How to Buy 1/4 Inch Audio Adapters

The 1/4 inch audio connector is one of the most used connections in audio hardware. You can find 1/4 inch connectors on instruments, headphones, recording equipment, effects processors and so much more. As such, you need to make sure to have the right 1/4 inch audio adapters to handle all of your audio needs.

Instructions

1. Familiarize yourself with some terms. The male end of a 1/4 inch adapter is called the plug and the female end is the jack. A 1/4 inch adapter may also be referred to as a phone adapter, and a 1/8 inch adapter may be called a mini adapter.

2. Check the tip of the male adapter. A 1/4 inch adapter will be either a tip-sleeve (TS) model or a tip-ring-sleeve (TRS) model. A TS adapter will have one black line separating the tip from the long cylindrical sleeve. A TRS adapter will have a black line separating the tip and another black line a little farther down giving you three areas: the tip, the ring and the sleeve.

3. Decide if you need a balanced or unbalanced adapter. Balanced adapters are TRS and unbalanced are TS. Headphones, many speakers and any applications where you need to send stereo audio need a balanced cable. Instrument cables that only need to be mono can be done with an unbalanced adapter. Check the manual for the equipment you plan to use the adapter with, to check if you need a balanced or unbalanced adapter.

4. Find out what type of connector you need to convert. Often you will find you need to plug a 1/8 inch plug into a 1/4 inch jack for headphones, which can be done with a simple adapter. There are also 1/4 inch adapters, both male and female, for XLR, RCA and many more types of connectors.

Tips & Warnings

• Take a cable with you if you can, to try out adapters before you buy them. Also, always keep your receipt in case you need to return the adapter.