USB adapter that lets you e.g. connect gaming headphones to your smartphone. Male and female jack-jack connectors are also worth mentioning. Using those connectors, you can create makeshift extension cords. This can prove particularly useful for concert audio systems.
Another interesting choice is the single female, double male adapter that lets you connect a microphone and headphones to one cable. It has become essential for all kinds of gaming headsets.
Jack connectors from renowned manufacturers available at TME
Many suppliers offer different kinds of jack connectors. However, you should always pay attention to the cable quality (e.g. if it’s in a braid) as well as the material of plugs and sockets. That will greatly affect the sound quality and the device’s durability. Jack connectors available at TME are made of high quality copper, but we can also personalise orders in accordance with our customers’ needs. Plugs can be gold-plated or made of aluminium.
Body colourblack
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