[sdiy] stereo output questions.....

[Adam Schabtach]

Uli Berhinger wasn't even born when the term TRS was coined. See this
reference:
http://books.google.com/books?id=BFcJAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA11-PA36&dq=tip+ring+sleev
e+date:0-1922&as_brr=1
That's from a book published in 1907. Also see:
http://books.google.com/books?id=d7ft6F8ZUdcC&pg=PA64&ots=1f0MXwIa6s&dq="pho
ne+plug"+"phone+jack"&sig=seKs_oIeUQ-H70mdDWp7cdMqruw#PPA64,M1
That's a 20-year-old Yamaha publication. Note that no mention of _wiring_ is
attached to the diagrams for the TRS connectors. Also see pages 291-294 for
usage of the term TRS independent of wiring.

The product page you cite in fact says "fully balanced high-quality 1/4" TRS
connectors". If "TRS" implied balanced, why would they use "balanced" in
that statement? It would be redundant. Ditto for the description of a dbx
product here:
http://www.dbxpro.com/166XL/166XL.php
Note the bullet item "Balanced inputs and outputs on 1/4" TRS and XLR". The
manual for that product says "SIDECHAIN INSERT Jack: This jack accepts a
standard TRS 1/4" phone plug and provides a connection to the 166XL detector
path. The RING
acts as a Send, carrying a buffered version of the signal present at the
166XL INPUT jack, at an impedance of 2k[ohm]. The TIP acts as a Return for
equipment to feed the 166XL's detector circuitry, such as an equalizer for
de-essing or frequency sensitive gating/compression."

Seems to me that manufacturers agree with me.

--Adam 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Graham Atkins [mailto:gatkins at blueyonder.co.uk] 
> Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2008 1:12 PM
> To: lists at studionebula.com
> Cc: 'sdiy'
> Subject: Re: [sdiy] stereo output questions.....
> 
> A 3-circuit 1/4" jack can be used to carry stereo audio but 
> many companies are usig them to carry balanced audio 
> presumably because XLR connectors would add to the cost. They 
> have traditionally been refered to as a stereo jack.
> The use for balanced audio is relatively recent and the name 
> "TRS" is used for this purpose. With headphones you have 
> either a mono or stereo jack, not TRS. Just look at a few 
> manufacturers such as this :-
> 
> http://www.behringer.com/PX1000/?lang=ENG
> 
> Graham
> On 27 Nov 2008, at 19:30, Adam Schabtach wrote:
> 
> > Um, no, Jure is right. TRS refers to the physical connector; it has 
> > nothing to do with the signal you carry on the connector. 
> Consider a 
> > pair of stereo
> > headphones: it uses a TRS plug and carries an unbalanced pair of 
> > signals.
> > TRS jacks are also used on some mixing desks for patching insert 
> > effects.
> > One conductor carries the "send" signal, the other carries the 
> > "return"
> > signal, and the sleeve is used for ground.
> >
> > Or, for a second opinion: 
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tip_ring_sleeve
> > (Not that Wikipedia is the definitive reference, but it does have a 
> > lengthy
> >>>>
> 
>