Types of headphone connectors and electrical circuits for their pinout

Micro-jack 2.5

The micro-jack 2.5 connector is the smallest headphone plug of all existing ones. The diameter of such a plug is only 2.5 mm. Devices with this cable are used in phones and players. Although now it is quite difficult to find a smartphone with such a connector, since most manufacturers use mini-jack. This connector is intended for audio signal transmission only.

Many people use headphones despite the plug itself, which can lead to problems. For example, if you insert the TS plug into the TRRS connector, the middle contact will short to ground and the equipment output may be damaged. If, on the contrary, the TRRS plug is connected to the TS connector, then the middle contacts will simply remain unconnected. In this case, most likely, no problem will arise, since modern devices do not notice this moment, they are not so sensitive.

The wiring for headphones with a TRRS 2.5 cable looks like this:

• first channel – left;
• second channel – right;
• the third channel is responsible for the microphone;
• the fourth is general.

How headphones work: diagram

A classic headphone wiring diagram is shown below.

The left audio channel is connected to the end (Tip), the right - to the first ring (Ring), the ground - to the sleeve (Sleeve).

High-quality models, such as Sennheiser, Sony and JBL, use a separate ground for each speaker (in the diagram this is a common contact). The wires leading to the headphones are represented by a central core, shielded with a braided cable. Depending on the circuit, the device may not work with a computer or Android smartphone (Xiaomi, Samsung).

If the central core is insulated with a varnish coating, to which silk thread fibers are sometimes added (increases resistance to stretching and fracture), low-melting solder and a special flux will be required - repairs without skills in handling a soldering iron will be difficult and not always of high quality.

Lightning

Back in 2016, Apple decided to switch from mini-jack headphones to lightning. Starting with the iPhone 7, manufacturers have completely abandoned 3.5 mm headphones. Now the smartphone comes with accessories with a lightning connector.

A special feature of this plug is the ability to output sound without reducing it. Lightning connectors convey full sound, while 3.5 mm compressed the output sound and could only transmit 16-bit CD quality to the listener.

Immediately after the transition, certified accessories with a lightning connector appeared in all official Apple stores. Here are some advantages of the device:

• sound reproduction without distortion and compression of the built-in DAC;
• electrical energy is supplied to the device directly from the source;
• the probability of exchanging digital values ​​between the device and the signal source;
• the ability to add other functions to accessories (fitness sensors, digital inputs).

The pinout of headphones with a lightning cable is presented as follows:

• 1 contact GND Ground;
• 2 pin L0p Line 0+;
• 3 L0n Line 0-;
• 4 ID0 identifier /control 0;
• 5 PWR charging;
• 6 L1n Line 1-;
• 7 L1p Line 1+;
• 8 ID1 identifier /control 1.

Pinout diagrams for headset with microphone

The pinout varies, much depends on the headphones. Blocks have from 2 to 4 elements, each part transmits its own signal. For example, the connection block has 2 elements; it is equipped with one wire, which is intended for a microphone.

If there are 3 elements, then there are 3 wires:

• right;
• left;
• general.

In the headset, the 1st channel is connected to the right earphone, the 2nd channel to the left, the common one supervises the fixation of contacts.

A cable is pulled to the plug; in the center it is divided into 2 wires, each going to its own earphone. The block has 4 elements. In this combination, it is differentiated into 2 types. The 1st block consists of 4 wires (most often this happens in phones, tablets, players). The channels are divided into left, right, general and microphone.

All modern modifications of phones are equipped with plugs in which there are 4 elements (fixed with headphones and a microphone).

The pinout is done according to the same scheme for the following devices:

• "Apple";
• "Samsung";
• "Lenovo".

If you analyze the connecting block, it is composed of several elements. Each of them supplies impulse to its own channel.

Speaker connectors

Speakers can connect to the sound source in different ways, through a variety of analog and digital interfaces: line outputs, RCA, HDMI, SCART, etc. For headphones, of all this diversity, only the first two options are available.

What is line output? This is a small connector on the sound card that can be found on almost any modern device: computer, phone, MP3 player and even TV. Inspect, for example, a laptop. On one of its faces you will definitely find from one to three connectors, sometimes marked with colors and always with icons. These connectors are intended for connecting mini-jack plugs.

Jack connectors

What is mini-jack? Connoisseurs of the English language will immediately understand what we are talking about - the word jack in this case does not mean a name, but a “connector”. The plug that connects to this connector is called the word plug. There are three types of jacks, each of which is used with a specific acoustic technology:

• the standard jack has a diameter of 6.3 mm - it is very easy to identify by its large size, and you can find it on the most complex and professional equipment - studio equipment, electric guitars, professional monitor headphones;
• mini-jack with a diameter of 3.5 mm - this is the most common type of acoustic connector - found on almost all smartphones, on all laptops and desktop computers with a sound card, and you can connect most headphones and analog speakers;
• micro-jack is a small connector only 2.5 mm wide, usually used to connect headphones and headsets used with Apple equipment - iPhone, iPod or iPad.

In addition to size and purpose, jacks may differ in other characteristics - for example, the number of cores. The number of channels that can be played by headphones depends on this parameter. If you look at the plug of any headphones, you can see the rims - these are, in fact, connectors that transmit the signal.

If there is only one connector, the headphones are mono channel, that is, the same sound will be reproduced in each ear. Most often there are two wires - a left and a right channel, one for each ear. On headsets, as a rule, there are three rims - two channels and a microphone line. If you’ve lived a lot, you’re in luck, because in this case the headphones are multi-channel – the sound in these can be on par with surround sound systems.

Sony Ericsson headset with non-standard connector

When it comes to headsets, don't forget about devices from the past that many people still use. Phones from some manufacturers - Nokia, Sony and others - were previously equipped with special connectors that were suitable only for certain models of headphones with a microphone. Today, of course, such headphones are not easy to find - almost all smartphones, be they devices on the Android, Windows or any other platform, have standard line outputs installed. Only the iPhone differs - only the appropriate headphones and headsets can be connected to them.

Regarding microphone settings

If vacuum headphones are equipped with a microphone, then you need to immediately see how many inputs it has. If there are two plugs, then they are connected to connectors of the corresponding colors. When there is only one plug, a universal connector is used.

Setting up the microphone also involves going through several stages:

• Go to the control panel.
• Select "Hardware and Sound".
• A window will open where we are interested in the item with sound.
• Next, go to the window and select the “Record” tab.

If everything is in order, a microphone icon and a corresponding recording message will appear. This means that the drivers turn on and begin to interact with each other.

You need to click on the microphone symbol and find the item with properties.

After this, new windows will open, you can navigate through them in this order:

• Listen.
• Putting a checkmark next to the listening item from this device.

After this, a menu will appear that allows you to record sound coming from the microphone. After this, you can listen to the recordings and analyze the results. When the selected quality suits the user, you can close the menu.

Features of USB headphones

A separate type of wired headphones are devices connected to a USB port. Such a port, like a linear output, can be found today on almost any sound source - all computers and laptops have long been equipped with them, since it is through this port that information is transmitted from portable flash media.

Previously, USB could only be found on computers, but today such ports are installed on even the cheapest LCD TVs, most stereo systems, and some tablets. And on phones you can find a micro-USB port, to which the corresponding headphones can be connected either directly (not all models) or through a suitable adapter.

Gigabyte S1080 tablet with USB port

Using USB headphones in conjunction with a phone makes the most sense. This is due to the following features of these devices:

• Unlike regular headphones, USB devices are active. The sound in them is more powerful and cleaner due to the presence of a built-in amplifier. Some models of phones and players, of course, have an additional amplifier, but it is extremely rare, and the standard one is not enough for some users. A remote amplifier not only complicates the system, but also causes inconvenience - there is simply nowhere to put it when leaving the house.
• There is no need for a built-in sound card, since the headphones have their own chip with similar functionality. This can be very useful - on low-quality phones, the built-in acoustics tend to break, and repairs cost an amount similar to, or even greater than, the cost of the phone itself. Additionally, the built-in sound card can handle sound better.
• There is no need for an acoustic jack - if it breaks, you will not lose the ability to use headphones.
• It is possible to play back sound in parallel through the speaker and headphones - so, you can assign music to the headphones, and leave notifications and calls on the built-in speaker.

Of course, USB headphones also have a minus - for example, they consume a lot of energy. A current of about 5 volts flows through the port - a regular battery can discharge quite quickly due to this. This problem, of course, does not arise when connecting headphones to a computer or other stationary equipment.

Regarding the classic connection to a computer

In most cases, stable operation begins immediately after the wireless headphones are connected to another device. It's rare that there's a slight delay of a few seconds, which means the drivers took some time to update.

The setup is done manually if no connection occurs automatically. To do this, right-click on the speaker. Next, go to playback devices, then put a green checkmark next to the headphone item.

If this does not help, then further actions are performed in the following order:

• You should make sure that the gadget itself is working. To do this, just connect the model to another device. All that remains is to check the presence or absence of sound.
• If the wireless headphones remain in good working order, it is logical to assume that one of the drivers is missing on the computer. To check the assumption, all that remains is to launch any sound and check whether it works on the speakers that were previously connected to the device. Is the sound okay? This means that the drivers have been installed, but there are not enough adjustments in the settings. It remains to make changes to interact with the headphones.
• The mixer volume level is an additional parameter that requires checking. The speaker icon can be easily found in the lower right corner of the Start panel. Afterwards you need to make sure that everything works and the parameter is set as it should.

If all the methods have been tried and you know for sure that the problem is in the drivers, you need to go to the control panel tab in the computer menu, and then to the device manager.

We are interested in the line with sound and video devices. If there is an exclamation mark opposite, then you need to select a line to download drivers. Downloading takes place with the participation of the official website.

Drivers can be installed using physical media if there is no Internet connection for any reason. This option is relevant if the device is purchased separately, or when the sound card itself was recently assembled.

Types of headphone connectors

There are three types of connectors, which, in turn, are divided into subtypes. The main classification is based on the standard socket diameters:

1. Big Jack - 6.35 millimeters.
2. Mini-Jack – 3.5 millimeters:

• two-pin (TS);
• three-pin (TRS*);
• four-pin, or four-pin (TRRS);
• five-position (TRRRS).

1. Micro Jack – 2.5 millimeters.

Jack here means nest. An electrical connector called a plug is inserted into it, the contacts of which are numbered towards the base from the tip.

The second type is the most widespread - mini-Jack. This type is used in mobile and household appliances. For example, it is found in almost all smartphones, laptops and desktop PCs.

The next most popular is micro-Jack. Electrical connectors of this type are typically found on Apple products (iPhone, iPod or iPad).

In the early 2000s, two-pin mini-Jacks began to lose relevance and lose ground in the market. In 2022, it is almost impossible to find them on store shelves. TS have been successfully replaced by TRS and TRRS.

T.S.

It is a two-pole plug. The signal is transmitted through only one single channel. Used in professional equipment. An example is connecting electric guitars or synthesizers.

TRS

These connectors are designed for transmitting an analog signal and switching devices, for example, a player and headphones.

There is controversial compatibility with TS: when connecting a TRS plug to a TS socket, the middle contact remains free. For lamp equipment, an unused contact causes breakdowns. Modern equipment is less sensitive to loose contacts.

TRRS

4-pin is slightly different from TRS. These jacks are used to connect headphones to modern phones. They are also used in exotic adapters and connecting cords for TV set-top boxes.

Use the SoundAbout app

A headphone jack problem can sometimes also be caused by a software glitch not directly related to the hardware. There are 2 ways to solve such problems - reinstall the OS (which, you see, is very, very inconvenient) or install SoundAbout. It has a lot of settings for troubleshooting both wired and wireless headsets and even microphones. So in a critical situation, the application may well help out.

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