Jeff McRitchie

10 Types of Audio Connectors

Audio cables!  They don't exactly have that wow factor.  Sure everybody is excited about Dolby Surround sound Home Theater and iPads.  But nobody goes "ooohweee, look at the cable attached at the back of that stereo!  So this article is for everybody out there who needs a little bit of education because they are in the process of buying that new stereo, but it's short and sweet and only has the critical information.

Audio cables!  They don't exactly have that wow factor.  Sure everybody is excited about Dolby Surround sound Home Theater and iPads.  But nobody goes "ooohweee, look at the cable attached at the back of that stereo!  So this article is for everybody out there who needs a little bit of education because they're in the process of buying that new stereo, but it's short and sweet and only has the critical information.

3.5mm stereo plugs

Currently one of the most popular audio cable connectors is the 3.5 mm stereo plug.  A 3.5mm connector is found on the ear buds of iPhones and most other personal audio devices.  The 3.5mm stereo plug is a type of TRS (tip, ring, and sleeve) connector.  TRS connectors were first used for telephone switchboards in the original ¼ inch size (6.3mm). Mono plugs in any size of TRS connectors will only have one ring.  Stereo plugs have two rings, and plugs such as the Apple earbuds have 3 rings.  The third ring on the Apple devices allows for microphone and volume control.

RCA connectors

RCA connectors are used in a variety of applications.  RCA audio cables are usually comprised of a left (white) and right (red) connector to allow for Stereo sound.  RCA audio cables are used most often in connecting the audio signals from devices such as DVD player to a stereo system.  These connectors are being used less and less as connectors for devices such as DVD players are being replaced by HDMI connections. 

HDMI

HDMI?  Yes, HDMI in reality is as much a superstar for its digital audio performance abilities as it is a high definition video cable.  An HDMI cable will carry both the audio and video in digital form and is quickly making the commonanalog RCA connector/cable redundant for both video and audio applications.

S/PDIF Digital

S/PDIF Digital is actually not a connector but a specification for carrying digital audio between devices.  The name stands for Sony/Philips Digital Interconnect Format.  The format can be transmitted by an RCA connector with a coaxial cable or by a Toslink connector with fiber optic cable.

SCART

The SCART cable is in fact an audio and video cable.  It has been used in Europe for a very long time as a solution to the 5 RCA cables required in North America to connect up your component video  and basic audio.  It like its RCA competitors is quickly being replaced by the faster, stronger and better HDMI.

Toslink
Toslink is a connector originally invented by Toshiba to transmit digital audio for household components such as CD's and DVD players.  It uses a fiber optic cable and is seen as a higher quality alternative to regular RCA stereo.  When powered on one end of the cable, the Toslink will emit a red glow on the other end, very impressive!

Banana plugs
Banana plugs are no longer used very much, but are common on some high-end stereos and speakers.  Banana plugs are often combined to create a two pronged plug of varying sizes, sometimes referred to as a US-style banana plug.  Although used for older European equipment it is now hard to find in Europe because of the danger of the double plugs fitting the width of an electrical socket.

MIDI

MIDI?  I thought MIDI was dead back in the early part of this millennium, but apparently not.  MIDI has stuck around in one form or another and it looks like its here to stay.  MIDI is used by artists in forms not even considered by the original creators of MIDI.Mini-DIN 8 connectors feature eight pins and are the standard connector for all MIDI-enabled instruments.

Speakon

The Speakon cable connector is mainly used in professional audio systems and is designed with a locking system to prevent accidental disconnection. The speakon connection is also fully shielded to prevent electrical shock from high power amplifiers.  The Speakon connector will also not short upon connection like a stereo TRRS plug may, avoiding damage to high end equipment.

XLR

Leaving one of the classic connectors until last, the XLR connector is ubiquitous with stage performance equipment.  The three pin XLR is the most common XLR connection type but XLR also comes in four, five, six and seven pin!  Though used primarily for carrying signals between microphones and amplifiers, XLR connectors can also be used to control lighting systems, provide low-voltage power supplies, or carry analog video signals.

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