Differences between cinch and jack
Cinch and jack are two audio connectors that are used in many areas. We present the differences and the compatibility of both connector articles in more detail in this article.
All about RCA cables
Cinch connections are mainly found in the home area for audio and video transmission.
- Analog stereo transmission is implemented using two cinch cables.
- The left channel is marked in white, the right channel in red.
- The cinch cable for video transmission is usually marked in yellow.
- The transmission is asymmetrical and therefore very susceptible to interference.
- With digital S / PDIF transmission, one cable is sufficient for a stereo signal.
- With Cinch there is one contact inside and one outside. Therefore, there is no noise when the plug is inserted, but unfortunately the signal is often interrupted even with a badly fitting plug.
All about jack cables
Audio jack can be found in the home as well as in the amateur and professional area.
- Mono plugs have only one ring and transmit a channel asymmetrically, like cinch.
- With jacks with two rings (see photo), two channels can be transmitted asymmetrically or one channel can become symmetrical.
- Jacks with more rings allow the transmission of additional audio or control signals.
- A coloring of the sockets has established itself for sound cards. Pink stands for microphone, blue for line-in and green for line-out.
- When a jack is inserted, the signal and ground streak and a humming sound is heard.
Compatibility and comparison between RCA and jack
Jack and cinch both have their strengths and are basically compatible:
- Since cinch only allows asymmetrical signal transmission, it is not very suitable for professional use.
- However, cinch is widely used in the home for audio and cinema systems. Cables and adapters make it possible to combine cinch and jack.
- In our practical tips, we will show you how to solder cinch plugs and repair jack cables. With a little skill you can solder an adapter cable yourself based on these articles.
- However, a stereo signal must run via two cinch plugs.
- An exception to this is digital S / PDIF transmission. Here, however, a digital-to-analog converter is required to make the digital signal compatible for jack.
- We will present the advantages and disadvantages of RCA and jack as a loudspeaker connection in another practical tip.
Differences and compatibility between jack and XLR are explained in this article. Further practical tips clarify healthy headphone types and help you if no sound comes from your computer.
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With cinch plugs, an image or sound channel is usually transmitted asymmetrically. Multiple channels can only be transmitted with digital transmission (S / PDIF).
Red and white are right and left audio channels, yellow is usually video. Sometimes subwoofers or center speakers are shown in black. Orange often stands for digital S / PDIF.
Jacks are available with two rings as a 3.5mm variant ...
... and as a 6.3mm version. You can transmit one channel symmetrically or two channels asymmetrically.
Mono plugs always transmit only one channel asymmetrically. They also exist as 6.3mm -...
... and as a 3.5mm version. Space-saving L plugs (see photo) are common for jacks, but not for cinch.
The typical plugs are male. The female counterpart is the jack.
With adapters from male cinch to male jack only one channel can be transmitted asymmetrically.
When buying adapters, make sure that the channels are displayed in color. Often both cinch inputs are orange and you can only experience left and right by trying them out. This is particularly annoying when the plug is changed frequently.
Professional devices often offer compatibility because of jack and RCA inputs. Cinch is only suitable for low-noise environments and short transmission paths.
