What is the difference between TRS and TRRS?

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Wat is het verschil tussen TRS en TRRS?

When it comes to audio products, you'll often encounter the abbreviations TRS and TRRS. These abbreviations both indicate the type of audio connection a product has. This is important to keep in mind, as some devices don't support TRRS or TRRS. In this blog post, we'll explain what TRS and TRRS are and explain the difference. We'll also discuss devices that support TRS or TRRS, so you can be sure you're buying the right microphone or other audio device for your device. Many smartphones no longer have a standard 3.5mm mini-jack TRRS connection, but fortunately, there's a solution for that.

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What is a TRS connection?

A TRS connection is an audio connection. This stands for: T: Tip, R: Ring, S: Sleeve. TRS is used for stereo sound. The Tip is used for the left audio channel, the ring for the right audio channel and the sleeve serves as ground. TRS connections come in two common sizes: 3.5 mm (also called mini-jack) and 6.35 mm. The 3.5 mm variant is often used for consumer electronics. Think of a directional microphone or pin microphone for a camera. 6.35 mm is more often used in the professional audio or music world. For example, for electric guitars or keyboards. You cannot record audio and listen to audio via the same cable with a TRS connection.

Which devices can use TRS?

It is difficult to indicate which products use TRS. Therefore, always check carefully what kind of connection your device has. It varies a lot between products. Many cameras use TRS, although there are also video cameras that have a TRRS connection. Older laptops and computers often also have a TRS connection. In addition, TRS is very popular in the professional audio world, for example in sound systems, mixing consoles or audio interfaces. This is because there is less demand in the professional audio world for cables with which you can both send and receive audio. This is because they often have extensive mixing consoles with more than enough connections.

Why can't I connect a microphone with a TRS connector to my phone?

Modern phones are equipped with a TRRS connection, but this does not mean that you cannot connect devices with a TRS connection to your phone. For example, it is possible to connect a headset with a TRS connection to your smartphone, but not a microphone with a TRS connection. This is because the first two rings on a TRS connection are in the same place as on a TRRS connection. These ensure that you can listen to audio. With a TRRS, the ring for recording sound is at the very bottom, which means that a phone can only use a microphone with a TRRS connection.

What is a TRRS connection?

A TRRS connection is a more modern audio connection. A TRRS connection has an extra ring. This creates space for an extra audio signal. TRRS stands for: T: Tip, R: Ring, R: Ring, Sleeve. The extra ring makes it possible to both record audio and listen to audio via the same cable. This is often used with smartphones, tablets and laptops. For example, think of wired earphones with a microphone. This makes it possible to make calls via the earphones and to both record and listen to sound via the same cable. Because smartphones use TRRS, you cannot directly connect a microphone with a TRS cable to your smartphone. It will not work. However, headphones or earphones can be connected directly to your smartphone.

Do you have a microphone with a TRS connection that you still want to connect to a phone? This is possible. Then you will need a TRS to TRRS adapter cable.

Which devices can use TRRS?

Devices that can use it include: smartphones, tablets and laptops. Please note: older laptops may still be equipped with a TRS connection. Newer models of smartphones and tablets often no longer have a TRRS connection (headphone port). This is mainly done to save space in the smartphone. As a result, with most smartphones you need a microphone with a USB-C or Lightning connector to connect to your smartphone.

Do you have a microphone with a 3.5mm mini-jack TRRS connection that you would still like to connect to your new Samsung or iPhone? You can, then you will need a 3.5mm jack to Lightning or a 3.5mm jack to USB-C adapter.

What is the difference between a TRS and a TRRS connection?

The biggest difference between TRS and TRRS is in the rings on the connector. A TRS connection has 1 ring while a TRRS connection has 2 rings. This has to do with how many audio signals can run through a cable. 1 stereo audio signal can run through TRS. This means that it is not possible to record audio and listen to audio via 1 cable. With TRRS this is possible, for example, you can send and listen to audio via 1 cable from earphones at the same time. This is very useful for smartphones, because otherwise you would need 2 connections for this.

How do I recognize a TRS or TRRS connection?

A TRS or TRRS connection can be recognized by the number of rings. In the image you can clearly see that the TRRS connection has 3 rings and the TRS connection only has 2 rings. The last ring at the TRRS connection ensures that sound can also be recorded.