On Mon 23-Mar-2009 13:38, Richard Crowley wrote:
"fudgee logic" wrote ...
OK, I think I've got it. An adapter (or "adaptor",
"coupler", "gender changer") should be described by the
connectors it actually contains rather than the connectors
which it mates with.
Can I now ask about another related usage which also confuses
me. As an example, let's say I have an adapter which has an
RCA-phono socket and a 3.5mm jack plug.
Some suppliers leave out the terms "socket" and "plug". So
in this example, what is the common usage:
(a) "RCA-phono to 3.5mm jack".
(b) "3.5mm jack to RCA-phono"
(c) Female RCA (Cinch) to male 3.5mm phone (mono)
* "phono" is too easily confused with "phone" * the original
"RCA phono" connector is also known as "Cinch", particularly
outside the US.
* "socket" and "plug" (and "jack") are not necessarily defined
properly by the public. For that matter "male" and "female"
are not always identified properly because male connectors
often have pins recessed into a female-looking shell. (No
anthropomorphic implications intended.
:-)
With XLR connectors, there are male and female connectors but it is
the female connector which is inserted into the male one.
See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Xlr-connectors.jpg
* each end must be precisely and completely defined, not left
to assumption if that is done, then the sequence is not
significant, although common convention is to state the female
end first (presumed to be the "input")
That's far too sensible! Sometimes suppliers shorten their
descriptions almost to the point of total intelligibility.
* "mini-phone" is no longer assumed to be 1/8 inch or 3.5mm
since there is increasing use of similar-looking 2.5mm
connectors, etc.
* phone connectors (of whatever size) should be specified at
least as "stereo" vs "mono", although there is growing use of
4-pole versions (for stereo headphones + microphone, or stereo
audio + video, etc.) and 3-pole does not necessarily imply
"stereo" either, as it is commonly used for audio + power
(as for mono computer "mic input"s)