Audio/Connector/Phone/TS/3.5mm

• 3.5mm TS Audio Connector

  • Visual Reference

    • TS connector schematic showing tip and sleeve
    • Image: public domain (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons

  • Overview

    • TS stands for Tip-Sleeve, the simplest 3.5 mm phone connector: 2 conductors, 1 insulating ring
    • Carries a single (mono) unbalanced signal
    • Same tip/sleeve concept as the 1/4 in TS plug used widely in professional audio, scaled down to 3.5 mm

  • Physical Specifications

    • Diameter: 3.5 mm (1/8 in)
    • Conductors: 2 (tip, sleeve)
    • Insulating rings: 1
    • Orientation: rotationally symmetric, no keying

  • Pin Configuration

    • Tip: signal (mono)
    • Sleeve: ground / return

  • Common Use Cases

    • Mono earpieces and older intercom/radio-mic connections
    • Some patch/pedal cables where only a single unbalanced signal is needed
    • Effects pedal power/trigger connections on compact gear

  • Compatibility

    • Physically fits into Audio/Connector/Phone/TRS/3.5mm and Audio/Connector/Phone/TRRS/3.5mm jacks, but the extra ring(s) on those jacks are left unconnected — a TS plug in a TRS/TRRS jack typically only drives the left channel or grounds the unused rings, depending on the device's normalling