Audio/Connector/Phone/TRS

• TRS — Tip-Ring-Sleeve

  • Three contacts, two insulating rings. The same plug serves two wirings, and the size and the gear decide which:
    • Unbalanced stereo — tip left, ring right, sleeve ground. The usual reading at 3.5 mm.
    • Balanced mono — tip and ring carry the two differential halves of one signal, sleeve the shield. The usual reading at 6.35 mm in professional audio.
  • A third wiring appears on mixing desks, where one TRS jack is an unbalanced insert point carrying send on the tip and return on the ring.

  • Sizes

    • Audio/Connector/Phone/TRS/3.5mm — headphones, earbuds, and aux and line cabling.
    • 6.35 mm (1/4 in) — balanced line and insert cabling, and a compact substitute for XLR on small mixing desks.