Audio Connector & Plug Chart
Every audio connector — 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm TRS/TS jacks, TRRS headset, 2.5 mm, XLR, RCA, optical TOSLINK, coax S/PDIF, banana, Speakon and 5-pin MIDI DIN — with the signal type, whether it is balanced, and what each one is used for.
How to Use
- Browse the grid — each card shows the connector shape, its name, signal type, whether it is balanced, and typical uses.
- Search for a connector ("xlr", "3.5mm", "optical"), a device ("guitar", "headphones", "mic"), or a term ("balanced").
- Filter by signal (Analog / Digital) and by balanced vs unbalanced; narrow by category in the dropdown.
- Match the silhouette on a card to the plug on your cable or the jack on your gear to identify it.
- Check the balanced-vs-unbalanced and conductor sections below to understand TS, TRS, and TRRS.
TS, TRS & TRRS — counting the conductors
Jack plugs are named after their metal segments — Tip, Ring, Sleeve. Count the black insulator rings to tell them apart.
| Plug | Rings | Conductors | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| TS | 1 | Tip + Sleeve (2) | Mono / unbalanced — guitar cable |
| TRS | 2 | Tip + Ring + Sleeve (3) | Stereo, or balanced mono |
| TRRS | 3 | + microphone (4) | Headset with mic (phones) |
Balanced vs. unbalanced, and analog vs. digital
Reading audio connectors
Audio connectors split into a few clear families. The jack plugs — 3.5 mm, 6.35 mm (1/4 inch), and the old 2.5 mm — all use the same Tip-Ring-Sleeve scheme, and the number of black rings tells you how many conductors are inside: one ring for mono TS, two for stereo or balanced TRS, three for a TRRS headset jack with a microphone. The 3.5 mm and 1/4 inch sizes are electrically the same, so a passive adapter moves a signal between them; the 1/4 inch is just the larger, tougher version used on instruments and pro gear.
For professional and long-distance audio, balanced connectors win. XLR — the locking 3-pin connector on every microphone — and balanced TRS send the signal twice, once inverted, so noise picked up along the cable cancels out at the other end. That, plus the ability to carry 48 V phantom power for condenser mics and a connector that physically locks, is why XLR has been the studio and stage standard for decades. Unbalanced connectors like RCA and a basic guitar cable are simpler and perfectly fine over short runs, but they start to hum as the cable gets longer.
Digital audio uses its own connectors. S/PDIF travels either over an orange coaxial RCA-style cable or over optical TOSLINK, a square plug that sends the bitstream as pulses of light. They carry the same data, but optical is immune to electrical noise and ground loops because nothing electrical passes between the devices — handy when two components are on different power circuits. Rounding out the set are the speaker connectors (banana plugs and locking Speakon) that carry high-current amplifier output, and the 5-pin MIDI DIN that carries musical control data rather than audio itself.
This chart is a quick visual reference and runs entirely in your browser; nothing is uploaded. For the matching write-up, see the linked knowledge-base article.
About the Audio Connector & Plug Chart
Meet the Audio Connector & Plug Chart: a free, no-fuss tool for electronics and circuit design with nothing to install and no sign-up. Every audio connector — 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm TRS/TS jacks, TRRS headset, 2.5 mm, XLR, RCA, optical TOSLINK, coax S/PDIF, banana, Speakon and 5-pin MIDI DIN — with the signal type, whether it is balanced, and what each one is used for.
How it works
Everything is laid out so you can find what you need fast. There are no long tables to dig through. The page also works without internet once it has loaded, so you can use it anywhere.
Want the deeper story? The Knowledge Base explains the ideas behind the tools in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do TS, TRS, and TRRS mean?
They count the conductors on a jack plug, named after the metal segments: <strong>T</strong>ip, <strong>R</strong>ing, <strong>S</strong>leeve. <strong>TS</strong> (2 conductors) is mono/unbalanced — a guitar cable. <strong>TRS</strong> (3) is either stereo (left/right/ground) or balanced mono (hot/cold/ground). <strong>TRRS</strong> (4) adds a microphone conductor — the headset jack on phones. You can count them by the black insulator rings on the plug: one ring = TS, two = TRS, three = TRRS.
What's the difference between balanced and unbalanced audio?
An <strong>unbalanced</strong> cable (TS, RCA, basic 3.5 mm) carries the signal on one wire plus ground, and picks up hum and noise over long runs. A <strong>balanced</strong> cable (XLR, TRS) carries the signal twice — once inverted — and the receiver subtracts them, cancelling any noise picked up along the way. That's why XLR microphone cables can run 50 m on stage without buzz, while an unbalanced cable starts humming after a few metres.
Is the 3.5 mm headphone jack the same as a 1/4-inch jack?
Electrically yes, physically no. The 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) mini-jack and the 6.35 mm (1/4 inch) jack use the same TS/TRS scheme and carry the same kind of signal — you can adapt between them with a simple passive adapter. The 1/4 inch is the older, sturdier size used on guitars, amps, mixers, and studio headphones; 3.5 mm is the compact version on phones, laptops, and portable gear.
Optical (TOSLINK) or coaxial S/PDIF — which is better?
Both carry the same S/PDIF digital stereo (or compressed surround) signal, so sound quality is effectively identical. <strong>Optical (TOSLINK)</strong> uses light, so it is immune to electrical hum and ground loops — good between devices on different circuits. <strong>Coaxial</strong> uses an RCA-style cable, tolerates longer runs and tight bends better, and is slightly more robust. Use whichever ports your gear has; if both, optical avoids ground-loop buzz.
Why do microphones use XLR instead of a jack?
Three reasons: XLR is <strong>balanced</strong> (noise-rejecting) for long cable runs, it <strong>locks</strong> so it can't be pulled out mid-performance, and it can carry <strong>48 V phantom power</strong> to condenser microphones down the same cable. The 3-pin layout (ground, hot, cold) is the professional audio standard for mics and balanced line connections.
Does HDMI or USB-C replace these audio connectors?
For consumer gear, increasingly yes — HDMI and USB-C carry digital audio to TVs, soundbars, and headsets, and many phones dropped the 3.5 mm jack. But professional and instrument audio still runs on XLR, 1/4 inch, and Speakon because of balanced signalling, phantom power, and locking connectors. The analog jacks are far from dead in studios and on stage.
How do I use the Audio Connector & Plug Chart?
Just type your numbers. The answer shows up right away — there is no button to press. Change anything and it updates by itself.
Do I need to install or sign up for anything?
Not at all — it runs in the browser with nothing to install and no account. After it loads once, it even works without an internet connection.
Is my information private?
Yes. Everything happens in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server or saved anywhere.
Common Use Cases
Identify a cable or jack
Match the plug in your bag to a shape and learn what it carries.
Buy the right adapter
Confirm both ends (e.g. XLR to 3.5 mm) and whether the signal is balanced.
Wire a home studio
Sort XLR, TRS, and TS for mics, monitors, and instruments.
Connect a hi-fi or soundbar
Choose between optical, coax S/PDIF, and RCA for digital and analog audio.
Set up live sound
Recognize XLR, Speakon, and banana connectors on PA and amps.
Teach audio basics
A clear visual that separates conductor count, signal type, and balancing.
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