3.5mm audio jack

[knuttle]

I wish Radio Shack was still around.
I want to make a few standard 3.5mm audio extension cables.

I can find on Amazon TRS 3-pole male/female solder connectors.
That's what I need for my current application to repair one cable.

But while I'm at it, I may as well buy a kit but all the kits I can find on
Amazon are only TRS 3-pole or TRRS (4-pole) (which I don't need right now).

And almost always they sell the male without the female (which seems odd).
https://www.amazon.com/outstanding-Stereo-Connector-Solder-Headphone/dp/B07VVKSNM9

My question is whether the 4-pole mic audio jack is downward compatible.
Is it?

If it is, is it then ok to buy the 4-connection audio jack to use with 3?

And do you have a better source for a male _and_ female pack of about 3 to 5
each of these standard 3.5 mm solder connection audio jacks?

[Tim Schwartz]

Hi there,

From amazon you can just buy an extension cable such as:

https://smile.amazon.com/Amazon-Basics-Female-Extension-Adapter/dp/B01CNAUYBY

or search for '3.5mm extension cable'. Cables are likely less expensive
than making one yourself, if an off the shelf one meets your
requirements. Otherwise you can buy connectors from a electronics
vendor like:

digikey.com
Mouser.com
Newark.com
https://www.parts-express.com/

among others. I avoid auction sites and unknown vendors, because I
never know the quality of what will show up.

Hope this helps,
Tim

[knuttle]

On 4/10/2022 10:58 AM, Tim Schwartz wrote:

> From amazon you can just buy an extension cable such as:
>
> https://smile.amazon.com/Amazon-Basics-Female-Extension-Adapter/dp/B01CNAUYBY

I am looking to repair what I have where one of my 35 foot extension cables
only needs one male end but I'd also like to make my own connections on the
spot when I need them of male:male & female:female for my repair parts box.

What I need to know first is if the 4 pole connectors are downward
compatible as I may as well stock only one type if it works for all types.

> Otherwise you can buy connectors from a electronics
> vendor like:
>
> digikey.com
> Mouser.com
> Newark.com
> https://www.parts-express.com/

I'll try them as what I really want is a simple set of a few males and a few
females for my parts box and then I can mix and match on the spot any time I
need it to make custom cables & repairs. (My cables are 35 feet long.)

But I still need to know whether 4 pole connectors work in 3 pole designs?

[Mike Coon]

In article <t2v0nf$ap$1...@dont-email.me>, keith_...@sbcglobal.net
says...

>
> On 4/10/2022 10:58 AM, Tim Schwartz wrote:
>
> > From amazon you can just buy an extension cable such as:
> >
> > https://smile.amazon.com/Amazon-Basics-Female-Extension-Adapter/dp/B01CNAUYBY
>
> I am looking to repair what I have where one of my 35 foot extension cables
> only needs one male end but I'd also like to make my own connections on the
> spot when I need them of male:male & female:female for my repair parts box.
>
> What I need to know first is if the 4 pole connectors are downward
> compatible as I may as well stock only one type if it works for all types.
>

> I'll try them as what I really want is a simple set of a few males and
a few
> females for my parts box and then I can mix and match on the spot any time I
> need it to make custom cables & repairs. (My cables are 35 feet long.)
>
> But I still need to know whether 4 pole connectors work in 3 pole designs?

Have you checked the analysis in
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phone_connector_(audio)#TRRS_standards ?

[Charles Lucas]

Just an FYI, I have seen wal-mart sell in the store and online 1/8" (3.5mm) male to a 1/4" (7 mm)
female and then have a small standoff plug to reverse the other way to essentially make a male
end with a female end to extend the cable (to either the larger size mentioned or to keep it
the same size female- as an option) and then you can buy the male to male 1/8" stereo cable separately or you can buy it all as a kit. I believe ONN makes them or Durabrand or whatever flavor they use these days for 20 bucks.

They constructed these arrangements of cables and end connections so customer could choose what they needed
and/or what combinations would work best for them. Customers are intelligent and want to choose their cables.
Amazingly, when most people ask for help, it is the electronics sales associate/(s) there who know little or
nothing. I have had encountered this myself. Incidentally, Mic Cable is sold, too, although slightly different
than the line cable for the signal path. Hope this all helps. For those of you who attacked me on prior posts,
my intent is to help out, that is why I burn time on here to even bother putting in a response. if I did not
love helping so much, I would not be here or even bother- especially with all of the verbal attacks. I am not
giving away state secrets- I am just talking about electronics.

God Bless You and good day.

Sincerely,


Charles Lucas

[vjp...@at.biostrategist.dot.dot.com]

I concur in your befuddlement. I bought tons of 2.5mm 3-pole headsets
(which I also use on land line phones profusely) and have not been able to
convert them to 3.5mm 4-pole "apple" jacks. I have bought about en different
adapotrs and none worked.

--
Vasos Panagiotopoulos panix.com/~vjp2/vasos.htm
---{Nothing herein constitutes advice. Everything fully disclaimed.}---

[Charles Lucas]

On Sunday, July 31, 2022 at 1:59:49 PM UTC-5, vjp...@at.biostrategist.dot.dot.com wrote:
> I concur in your befuddlement. I bought tons of 2.5mm 3-pole headsets
> (which I also use on land line phones profusely) and have not been able to
> convert them to 3.5mm 4-pole "apple" jacks. I have bought about en different
> adapotrs and none worked.

Here is the function of a 4 pole jack (for audio):

4 conductor plug (TRRS)

Common Usage: It is the most commonly adopted standard for modern
smartphones and gaming consoles where the cable supports a microphone
and stereo audio connection at the same time.

A TRS is often though of as stereo, as the addition of the ring gives us two
contacts allowing us a left and right audio channel. Finally, a TRRS cable is
usually going to include both a left and right channel as well as a microphone
channel.

Click on this link for a better description (more specific) to the correct wiring:

https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/316322/headphones-volume-controls-do-not-work-after-4-pole-jack-repair

I sincerely hope this helps.

Good luck.

Sincerely,


Charles Lucas