Gaming headset 3.5mm TRS mic plug pinout











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












    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






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked Nov 28 at 21:00









      Spiff

      76.3k10116160




      76.3k10116160






















          1 Answer
          1






          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











          Your Answer








          StackExchange.ready(function() {
          var channelOptions = {
          tags: "".split(" "),
          id: "3"
          };
          initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

          StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
          // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
          if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
          StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
          createEditor();
          });
          }
          else {
          createEditor();
          }
          });

          function createEditor() {
          StackExchange.prepareEditor({
          heartbeatType: 'answer',
          convertImagesToLinks: true,
          noModals: true,
          showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
          reputationToPostImages: 10,
          bindNavPrevention: true,
          postfix: "",
          imageUploader: {
          brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
          contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
          allowUrls: true
          },
          onDemand: true,
          discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
          ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
          });


          }
          });














          draft saved

          draft discarded


















          StackExchange.ready(
          function () {
          StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fsuperuser.com%2fquestions%2f1379215%2fgaming-headset-3-5mm-trs-mic-plug-pinout%23new-answer', 'question_page');
          }
          );

          Post as a guest















          Required, but never shown

























          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes








          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          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


















          draft saved

          draft discarded




















































          Thanks for contributing an answer to Super User!


          • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

          But avoid



          • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

          • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


          To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.





          Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.


          Please pay close attention to the following guidance:


          • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

          But avoid



          • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

          • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


          To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




          draft saved


          draft discarded














          StackExchange.ready(
          function () {
          StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fsuperuser.com%2fquestions%2f1379215%2fgaming-headset-3-5mm-trs-mic-plug-pinout%23new-answer', 'question_page');
          }
          );

          Post as a guest















          Required, but never shown





















































          Required, but never shown














          Required, but never shown












          Required, but never shown







          Required, but never shown

































          Required, but never shown














          Required, but never shown












          Required, but never shown







          Required, but never shown







          Popular posts from this blog

          flock() on closed filehandle LOCK_FILE at /usr/bin/apt-mirror

          Mangá

          Eduardo VII do Reino Unido