Description of Audio Connectors

Audio connectors are used to connect cables to other audio devices, allowing electronic signals to be transmitted and providing grounding protection. These connectors can be used for different purposes, such as general audio, telephones, or microphones. While most audio connectors are designed for commercial use, some are made to meet military specifications.

In this guide, I will explain the description, types and applications various types of cable connectors and why they matter. This way, you can make smart choices when setting up your audio rig.

What Is An Audio Connector?

The term “audio connector” refers to a part that connects a wire to a specific device.

It allows you to easily connect and disconnect your instruments and audio equipment, so you do not have to worry about all your gear being permanently attached to each other.

Thanks to audio connectors, you have the freedom to mix and match different pieces of equipment as you like.

However, they do have a unique characteristic – they are very particular about their shape and the audio signal. You need the right pair of male and female connectors for them to work properly.

The Difference Between Female And Male Connectors

Male and female connectors are designed to work together perfectly, which limits their compatibility.However, this design also protects users from making incorrect connections, which can be dangerous when dealing with electronic devices.You can easily tell the difference between a male and a female connector.The male connector, often called a plug, has one or more “pins” that fit into a matching female connector.The female connector is usually referred to as a jack. It has one or more holes that are shaped to match the male connector.Take a look at the image of XLR Audio Connectors below to see what I mean.You need to have the right pair for the connection to work. For example, XLR cables must connect to XLR jacks, and TRS cables should be plugged into TRS jacks.

A male plug will not fit, let alone work, with a different type of female jack. However, there are audio adapters available that can change plugs to a different type.

These adapters can be useful, but they may complicate your setup. They are also not as reliable as using the correct male and female pair.

Because XLR and 1/4″ cables are so popular, some manufacturers use Combo jacks that can accept either XLR or 1/4″ connectors. They work well but may take up extra space on the device.

The Different Audio Connector Types

Different Audio Connector Types

When you are working with sound, it is important to think about the cables and connectors that your audio signals will travel through.

Here are some of the most common audio connections you are likely to encounter.

XLR Connector

XLR Connector

The XLR connector is one of the most popular audio connections used today. You can find it in professional audio systems all around. It was created by James H. Cannon, which is why it is sometimes called the Cannon cable.

XLR plugs have multiple pins that are protected by a metal barrel. The most common type is the 3-pin XLR, which is widely used for microphone cables.

Good XLR cables are great at keeping electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise and other disturbances away. They are also known for maintaining a strong audio signal even over long distances.

Keep in mind that there are XLR connectors with more pins, which can carry additional signals and even electrical voltage. The plugs match with female jacks that have the same number of holes.

In addition to microphones, XLR connectors are commonly found in public address (PA) systems. You will see them used with mixers, PA speakers, monitor speakers, audio interfaces, and other professional music equipment.

5-pin XLR cables are often used in DMX lighting controllers and equipment for stage lighting design.

To avoid accidents and incorrect installations, some connectors come with locking mechanisms. This includes features like blade locks, screw bolts, or flip locks.

Speaker Pin

Speaker pin connectors are commonly found in older speakers, stereos, and home sound systems.

The male connector is quite simple. It has a straight and narrow design that includes speaker pins or bare wires.

There are different types of female jacks for these connectors, which can be either spring-loaded or binding post types.

Spring-loaded terminals use a spring mechanism to hold the speaker pins or bare wires in place. When you push the spring buttons, it opens holes for inserting the speaker pins. Releasing the buttons clamps the pins or bare wires securely.

Binding post terminals have a screw that tightens onto the male pins. You need to unscrew it to access the hole for the male connector. If you are using bare wire ends, you may need to wrap them around the screw post.

Speaker wire connections are not as straightforward as plug-and-play systems and might not be as secure as other types of connectors. However, they are practical and allow you to see how your audio signals are routed.

Banana Plug Connector

Banana Plug Connector

A banana plug is a type of male connector that allows for easy plug-and-play connections with audio and video devices and speakers that use binding post terminals.

It is a more secure option compared to bare wire, but it does take a little more time to set up at first.

The male plug clamps onto the bare wire and is made of metal, featuring a pin that looks like a banana.

The female binding posts need to have open ends. To access your binding posts, you will need to remove the cover.

Once you have the male and female connectors set up, banana plugs are quick and simple to use.

The main benefit of using banana plugs is their convenience. While preparing the plugs properly may take some time, connecting to your audio and video receiver becomes much easier.

RCA Connectors

RCA Connectors

The most common type of two-conductor audio cable you will see with stereo equipment is called an RCA cable.

These cables have red and white (sometimes black) RCA connector ends and are widely used in stereo audio setups. The white connector is for the left audio channel, while the red is for the right channel.

Some people refer to RCA cables as phono plugs or aux cords because they are often used with these devices.

Because of their compact size and low cost, RCA connectors are still very popular, especially with vinyl turntables.

However, with the rise of digital audio connections, RCA cables have started to become less common.

Speakon Connector

Speakon Connector

The Speakon connector was developed by Neutrik in 1987 and has become one of the main types of speaker connectors used in speaker cables and public address (PA) systems.

One of its standout features is its locking mechanism. You can lock the plug into the socket by simply rotating it. This ensures a reliable connection that does not vibrate loose and prevents accidental disconnections.

Another key feature is its ability to handle high current signals, with a capacity of up to 30 amps of continuous current. This means Speakon connectors can manage higher currents than popular options like XLR and 1/4-inch plugs, making them suitable for high-current setups, such as connecting amplifiers to passive speakers.

Speakon connectors also have waterproof sealing gaskets, giving them an IP-54 rating. This means they are weatherproof and can be used outdoors, even in rainy conditions.

There are variations of Speakon connectors with 2, 4, and 8 poles. Each pole configuration is designed for different audio applications.

TS Connector

TS Connector

TS stands for Tip Sleeve. This type of connector works with TS cables that have two conductor wires. The conductors are assigned to the tip and sleeve of the plug, as shown in the illustration below.

The female jack is designed to receive the two signals separately while also securing the male connector in place.

The TS connector is one of the most commonly used connection types. It is the standard connector for both balanced and unbalanced cables, which include instrument cables, guitar cables, and other cables used for guitars, amplifiers, pedals, and more.

It is important to note that TS connectors come in two popular sizes. The larger 6.35 mm (1/4 inch) connector is often found in professional audio applications and instruments. The smaller 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) connector is standard for consumer audio equipment, like earphone jacks.

Some manufacturers of professional audio equipment offer gold-plated TS pins, which provide better conductivity, although they tend to be more expensive.

TS  Audio Connectors

There are also TS connectors with extra "rings" to accommodate more conductor wires. I have listed them below along with their common uses:

• TRS connectors (Tip Ring Sleeve) have 3 conductor wires and are commonly used for balanced signals and stereo audio.
• TRRS connectors (Tip Ring Ring Sleeve) have 4 conductor wires and are often used in mobile phone headphones that allow for both stereo audio and microphone audio.
• TRRRS connectors (Tip Ring Ring Ring Sleeve) are meant for 5 conductor wires and are used in high-end equipment that requires bi-directional stereo signals.

USB Connector

USB Connector

In music, USB connections are used to transfer digital audio signals.

Thanks to modern technology, it is now possible to transmit several audio channels in real time over a single USB cable. This means it can easily carry multiple digital audio signals.

The most common recording setup involves connecting instruments to audio interfaces, which then connect to computers using USB.

USB is also used to link MIDI devices. It is the go-to connection for digitally controlling effects, amplifiers, and other USB-compatible musical equipment.

USB connectors are fast, versatile, and widely available, so it is no surprise that they are the standard connection for anyone working with digital music and related gear.

When you compare USB to older multichannel coaxial cables like ADAT or S/PDIF, it is clear that USB offers better compatibility.

While USB is the most popular option, there are other digital format connectors such as Firewire, Thunderbolt, HDMI, and Apple’s Lightning cable.

Modern commercial audio devices are moving towards digital wireless connections like Bluetooth. However, it likely will not be long before this technology is adapted for professional audio use.

MIDI Connector

MIDI Connector

The MIDI cable is one of the earliest digital connectors still in use, first developed in the 1980s.

While it is often grouped with other audio cables, no audio data or sound is transmitted through MIDI connections. Instead of carrying audio signals, MIDI cables send digital signals that can hold a lot of data.

This is why MIDI cables are used with controllers. They can transmit detailed information about how each note is played, including timing, dynamics, and more.

One of the main advantages of MIDI is that it can send data from up to 16 separate channels over a single connection.

However, since MIDI only transmits digital data, it is gradually being replaced by USB connectors. USB can carry MIDI data along with digital sound signals, making it more versatile.

Optical/TOSLINK Connector

Optical/TOSLINK Connector

The TOSLINK connector is an optical interface used for digital sound signals. Although it was originally designed for Toshiba CD players, many other manufacturers have adopted it.

The optical digital sound connector has one side that is squared and the other sides have angled corners.

In a TOSLINK or optical connector, audio signals are converted into light and transmitted through an optical fiber line. The signals are sent and converted between devices using TOSLINK.

TOSLINK can support audio formats like lossless 2.0 PCM, compressed 2.0/5.1/7.1 Dolby Digital, and DTS. However, it does not support high-definition audio formats like Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, DVD-A, or SACD.

BNC Connector

BNC Connector

BNC stands for Bayonet Neill Concelman, named after its inventor. It is a bayonet-type coaxial connector.

While BNC connectors are most commonly associated with video and surveillance applications, they are also used in some high-end music equipment. In the audio world, BNC is often used for clock synchronization or the transmission of digital audio formats.

Firewire Connector

Firewire Connector

Firewire, also known as IEEE 1394, is capable of transmitting multiple digital audio channels at the same time.

It became the main digital connector for high-end mixers, audio interfaces, sound cards, and more. You will find this connection in many premium, older pieces of equipment.

However, Firewire's popularity has declined over the years as more accessible USB ports have become faster and more efficient.

Types of Audio Cables

Most audio connectors work with only a few specific types of cables, so it is important to understand the different cables and their specific uses. There are two main types of cables to be aware of: digital and analog.

Analog Audio Cables

Analog cables carry audio data as variations in electric voltage. The signal fluctuates between positive and negative voltage in a sine-wave pattern, which accurately represents the original waveform’s frequency and amplitude.

For example, if the audio data is a 200 Hz sine wave, the signal traveling over an analog wire will cycle 200 times per second in both the positive and negative directions.

Common examples of analog connectors include RCA, TS, XLR, and TRS connections. These can be further divided into balanced and unbalanced configurations.

Digital Audio Cables

To be considered digital, analog audio must be converted into binary code, which consists of 1s and 0s.

Once the audio is converted, the digital signals are transmitted through a series of voltage changes that follow the format accepted by digital equipment.

Examples of digital audio cables include USB cables and TOSLINK cables.

It is a common mistake to categorize MIDI cables as audio cables. In reality, MIDI cables carry digital control signals, not audio signals.

Different Analog Cables

As mentioned earlier, there are two types of cables when it comes to analog audio. Let’s take a closer look at what these are and how they differ from each other.

Unbalanced Cables

Unbalanced audio cables use two wires—a signal wire and a ground wire. The ground wire helps carry the signal and also acts as a shield for the main signal wire, which transports the audio.

While the ground wire protects the transmission, it can also pick up electromagnetic interference and other types of noise, acting almost like an antenna.

Two of the most common connectors for unbalanced cables are the TS (Tip/Sleeve) connector and the RCA connector.

Balanced Cables

Balanced audio cables have three conductors: one ground wire and two signal wires. The ground wire helps shield the signal wires from noise and interference.

In balanced cables, identical audio signals are sent over the two signal wires but in reversed polarity. One wire carries the negative signal, while the other carries the positive signal.

When the signals reach the receiving device, any interference or distortion is canceled out, restoring the audio to its original form.

TRS (Tip/Ring/Sleeve) connectors are often used with balanced cables, and XLR connectors are also considered balanced cables.

Conclusion

Now you have a better understanding of the different types of audio connectors and how they function.Connectors work in pairs. A male plug needs to connect with a compatible female jack for everything to work smoothly.Besides the well-known TS and XLR cables, there are many other types of audio connectors. Each one is designed to work with specific cables that have the right number of conductors.With this knowledge, you will find it easier to plan and gather the cables you need for your setup.Is there someone you can share this information with who might find it helpful?

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are The Main Types Of Audio Connectors?

The main types of audio connectors are RCA, TS, and XLR connectors. You will often find these three in PA systems, recording studios, and even in home entertainment systems.

How Many Types Of USB Connectors Are There?

There are more than ten different types of USB connectors, and even more when you consider variations in speed and size. The most common ones you will come across are USB-A, USB-B, and USB-C.

USB-B is commonly used in audio devices, especially in older models. There are also smaller mini-USB versions found in many musical devices. USB-C is the latest version, and many new audio products now come with this connection.

What Is The Standard Size For An Audio Connector?

smaller headphone connectors

Audio connectors come in various sizes, usually referring to the diameters of the metal pins on the connectors. The most common sizes are 2.5 mm (3/32 inch), 3.5 mm (1/8 inch), and 6.35 mm (1/4 inch). The 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) size is considered the most universal, as it is widely used for all types of audio equipment.