FIELD GUIDESource-led reference
Port & Cable

Family terminology

Audio connector names and aliases

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

18canonical connector forms
59alias entries
2documented shape labels
18engineering profiles

Canonical names and common aliases

Canonical connectorCommon names / abbreviationsShape labelEngineering
3.5 mm TRS connector3.5mm stereo · aux TRS · headphone TRSroundEngineering reference →
3.5 mm TRRS connectorTRRS · headset jack · 4 pole 3.5mm · CTIA · OMTProundEngineering reference →
6.35 mm TS connectorquarter inch TS · 6.35mm mono · 1/4 TSroundEngineering reference →
6.35 mm TRS connectorquarter inch TRS · 6.35mm stereo · balanced TRSroundEngineering reference →
RCA connectorphono · RCA plug · cinchroundEngineering reference →
TOSLINK connectoroptical audio · SPDIF optical · TOSLINKopticalEngineering reference →
Mini-TOSLINK connectormini optical · 3.5 optical · Mini TOSLINKroundEngineering reference →
3-pin XLR connectorXLR · XLR3 · 3 pin microphoneroundEngineering reference →
5-pin DIN connector: MIDI and legacy usesMIDI DIN · 5 pin DIN · AT keyboard plugroundEngineering reference →
5-pin XLR connector5 pole XLR · XLR5 · five pin XLRroundEngineering reference →
2-pole speakON loudspeaker connectorNL2 · NL2FXX · 2 pole speaker connector · Speakon 2roundEngineering reference →
4-pole speakON loudspeaker connectorNL4 · NL4FXX · 4 pole speaker connector · Speakon 4roundEngineering reference →
4-pin XLR connectorXLR4 · 4 pin XLR · four pole XLRroundEngineering reference →
6-pin XLR connectorXLR6 · 6 pin XLR · six pole XLRroundEngineering reference →
8-pole speakON loudspeaker connectorNL8 · NL8FC · 8 pole speaker connector · Speakon 8roundEngineering reference →
3-pin Mini-XLR (Switchcraft Tini-QG) connectorMini-XLR 3 · 3-pin Mini XLR · Tini-QG 3-pinroundEngineering reference →
4-pin Mini-XLR (Switchcraft Tini-QG) connectorMini-XLR 4 · 4-pin Mini XLR · Tini-QG 4-pinroundEngineering reference →
5-pin Mini-XLR (Switchcraft Tini-QG) connectorMini-XLR 5 · 5-pin Mini XLR · Tini-QG 5-pinroundEngineering reference →

Related comparison paths

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.

Open the full Audio family reference →

Common searches routed here

Audio connector typesBrowse analog and professional-audio connector forms while keeping contact count, channel role and signal assignment separate.Mini-XLR pin numbers and wiringUse Mini-XLR contact numbering for orientation without treating pin numbers as universal microphone, headset or device wiring.Does an XLR cable work with every microphone setup?Keep 3-pin XLR cable form separate from equipment wiring, phantom power and exact signal role.Does VGA carry audio?Keep the conventional VGA video path separate from the audio path and any combined cable assembly.What do RCA colors mean: audio, composite or component?Read labels and signal roles before choosing a connection by color.Will a VGA-to-RCA cable convert my video signal?Separate a documented multi-mode port and breakout cable from actual signal conversion.
Discovery is not a compatibility verdict.

These discovery surfaces route and reorganize facts already represented in the atlas. They do not add electrical ratings, universal pinouts, measured tolerances, exact-device support, wiring approval or an end-to-end compatibility result.