What is a TRS cable?

What is a TRS cable?

What is a TRS cable?  A TRS cable is made up of two conductors and a ground shield.  A conductor is a type of material or object that allows the flow of electrical current in one or more directions, and a ground shield is composed of one or more insulated conductors surrounded by a common conductive cover.  The shield is used to reduce noise affecting the signal flow, and also to decrease electromagnetic radiation that can affect other electrical devices. TRS cables are used mainly to affix balanced equipment or combining both left and right mono channels in stereo headphones.

A TRS cable is composed of three conductors: a tip (T), ring (R), and a sleeve (S).  These are all connected by different conductors within the cable.  A standard guitar cable consists of a Tip and Sleeve only.  The jack plug at the top of the cable is a TS cable.  The pointed metal end is (wait for it) the tip, and the sleeve is the metal shaft running down about two inches from the top of the cable.  There is a small black band between these two parts that keep the tip and the sleeve from shorting out against each other.  These TS cables are typically used for carrying mono signals from electric guitars and basses to their respective amplifiers.

There is another type of TRS cable, which combines all elements of the stereo field.  This is a TRRS cable, which has two rings and four conductors.  These chords are often used in stereo headsets that contain a built-in microphone, a left and right channel respectively, and a ground.  The TS cable and the TRS cable come in different jack sizes.  The most common is the ¼”, also known as the telephone jack, as these were the first type of plugs to be used in telephone switching operations.  The diameter at the sleeve is ¼”, which is where the name comes from.  The ⅛” or 3.5mm jack are commonly used with computers and handheld devices.

TRS cables can be found in many different applications, from connecting electric guitars and patch bays, to the routing of various hardware and multi effects units together in commercial and home studios.  There are differences in the quality of TRS cables, and can have a significant effect on the sound captured in audio recording and signal flow in a variety of live sound applications.  TRS cables are also used in home security systems, providing protection from radio frequency interference and power surges.

If you want to discuss how TRS cables can improve your workflow in your recording studio, drop us a line at +1 (818) 500-8142 or email us at marketing@bittree.com

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