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Port & Cable

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Audio connectors

Compare analog and professional-audio connector forms while keeping contact count, channel role, signal assignment and power requirements distinct.

18 forms 18 engineering profiles 10 related comparisons

Recognition & reference

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Reference table18 connector forms · names, shape labels & reference depth

An alternate overview of the same facts shown in the cards. On narrow screens, scroll the table horizontally or read the cards above. Alias lists retain the existing first four entries; the full record has further detail. This is not a dimension, pinout or compatibility table.

Connector forms in the Audio family
Connector formShapeCommon aliasesEngineering
3.5 mm TRS connectorround3.5mm stereo, aux TRS, headphone TRSEngineering profile →
3.5 mm TRRS connectorroundTRRS, headset jack, 4 pole 3.5mm, CTIAEngineering profile →
6.35 mm TS connectorroundquarter inch TS, 6.35mm mono, 1/4 TSEngineering profile →
6.35 mm TRS connectorroundquarter inch TRS, 6.35mm stereo, balanced TRSEngineering profile →
RCA connectorroundphono, RCA plug, cinchEngineering profile →
TOSLINK connectoropticaloptical audio, SPDIF optical, TOSLINKEngineering profile →
Mini-TOSLINK connectorroundmini optical, 3.5 optical, Mini TOSLINKEngineering profile →
3-pin XLR connectorroundXLR, XLR3, 3 pin microphoneEngineering profile →
5-pin DIN connector: MIDI and legacy usesroundMIDI DIN, 5 pin DIN, AT keyboard plugEngineering profile →
5-pin XLR connectorround5 pole XLR, XLR5, five pin XLREngineering profile →
2-pole speakON loudspeaker connectorroundNL2, NL2FXX, 2 pole speaker connector, Speakon 2Engineering profile →
4-pole speakON loudspeaker connectorroundNL4, NL4FXX, 4 pole speaker connector, Speakon 4Engineering profile →
4-pin XLR connectorroundXLR4, 4 pin XLR, four pole XLREngineering profile →
6-pin XLR connectorroundXLR6, 6 pin XLR, six pole XLREngineering profile →
8-pole speakON loudspeaker connectorroundNL8, NL8FC, 8 pole speaker connector, Speakon 8Engineering profile →
3-pin Mini-XLR (Switchcraft Tini-QG) connectorroundMini-XLR 3, 3-pin Mini XLR, Tini-QG 3-pinEngineering profile →
4-pin Mini-XLR (Switchcraft Tini-QG) connectorroundMini-XLR 4, 4-pin Mini XLR, Tini-QG 4-pinEngineering profile →
5-pin Mini-XLR (Switchcraft Tini-QG) connectorroundMini-XLR 5, 5-pin Mini XLR, Tini-QG 5-pinEngineering profile →

Tell them apart

Useful Audio comparisons

Related pages may include forms from another family. They explain distinctions, not permission to connect.

3.5 mm TRS vs TRRSContact arrangement is a visual clue. Signal assignment still needs device documentation.Five-pin DIN versus five-pin XLRFive contacts do not establish the connector family or signal.Two-pole versus four-pole speakONPole count does not provide a wiring map or power approval.Three-pin versus five-pin XLRContact count does not determine the device signal.Four-pin versus six-pin XLRWhat is the pole count and the equipment application? XLR shape alone does not establish signal or power.2-, 4- and 8-pole speakONWhich pole count and equipment wiring does the loudspeaker system document?3-pin versus 4-pin Mini-XLRDoes the compact Mini-XLR/Tini-QG form have three or four conductors? Conductor count does not establish the device wiring or signal role.4-pin versus 5-pin Mini-XLRDoes the compact Mini-XLR/Tini-QG form have four or five conductors? Do not infer a pin assignment from count alone.3-pin Mini-XLR versus full-size 3-pin XLRAre you looking at the compact Mini-XLR/Tini-QG form or a full-size XLR connector? Matching three-pole counts do not make the shells interchangeable.TOSLINK vs Mini-TOSLINKStandard TOSLINK and Mini-TOSLINK are different optical-audio connector forms. Mini-TOSLINK can resemble a 3.5 mm jack, so confirm optical support from device documentation.

Similar at first glance

Look-alike groups

3.5 mm TRS vs TRRSContact arrangement is a visual clue. Signal assignment still needs device documentation.Five-pin DIN versus five-pin XLRFive contacts do not establish the connector family or signal.Two-pole versus four-pole speakONPole count does not provide a wiring map or power approval.Three-pin versus five-pin XLRContact count does not determine the device signal.Four-pin versus six-pin XLRWhat is the pole count and the equipment application? XLR shape alone does not establish signal or power.2-, 4- and 8-pole speakONWhich pole count and equipment wiring does the loudspeaker system document?3-pin versus 4-pin Mini-XLRDoes the compact Mini-XLR/Tini-QG form have three or four conductors? Conductor count does not establish the device wiring or signal role.4-pin versus 5-pin Mini-XLRDoes the compact Mini-XLR/Tini-QG form have four or five conductors? Do not infer a pin assignment from count alone.3-pin Mini-XLR versus full-size 3-pin XLRAre you looking at the compact Mini-XLR/Tini-QG form or a full-size XLR connector? Matching three-pole counts do not make the shells interchangeable.

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Audio names and terminology

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