Tag: 3.5mm jack

What Types Of 3.5mm Audio Cables Exist?

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Stereo audio cables with 3.5mm plugs and jacks are designed to connect headphones and earbuds to devices that offer audio output, such as PC sound cards, mini stereo audio devices, portable CD players, DVD players, MP3 players and televisions.

A diverse and premium audio standard, here are the different types of 3.5mm audio cable out there.

Mini Plug to RCA

These cables connect iPods and stereos to computers. One end of the cable has the 3.5mm end, and the other end features two color coded RCA plugs. The two plugs optimize signals to provide better performance.

Female Jack to RCA

This cable features a female 3.5mm connector at one end, and two RCA connectors on the other end. That is the RCA to female jack design.

Mini Plug to Female RCA

One end features a mini 3.5mm connector. One the other end there are two female RCA connectors, which allow male RCA connectors to be inserted.

Stereo Headphone Jack Splitter

One end has a 3.5mm male connector which plugs into the audio device. The other end has two female 3.5mm connectors, which allows for two sets of headphones to be connected. While this cable splits the sound, only one stereo signal is transmitted, so that there is no stereo sound in the headphones.

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3.5mm to 3 RCA

This cable can be used to connect cameras and camcorders, as it connects audio and video signals. One end contains a male 3.5mm connector. The other end features three male RCA connectors, used to transfer audio signals and video signals.

RCA to 3.5mm Mono

These cables feature a mono 3.5 mm connector on one end, and a RCA connector on the other end. The connectors on an RCA to 3.5mm cable are gold plated, and are used to connect mono audio output to a sound mixer.

Headphone Extension Cables

These cables are used to increase the length of the headphone cable. One end of the cable features a 3.5mm connector, and the other end features a female connector. These cables vary in length, from 6 feet to 100 feet, and they do not water down the quality of the audio signal. Extension cables are useful especially if the user is watching television and does not want the sound to disturb others.

Patch Cables

These cables can range from 3 feet to 100 feet, and are used to connect a variety of audio devices. A popular use for this type of 3.5mm cable is to connect MP3 players to car stereo systems. The cable features male 3.5mm connectors on both ends.

PrimeCables.ca carries all these varieties of 3.5mm jacks, connectors, cables, and adapters. Any time you need 3.5mm, don’t hesitate to stop by and check out our website for more info on what to buy.

What’s The Difference Between 2.5mm and 3.5mm Headphone Jacks?

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Even though wireless headphones and earbuds are very popular, many people still use wired headphones. These headphone wires have different sized headphone jacks. The most common sizes are 2.5mm and 3.5mm jacks.

Jacks and Plugs

When referring to headphone jacks, the term is often used to refer to both the jack and the plug.

For this article’s purpose, the headphone jack is the female receptacle end on the device transmitting the audio signal, such as an MP3 player, and the headphone plug is the male end of the headphone cord that is inserted into the audio device.

Differences and Uses

The biggest difference between the 2.5mm plug and jack, and the 3.5mm plug and jack, is obviously the size.

2.5mm plugs and jacks are smaller, and are also called audio jacks. They are often used with two-way radios (also known as walkie-talkies) and video cameras.

3.5mm plugs and jacks range from 14mm to 17 mm in length, and are commonly used in video applications. These plugs and jacks are available on most analog wired headphones, and are also used as auxiliary aux cables.

Other uses for 3.5mm are portable audio players, laptops, smartphones, tablets, field recorders and mixing consoles.

There are two different styles of 3.5mm connectors. Headphones usually use TRS 3-pole 3.5mm connectors, and headphones with microphones use TRRS 4-pole 3.5mm connectors.

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Tips, Rings and Sleeves On 3.5mm Cables

TRS stands for tip, ring and sleeve. These are found on the connector ends, and correspond with components inside the jacks.

Tips are at both ends the plug and are the point that connects inside the jack to transmit 3.5mm cable signals.

Rings wrap around the plug’s circumference. They are electronically isolated and are designed to connect with conductors inside the jack at different points than the tip.

Sleeve is the part closest to the base of the plug. It’s larger than the tip, and provides grounding to reduce electromagnetic interference.

These components are the pole counts of the plug and jack and the internal wires that transmit the audio signal throughout the cable.

Different configurations produce different signal transmissions and results, and are used for a variety of uses.

2.5mm and 3.5mm Jacks and Plugs

There are many uses for these jacks and plugs, with the most popular being conducting audio signals between microphones, headsets, electrical musical instruments, loudspeakers, headphones, and audio devices such as DVD players, CD players, televisions and MP3 players.

Ultimately, your device will dictate whether 2.5mm or 3.5mm is the cable type you need. By far, 3.5mm is the current standard although some devices still prioritize 2.5mm. Shop both at PrimeCables.ca.