TRS Phono Plug
The audio jack that is commonly seen on stereo headphones, audio devices such as the iPod, and many cell phones is known as the TRS Connector. The TRS phono plug connector is an audio jack with either 2 or 3 rings. TRS is an acronym representing Tip + Ring + Sleeve. The 2 ring version is for mono audio and the three ring version is for stereo audio. There are also other variants such as a four ring version which is often designed for camcorders, the extra ring for the video signal.
Divisions
The divisions of the plug in phone, mini-phone and sub-mini connectors that represent the different conductors. Tip (T) and ring (R), along with the sleeve (S), are used in two-conductor (TS), three-conductor (TRS) and four-conductor (TRRS) variations.
Polarity
- 1. Sleeve: usually ground
- 2. Ring: Right-hand channel for stereo signals, negative phase for balanced mono signals, power supply for power-requiring mono signal sources
- 3. Tip: Left-hand channel for stereo signals, positive phase for balanced mono signals, signal line for unbalanced mono signals
- 4. Insulating rings
Tip
The tip is normally left - as left is conventionally follows mono as regards wiring convention.
Stereo Mono Conversion
Shorting leads to create a mono signal has been used for the past 50 or so years with headsets. The stereo plug has a tip, ring and sleeve section while a mono headset will have only a tip and sleeve. When the mono headset is plugged into a stereo jack, both ring and sleeve contacts the sleeve section of the mono plug thus combining the two channels into a mono signal.
Headsets with a mono/stereo switch also combine the channels by shorting the two hot leads.
For more options, you could also combine the channels in a mixer with pan pots. That way you could adjust the amount of stereo spread.
Sizes
- 1. Quarter Phono (1/4) - common for band equipment, mixers, DJ equipment, and legacy headphone (studio).
- 2. Mini Phono (1/8) - common for Walkman, portable audio, iPod, modern headphones and some newer mobile phones.
- 3. Sub-Mini Thirty-Second (3/32) - standard for mobile phone audio connector, however, eight is become more common on newer models.
