TRS connectors, or mini jack connectors as they are commonly called, are one of the most popular audio connectors on the market. Originally designed for telephone exchanges, mini jacks are used in products ranging from electrical guitars to headphones for pilots.
Mini Jack
A mini jack is an audio connector. It is one of the most common types of analog connectors. The technical name of this type of audio jack is a TRS connector which stands for tip, ring, sleeve. Other common names are phone jack, stereo plug, and mini-stereo.
Versions of a TRS Plug
A mini jack has a cylindrical shape and three contacts or conductors. These contacts are located on the tip, ring and sleeve, explaining the name. Four and five contact versions are also available The four conductor version is often used as an output on camcorders. They also are used on laptop computers.
TRS Sizes
Modern TRS connectors come in three sizes. The 1/4" inch model is the original version, developed to work in phone exchanges. A 3.5mm and 2.5mm version is also available. These sizes were originally designed for use with transistor radios. They are now commonly used with MP3 players such as the Apple iPod or Sony Walkman.
Tags: also available, mini jack, ring sleeve
