Gaming headset 3.5mm TRS mic plug pinout











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It seems many PC gaming wired analog headsets have two separate 3.5mm "TRS" (3-conductor Tip, Ring, Sleeve) phono plugs:




  • One for stereo audio output from the PC to the headphones.

  • One for microphone audio input from to the PC.


What is the typical pinout for the TRS mic plug?



The reason for my confusion is I would expect the headsets to just have a single mic, so it seems like this should be a mono TS connector (just "tip = signal" and "shaft = shield/ground"), but instead it's a TRS connector, so I'm wondering what the extra conductor is for. Do they just do the one mic's signal twice as if it was stereo? Or do gaming headsets tend to have stereo mics even though the mics can't be placed well for proper stereo separation? Or is the extra conductor for a voltage bias to provide power so the headset can use a condenser mic instead of a dynamic mic? Or to power a preamp so the output comes out at line level instead of mic level?










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    up vote
    1
    down vote

    favorite












    It seems many PC gaming wired analog headsets have two separate 3.5mm "TRS" (3-conductor Tip, Ring, Sleeve) phono plugs:




    • One for stereo audio output from the PC to the headphones.

    • One for microphone audio input from to the PC.


    What is the typical pinout for the TRS mic plug?



    The reason for my confusion is I would expect the headsets to just have a single mic, so it seems like this should be a mono TS connector (just "tip = signal" and "shaft = shield/ground"), but instead it's a TRS connector, so I'm wondering what the extra conductor is for. Do they just do the one mic's signal twice as if it was stereo? Or do gaming headsets tend to have stereo mics even though the mics can't be placed well for proper stereo separation? Or is the extra conductor for a voltage bias to provide power so the headset can use a condenser mic instead of a dynamic mic? Or to power a preamp so the output comes out at line level instead of mic level?










    share|improve this question
























      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite











      It seems many PC gaming wired analog headsets have two separate 3.5mm "TRS" (3-conductor Tip, Ring, Sleeve) phono plugs:




      • One for stereo audio output from the PC to the headphones.

      • One for microphone audio input from to the PC.


      What is the typical pinout for the TRS mic plug?



      The reason for my confusion is I would expect the headsets to just have a single mic, so it seems like this should be a mono TS connector (just "tip = signal" and "shaft = shield/ground"), but instead it's a TRS connector, so I'm wondering what the extra conductor is for. Do they just do the one mic's signal twice as if it was stereo? Or do gaming headsets tend to have stereo mics even though the mics can't be placed well for proper stereo separation? Or is the extra conductor for a voltage bias to provide power so the headset can use a condenser mic instead of a dynamic mic? Or to power a preamp so the output comes out at line level instead of mic level?










      share|improve this question













      It seems many PC gaming wired analog headsets have two separate 3.5mm "TRS" (3-conductor Tip, Ring, Sleeve) phono plugs:




      • One for stereo audio output from the PC to the headphones.

      • One for microphone audio input from to the PC.


      What is the typical pinout for the TRS mic plug?



      The reason for my confusion is I would expect the headsets to just have a single mic, so it seems like this should be a mono TS connector (just "tip = signal" and "shaft = shield/ground"), but instead it's a TRS connector, so I'm wondering what the extra conductor is for. Do they just do the one mic's signal twice as if it was stereo? Or do gaming headsets tend to have stereo mics even though the mics can't be placed well for proper stereo separation? Or is the extra conductor for a voltage bias to provide power so the headset can use a condenser mic instead of a dynamic mic? Or to power a preamp so the output comes out at line level instead of mic level?







      audio microphone gaming headset wiring






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      asked Nov 28 at 21:00









      Spiff

      76.3k10116160




      76.3k10116160






















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          According to the Intel/Microsoft PC 2001 System Design Guides, Chapter 11 - Audio, requirement AUD-0331, the pink mic-in jack is wired this way:




          • Tip = mic signal

          • Ring = +5V bias

          • Shaft = shield/ground


          So a typical gaming headset's pink mic plug must be wired accordingly.






          share|improve this answer





















          • This article is mostly about powering a PC mic from the "phantom power" that's available on pro XLR jacks. However, it does give background on the PC mic pinout and confirms this answer. epanorama.net/newepa/2014/06/30/…
            – Jamie Hanrahan
            23 hours ago











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          1 Answer
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          1 Answer
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          active

          oldest

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          active

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          active

          oldest

          votes








          up vote
          2
          down vote



          accepted










          According to the Intel/Microsoft PC 2001 System Design Guides, Chapter 11 - Audio, requirement AUD-0331, the pink mic-in jack is wired this way:




          • Tip = mic signal

          • Ring = +5V bias

          • Shaft = shield/ground


          So a typical gaming headset's pink mic plug must be wired accordingly.






          share|improve this answer





















          • This article is mostly about powering a PC mic from the "phantom power" that's available on pro XLR jacks. However, it does give background on the PC mic pinout and confirms this answer. epanorama.net/newepa/2014/06/30/…
            – Jamie Hanrahan
            23 hours ago















          up vote
          2
          down vote



          accepted










          According to the Intel/Microsoft PC 2001 System Design Guides, Chapter 11 - Audio, requirement AUD-0331, the pink mic-in jack is wired this way:




          • Tip = mic signal

          • Ring = +5V bias

          • Shaft = shield/ground


          So a typical gaming headset's pink mic plug must be wired accordingly.






          share|improve this answer





















          • This article is mostly about powering a PC mic from the "phantom power" that's available on pro XLR jacks. However, it does give background on the PC mic pinout and confirms this answer. epanorama.net/newepa/2014/06/30/…
            – Jamie Hanrahan
            23 hours ago













          up vote
          2
          down vote



          accepted







          up vote
          2
          down vote



          accepted






          According to the Intel/Microsoft PC 2001 System Design Guides, Chapter 11 - Audio, requirement AUD-0331, the pink mic-in jack is wired this way:




          • Tip = mic signal

          • Ring = +5V bias

          • Shaft = shield/ground


          So a typical gaming headset's pink mic plug must be wired accordingly.






          share|improve this answer












          According to the Intel/Microsoft PC 2001 System Design Guides, Chapter 11 - Audio, requirement AUD-0331, the pink mic-in jack is wired this way:




          • Tip = mic signal

          • Ring = +5V bias

          • Shaft = shield/ground


          So a typical gaming headset's pink mic plug must be wired accordingly.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered yesterday









          Spiff

          76.3k10116160




          76.3k10116160












          • This article is mostly about powering a PC mic from the "phantom power" that's available on pro XLR jacks. However, it does give background on the PC mic pinout and confirms this answer. epanorama.net/newepa/2014/06/30/…
            – Jamie Hanrahan
            23 hours ago


















          • This article is mostly about powering a PC mic from the "phantom power" that's available on pro XLR jacks. However, it does give background on the PC mic pinout and confirms this answer. epanorama.net/newepa/2014/06/30/…
            – Jamie Hanrahan
            23 hours ago
















          This article is mostly about powering a PC mic from the "phantom power" that's available on pro XLR jacks. However, it does give background on the PC mic pinout and confirms this answer. epanorama.net/newepa/2014/06/30/…
          – Jamie Hanrahan
          23 hours ago




          This article is mostly about powering a PC mic from the "phantom power" that's available on pro XLR jacks. However, it does give background on the PC mic pinout and confirms this answer. epanorama.net/newepa/2014/06/30/…
          – Jamie Hanrahan
          23 hours ago


















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