[fudgee logic]

Is this the correct understanding for naming conventions of plugs and
adapters:

(1) A lead which has a phono plug at each end can be referred to as
"phono plug to phono plug" lead. That much is ok.


(2) But is an adaptor (or coupler) which has a phono socket at each end
referred to as "phono socket to phono socket" adaptor (or coupler)?

Here's one: http://www.rawpower.co.uk/acatalog/sky_761.260.jpg

Would not also be likely that this could be referred to by its ability to
join two phono plugs and therefore gets called "phono plug to phono plug"
adaptor (or coupler)?

[David Nebenzahl]

On 3/22/2009 1:10 PM fudgee logic spake thus:

Is this the correct understanding for naming conventions of plugs and
adapters:

(1) A lead which has a phono plug at each end can be referred to as
"phono plug to phono plug" lead. That much is ok.

(2) But is an adaptor (or coupler) which has a phono socket at each end
referred to as "phono socket to phono socket" adaptor (or coupler)?

Here's one: http://www.rawpower.co.uk/acatalog/sky_761.260.jpg

Would not also be likely that this could be referred to by its ability to
join two phono plugs and therefore gets called "phono plug to phono plug"
adaptor (or coupler)?

I'd call it a phono plug-to-phono plug adapter (or coupler), as that's
what it adapts. Or a "double female phono connector", to more precisely
describe the adapter itself. (Or a "double-ended female RCA connector".
Or ... )

(Does anyone call them "RCA connectors" anymore?)


--
Made From Pears: Pretty good chance that the product is at least
mostly pears.
Made With Pears: Pretty good chance that pears will be detectable in
the product.
Contains Pears: One pear seed per multiple tons of product.

(with apologies to Dorothy L. Sayers)

[Serge Auckland[_2_]]

"David Nebenzahl" wrote in message
s.com...
On 3/22/2009 1:10 PM fudgee logic spake thus:

Is this the correct understanding for naming conventions of plugs and
adapters:

(1) A lead which has a phono plug at each end can be referred to as
"phono plug to phono plug" lead. That much is ok.

(2) But is an adaptor (or coupler) which has a phono socket at each end
referred to as "phono socket to phono socket" adaptor (or coupler)?

Here's one: http://www.rawpower.co.uk/acatalog/sky_761.260.jpg

Would not also be likely that this could be referred to by its ability to
join two phono plugs and therefore gets called "phono plug to phono plug"
adaptor (or coupler)?

I'd call it a phono plug-to-phono plug adapter (or coupler), as that's
what it adapts. Or a "double female phono connector", to more precisely
describe the adapter itself. (Or a "double-ended female RCA connector". Or
... )

(Does anyone call them "RCA connectors" anymore?)


--

In France they're called Cinch connectors.
I'd call the adapter a back-to-back female phono coupler

S.
--
http://audiopages.googlepages.com

[Lostgallifreyan]

"Serge Auckland" wrote in newsr-
:

I'd call the adapter a back-to-back female phono coupler


And I bet she'd slap your face if you did.

[Mr.T]

"David Nebenzahl" wrote in message
s.com...
I'd call it a phono plug-to-phono plug adapter (or coupler), as that's
what it adapts. Or a "double female phono connector", to more precisely
describe the adapter itself. (Or a "double-ended female RCA connector".
Or ... )

Most accurate and least confusing is RCA (phono) female-female adapter.
It should not be decribed by the plugs it adapts, most people would consider
a "phono plug to plug adapter" as being Male-Male, rather than F-F.

(Does anyone call them "RCA connectors" anymore?)

Sure, less confusion that "phono" IMO, which many seem to confuse with
"phone".

MrT.

[David Nebenzahl]

On 3/22/2009 7:09 PM Mr.T spake thus:

"David Nebenzahl" wrote in message
s.com...

I'd call it a phono plug-to-phono plug adapter (or coupler), as that's
what it adapts. Or a "double female phono connector", to more precisely
describe the adapter itself. (Or a "double-ended female RCA connector".
Or ... )

Most accurate and least confusing is RCA (phono) female-female adapter.
It should not be decribed by the plugs it adapts, most people would consider
a "phono plug to plug adapter" as being Male-Male, rather than F-F.

Kind of like the confusion (at least in my mind) between "onshore" and
"offshore" winds; I've always got to stop and think: does that mean the
wind is blowing on the shore from the ocean, or on the shore from the land?


--
Made From Pears: Pretty good chance that the product is at least
mostly pears.
Made With Pears: Pretty good chance that pears will be detectable in
the product.
Contains Pears: One pear seed per multiple tons of product.

(with apologies to Dorothy L. Sayers)

[Jasen Betts[_2_]]

On 2009-03-23, David Nebenzahl wrote:
On 3/22/2009 7:09 PM Mr.T spake thus:

"David Nebenzahl" wrote in message
s.com...

I'd call it a phono plug-to-phono plug adapter (or coupler), as that's
what it adapts. Or a "double female phono connector", to more precisely
describe the adapter itself. (Or a "double-ended female RCA connector".
Or ... )

Most accurate and least confusing is RCA (phono) female-female adapter.
It should not be decribed by the plugs it adapts, most people would consider
a "phono plug to plug adapter" as being Male-Male, rather than F-F.

Kind of like the confusion (at least in my mind) between "onshore" and
"offshore" winds; I've always got to stop and think: does that mean the
wind is blowing on the shore from the ocean, or on the shore from the land?

winds are like electric current, the actual flow is the opposite way
to the common description.

[Rich Grise]

On Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:40:58 +0000, Jasen Betts wrote:

On 2009-03-23, David Nebenzahl wrote:
On 3/22/2009 7:09 PM Mr.T spake thus:

"David Nebenzahl" wrote in message
s.com...

I'd call it a phono plug-to-phono plug adapter (or coupler), as that's
what it adapts. Or a "double female phono connector", to more precisely
describe the adapter itself. (Or a "double-ended female RCA connector".
Or ... )

Most accurate and least confusing is RCA (phono) female-female adapter.
It should not be decribed by the plugs it adapts, most people would consider
a "phono plug to plug adapter" as being Male-Male, rather than F-F.

Kind of like the confusion (at least in my mind) between "onshore" and
"offshore" winds; I've always got to stop and think: does that mean the
wind is blowing on the shore from the ocean, or on the shore from the land?

winds are like electric current, the actual flow is the opposite way
to the common description.


That only applies to "northerly", etc. Onshore really means onto the shore.

Hope This Helps!
Rich

[Lostgallifreyan]

David Nebenzahl wrote in
s.com:

Kind of like the confusion (at least in my mind) between "onshore" and
"offshore" winds; I've always got to stop and think: does that mean the
wind is blowing on the shore from the ocean, or on the shore from the land?



That got me thinking a bit. In this case there's more than convention though.
The land is an extension of the shore, so onshore means coming in from the
sea (if it was already moving over land before reaching the coast, calling it
onshore at the critical moment when it no longer was, would be pointless).
That could still be open to convention, but if you're on land, what matters
is where the wind comes from, once it's past you it's someone elses business.
At sea it's the other way round, no matter where it comes from, it's always
more important where it's going because if it's strong enough to be
hazardous, where it goes, so must you, to some extent at least.

That critical aspect isn't just me digressing for fun. It explains why
conventions in HV systems are far more critically observed. Once people lives
are at stake, they tend to agree and accept conventions.

But for domestic hifi cabling and such, all bets are off. Never mind
plug/socket, male/female. If you don't specify exactly whether you mean the
two connectors on the adaptive section, or the one on each of the separate
links that adaptive section is meant to bridge, then all the rest has as much
basis as up and down if you're in freefall. I think most people specify that
first, from what I've seen, so people instinctively know the need to be met.
But that works by talking, seeing, touching even, it won't work on an online
order form.

*sleeps before I turn into a little blob of literalistic goo*

[Rich Grise]

On Sun, 22 Mar 2009 21:11:48 -0800, David Nebenzahl wrote:
On 3/22/2009 7:09 PM Mr.T spake thus:
"David Nebenzahl" wrote in message

Most accurate and least confusing is RCA (phono) female-female adapter.
It should not be decribed by the plugs it adapts, most people would consider
a "phono plug to plug adapter" as being Male-Male, rather than F-F.

Kind of like the confusion (at least in my mind) between "onshore" and
"offshore" winds; I've always got to stop and think: does that mean the
wind is blowing on the shore from the ocean, or on the shore from the land?

The local TeeVee weather shows call it "onshore" when it's coming from the
ocean, going onto the shore on its way. "Offshore" is the ones that start
on land and blow their way off the shore (onto the ocean).

Cheers!
Rich

[fudgee logic]

"Mr.T" MrT@home wrote in message
u...

"David Nebenzahl" wrote in message
s.com...
I'd call it a phono plug-to-phono plug adapter (or coupler), as that's
what it adapts. Or a "double female phono connector", to more precisely
describe the adapter itself. (Or a "double-ended female RCA connector".
Or ... )

Most accurate and least confusing is RCA (phono) female-female adapter.
It should not be decribed by the plugs it adapts, most people would
consider
a "phono plug to plug adapter" as being Male-Male, rather than F-F.

(Does anyone call them "RCA connectors" anymore?)

Sure, less confusion that "phono" IMO, which many seem to confuse with
"phone".

MrT.


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"

[Serge Auckland[_2_]]

"fudgee logic" wrote in message
...
"Mr.T" MrT@home wrote in message
u...

"David Nebenzahl" wrote in message
s.com...
I'd call it a phono plug-to-phono plug adapter (or coupler), as that's
what it adapts. Or a "double female phono connector", to more precisely
describe the adapter itself. (Or a "double-ended female RCA connector".
Or ... )

Most accurate and least confusing is RCA (phono) female-female adapter.
It should not be decribed by the plugs it adapts, most people would
consider
a "phono plug to plug adapter" as being Male-Male, rather than F-F.

(Does anyone call them "RCA connectors" anymore?)

Sure, less confusion that "phono" IMO, which many seem to confuse with
"phone".

MrT.


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"


One great confusion is the meaning of the terms "plug" and "socket". As far
as I'm concerned a plug goes on a cable, and a socket goes on a panel. You
therefore can have male plugs or female plugs, and the same for sockets.

Therefore your adapter above is an RCA female to 3.5mm jack male. You don't
and shouldn't mention the words plug or socket.

S.

--
http://audiopages.googlepages.com

[Don Pearce[_3_]]

On Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:09:41 -0000, "Serge Auckland"
wrote:

One great confusion is the meaning of the terms "plug" and "socket". As far
as I'm concerned a plug goes on a cable, and a socket goes on a panel. You
therefore can have male plugs or female plugs, and the same for sockets.

Therefore your adapter above is an RCA female to 3.5mm jack male. You don't
and shouldn't mention the words plug or socket.

S.

Never. A plug is male and a socket is female. Another word for a
socket is a jack. It doesn't matter what they are attached to, and nor
should it - that is entirely beside the point (missing the business
end, if you like).

In RF, of course, there are hermaphrodite connectors, like the 7mm.

d

[Lostgallifreyan]

"Serge Auckland" wrote in
:

One great confusion is the meaning of the terms "plug" and "socket". As
far as I'm concerned a plug goes on a cable, and a socket goes on a
panel. You therefore can have male plugs or female plugs, and the same
for sockets.


It gets worse, some have shrouds that make them half-plug, half-socket, some
even have that topology in the actual conductor too, for extra contact
surface. When I want something that specific, I observe carefully, then
specify a part number the firm selling them would look really stupid to get
wrong because it's their own part code. In other words, is I MUST use
convention, I pick the one the firm is most likely to know and accept, that
way I get the part I want. That's why I like RS and such. Good pictures are
indispensible at times.

[Richard Crowley]

"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.
:-)
* 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")
* "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)

[Don Pearce[_3_]]

On Mon, 23 Mar 2009 06:38:41 -0700, "Richard Crowley"
wrote:

* the original "RCA phono" connector is also known as "Cinch",
particularly outside the US.

Cinch is a connector company that makes hundreds of types. I've never
come across the RCA phono referred to as a Cinch. The shorthand
nomenclature, certainly here in the UK, is always Phono.

d

[Paul B[_3_]]

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)

[Mr.T]

"Richard Crowley" wrote in message
. ..
* 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)

Which is why you should use the term TS or TRS (tip, ring, sleeve) rather
than stereo or mono. A mono balanced line also uses a TRS plug for example.

MrT.

[Lostgallifreyan]

"fudgee logic" wrote in
:

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"


If context is not specified, all you have is convention. It's like a binary
digit. Instead of agonising over (usually lazy) convention, just specify
exactly what you want, explaining the connectors it has to fit to. If people
give you the look askance, that's their problem. They'll soon wise up when
they find their lack of precision bites them from behind some day. The queues
at Maplin were reguarly haunted by people who had bought the wrong plug
because they failed to specify it right. The smart ones brought their
equipment in. Shlepping a couple of largish boxes up the the shop looks daft
but it surely beats a return visit just for a few grams of wrong plug. Given
the subtle size difference in DC jacks centre pins, and poor tolerance in
some makes of plug, it's not just the techically unsavvy who benefit from
producing the business end to the saleman so there's little risk of error.

Convention only makes sense of you're negotiating with people who all
understand it AND agree with it. That's rare.

[Paul B[_2_]]

On Mon 23-Mar-2009 13:44, Lostgallifreyan
wrote:

"fudgee logic" wrote in
:

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"


If context is not specified, all you have is convention. It's
like a binary digit. Instead of agonising over (usually lazy)
convention, just specify exactly what you want, explaining the
connectors it has to fit to. If people give you the look
askance, that's their problem. They'll soon wise up when they
find their lack of precision bites them from behind some day.
The queues at Maplin were reguarly haunted by people who had
bought the wrong plug because they failed to specify it right.
The smart ones brought their equipment in. Shlepping a couple
of largish boxes up the the shop looks daft but it surely
beats a return visit just for a few grams of wrong plug. Given
the subtle size difference in DC jacks centre pins, and poor
tolerance in some makes of plug, it's not just the techically
unsavvy who benefit from producing the business end to the
saleman so there's little risk of error.

Convention only makes sense of you're negotiating with people
who all understand it AND agree with it. That's rare.


Here's a UK example of an ambiguous mixed up description . It says
"3.5MM JACK PLUG, MONO"

http://cpc.farnell.com/AV15207/cable...s/product.us0?
sku=pro-signal-psg01659

And when the same supplier reverses the direction of the
illustration, they give a different description of effectively the
same item: "ADAPTOR, 3.5MM S TO PHONO P"

http://cpc.farnell.com/pro-signal/ps...or-3-5mm-s-to-
phono-p/dp/AV15537

What a muddle that first one is!

At least they both refer to A and B. Is there a convention for
which is A and which is B? (Without the photo it might be hard to
know which is which.)

[Rich Grise]

On Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:52:41 -0800, David Nebenzahl wrote:
On 3/22/2009 1:10 PM fudgee logic spake thus:

Is this the correct understanding for naming conventions of plugs and
adapters:

(1) A lead which has a phono plug at each end can be referred to as
"phono plug to phono plug" lead. That much is ok.

(2) But is an adaptor (or coupler) which has a phono socket at each end
referred to as "phono socket to phono socket" adaptor (or coupler)?

Here's one: http://www.rawpower.co.uk/acatalog/sky_761.260.jpg

Would not also be likely that this could be referred to by its ability to
join two phono plugs and therefore gets called "phono plug to phono plug"
adaptor (or coupler)?

I'd call it a phono plug-to-phono plug adapter (or coupler), as that's
what it adapts. Or a "double female phono connector", to more precisely
describe the adapter itself. (Or a "double-ended female RCA connector".
Or ... )

(Does anyone call them "RCA connectors" anymore?)

I do. In fact, if I ever get that dam digital coupon, I plan to ask if
any of the boxes have audio and video out, since I have audio and video
in RCA jacks on my TeeVee.

Cheers!
Rich

[Paul Hovnanian P.E.]

fudgee logic wrote:

Is this the correct understanding for naming conventions of plugs and
adapters:

(1) A lead which has a phono plug at each end can be referred to as
"phono plug to phono plug" lead. That much is ok.

(2) But is an adaptor (or coupler) which has a phono socket at each end
referred to as "phono socket to phono socket" adaptor (or coupler)?

I've heard of a cable with male at one end and female at the other as an
extension cable.

Your #2 could be called a female to female adapter cable.

--
Paul Hovnanian
------------------------------------------------------------------
In the force if Yoda's so strong, construct a sentence with words in
the proper order then why can't he?