Headphone jack

A headphone jack, also known as phone connector, phone jack, audio jack, or jack plug, is a family of electrical connectors typically used for analog audio signals.

The phone connector is cylindrical in shape, with a grooved tip to retain it. In its original audio configuration, it typically has two, three, four and, occasionally, five contacts. Three-contact versions are known as TRS connectors, where T stands for "tip", R stands for "ring" and S stands for "sleeve". Ring contacts are typically the same diameter as the sleeve, the long shank. Similarly, two-, four- and five- contact versions are called TS, TRRS and TRRRS connectors respectively. The outside diameter of the "sleeve" conductor is 6.35 millimetres (1/4 inch). The "mini" connector has a diameter of 3.5 mm (0.14 in).

This article focuses mainly on the 3.5mm standard used in game systems and portable mobile phones.

Tip-Sleeve Connector (Mono)

Mono TS

The mono audio connector is generally not used in video game consoles.

Note: One notable exception is the Atari VCS 2600, which uses a connector resembling a tip-sleeve mono audio connector. This connector should not be connected to audio equipment as it inputs 9VDC through the connector when plugged in.

TRS Connector (Stereo)

Stereo TRS

The stereo TRS connector is traditionally the most well-known and compatible with all audio equipment.

The first major console system to use a headphone jack was the Nintendo Game Boy, and the first non-portable game console to feature a headphone jack was the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.

The TRS connector is used in the following consoles:

• Nintendo Game Boy
• Sega Genesis
• Nintendo DS / DS Lite
• Nintendo Game Boy Advance
• Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP (with adapter)

TRRS Connector

The TRRS connector comes in two distinct flavors: OMTP and CTIA. While there are additional TRRS configurations for carrying video, most are not relevant to game consoles. The OMTP standard is used for older mobile phones like Nokia, as well as most Android-based smartphones, and the CTIA standard is mostly deployed in Apple devices. The two standards can be interchanged to carry audio in most cases, but advanced functionality like microphones or remote buttons may not function with the opposite standard.

OMTP

TRRS OMTP standard

The TRRS connector in the OMTP configuration is fully-supported (full microphone and headphone use) by the following consoles:

• Sony PSP (with remote control adapter)
• Nintendo 3DS/3DS XL
• Nintendo Switch
• Sony PS4 (through the controller)

CTIA

TRRS CTIA standard

The CTIA standard is mostly used by Apple devices like the iPhone and iPod.

The CTIA standard is implemented in the following game consoles

• Microsoft Xbox One (through the controller)