Glossary of Consumer Electronics: Jacks & Plugs
AC Power Plug
Stands for Alternating Current; this is a way of describing the electrical power that come out of a home's walls. When you connect a device to AC power, you're giving it electricity so that it can be turned on and off.
Banana Plug
A plug used at the ends of speaker cables to connect speakers to an amplifier or receiver. The bowed plug looks something like a banana, hence the name. Banana plugs create a secure, high quality connection for speakers, and are usually seen in costlier equipment and systems. Because the plugs are relatively large, they are rarely seen in compact components or systems.
BNC
A type of connection usually associated with professional video and audio equipment. It uses a twist-turn (bayonet) style plug that locks onto a BNC jack for an extremely secure connection. In the consumer A/V world, BNC connections are unusual, occasionally seen on high-end video projectors.
Bose Link
A proprietary connection used by Bose to expand Bose Lifestyle systems into multiple rooms. It's a special cable with a miniature multi-pin DIN plug at the end, and is designed only for Bose equipment.
Coaxial Cable
Coaxial (“coax”) wires come in different types for different uses. The word "coaxial" actually refers to the design of the cable, rather than its use. A coaxial cable typically has two conductors, one in the center of the cable, and another in the outer portion; both are insulated. When connected, both conductors make the desired contact. Coaxial cable is used to bring signals from a cable TV or satellite TV provider into the home. A different type of coaxial cable is used for digital audio connections.
Component Video
Component video connections use three plugs and jacks, usually color coded into red, green and blue. The plugs and jacks themselves are physically identical to the RCA (phono) type plugs and jacks seen in both composite video and analog audio connections.
DVI Connector
Stands for Digital Visual Interface — a pure digital connection between video devices, providing a fast transfer rate, high quality image and no quality loss. This connection comes in two types: A single link version that is capable of 1920x1080 resolution and a dual link that has greater bandwidth and can provide resolution of 2048x1536. Dual-link cables are backward compatible with single link connections. For most consumer electronics, DVI connections have been superseded by HDMI connections, which have physically smaller plugs and can pass audio as well as video, which DVI can not. However, HDMI is backward compatible with DVI, through the use of a simple plug adapter.
Ethernet Connector
A connection used for a variety of networking applications, primarily for connections between PCs, routers, gateways and bridges that connect users to the Internet. Increasingly, consumer electronics devices such as satellite receivers, DVRs AV receivers and game consoles are also including Ethernet Connectors to connect them to the Internet.
F Connector
Alternate Names: RF Connector
A coaxial-type cable connection where the plug features a center wire strand and a screw-on grounding collar. The collar surrounding the center strand, or pin, is often threaded for a secure screw-on connection, but slide-on collars without threading are common as well. This connection is often used for both analog signals (such as analog cable TV) and digital connections (such as satellite TV).
HDMI
HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) is a digital connection offering signal purity that represents the current state of the art. It passes audio, video and control signals, including digital rights management (DRM) through the HDCP (High Definition Content Protection) protocol. HDMI supports uncompressed video resolutions of 1080p and beyond, and also supports up to 8 audio channels with extended audio fidelity far beyond today's CD and DVD sound. HDMI connections for audio-video equipment terminate in a single small plug, and there is also an HDMI Mini connector for smaller devices like camcorders and digital cameras. Through the use of a cable adapter, an HDMI video stream can be made compatible with a DVI connection, if your equipment uses it.
IEEE 1394
Alternate Names: Firewire, iLink
A connection capable of carrying digital video or audio signals at 400mpbs of throughput. The connection is not fast enough for full-bandwidth, uncompressed HDTV transmission, therefore it is used mostly for lower-demand video applications, such as camcorders, and for audio applications, which are less bandwidth-intensive than video. There are two sizes of 1394 plugs and jacks; one with 4 pins and a second with 6 pins. There are cables that terminate in 4-pin at each end, 6-pin at each end, or 4 on one end and 6 on the other. These are all interoperable, and plug sizes can be altered by an adapter.
IEEE 802.11b
Most commonly known as “Wi-Fi,” 802.11b is a wireless local-area networking standard. Many PC and networked home entertainment devices use 802.11b, which is capable of speeds up to 10Mbps.
IEEE 802.11g
A more evolved and faster version of the Wi-Fi local-area networking standard, offering speeds up to 54Mbps, 802.11g is backward-compatible with older 802.11b wireless devices.
IEEE 802.11n
Not yet officially ratified as a standard, 802.11n is being designed as an even faster version of the popular Wi-Fi protocols, capable of at least double and possibly as much as six times as fast as 802.11g. Numerous companies have started marketing products in advance of the specification being finalized. These are called "pre-802.11n".
Memory Stick Duo
Alternate Name: MS Duo
A variation of Memory Stick flash storage that features higher capacities (up to 8 GB) and faster data transfer rates than conventional Memory Sticks. Generally compatible through an adapter with any device that accepts a conventional Memory Stick, but not with some older devices.
Memory Stick Micro
Alternate Names: MS Micro
A miniaturized variation of Memory Stick flash storage, about the size of a fingernail, designed for compact portable devices. With an adapter (often supplied), it can be read by the other larger Memory Stick Drives.
Micro Drive
A miniature, 1-inch hard disk designed to fit in a Compact Flash Type II slot, with storage capacities of up to 8 GB and potentially more. Relatively uncommon in consumer electronics devices.
Micro SD Card
Alternate Names: MS Duo
A miniature format for removable flash memory cards, used mainly in mobile telephones, but also in portable audio players and video game consoles. Storage capacity can range up to 8 GB, and adapters can allow a microSD card to be used in devices intended for SD cards.
Mini Jack
Alternate Names: MS Micro
A miniature 3.5mm jack that typically accepts a stereo mini plug for 2-channel analog audio. Commonly seen on portable stereo audio devices, particularly as a headphone connection or audio line output.
MiniSD Card
A smaller version of the SD (Secure Digital) flash memory card, and a larger version of the Micro SD card, used as storage for portable devices such as digital cameras, cell phones and MP3 players. Has a typical capacity of up to 4 GB, though they can range even higher.
MMCmicro Card
Alternate Names: Multimedia Micro Card
A miniaturized version of the MMC flash memory card, with which it is compatible, by way of an adapter. While this card looks very similar to a Micro SD card, the two are not compatible, due to a different pin output configuration.
Mono Mini Connection
A monaural audio-only analog connection that uses a 1/8-inch plug and jack. Most often seen in portable dictation recorders and other small personal devices. Relatively uncommon, in comparison to the similarly-sized stereo mini audio connection.
Mono Phono Connection
A monaural, audio-only analog connection that uses an RCA-type plug with a center pin and outer collar. Mostly seen as the monaural connection between a subwoofer and an AV receiver or amplifier, though it is also encountered in older equipment, such as non-stereo VCRs.
Mu Card
A miniature flash memory storage card based on an open standard and royalty-free manufacturing specifications, thereby making them less costly than SD memory cards, which are functionally similar, but incompatible. Other types and sizes of MMC flash memory cards use this same, open standard Mu Card technology.
Multimedia Card
Alternate Names: MMC
An older flash memory card standard, about the size of a postage stamp. They have been more or less superseded by newer and smaller flash memory cards with greater capacities, but can be used in most devices that support SD cards.
Phono Connector/Jack
Alternate Names: RCA connector
A common connection for numerous types of audio and video components. On the plug side, a metal tip is surrounded by a metal ring. The jack side (on the devices) consist of a central hole surrounded by a metal ring that the plug's ring fits over. This same type of plug and jack is used in analog audio and video connections and in some digital audio connections, where they are called digital coaxial connections.
PS2
Alternate Names: PS2, Mouse Port, Peripheral Port
A legacy mouse and keyboard connection consisting of 6-pin mini-DIN connectors. The female connectors are on the computer, the male connectors are on the cables that plug into the computer. PS2 connections have been largely superseded by newer technologies, such as USB.
RCA Connector
Alternate Names: Phono connector
A common connection for many types of audio and video components. On the plug side, a metal male tip is surrounded by a metal ring. The jack side (on the devices) consist of a central hole surrounded by a metal ring that the plug's ring fits over. This same type of plug and jack is used in analog audio and video connections and in some digital audio connections, where they are called Digital Coaxial connections.
Reduced Sized Multimedia Card
Alternate Names: RS-MMC
A reduced size (RS) version of the MMC flash memory storage card, with storage capacities typically ranging to 2 GB. The RS-MCC cards are about half the size of the original MMC cards, and are compatible when used with an adapter.
RS-232
Alternate Names: RS-MMC
A connection sometimes seen on higher-end home electronics and custom-installed home theaters that is used for controlling devices. Mostly used by professionals.
SCART
An audio/video connector used in Europe, consisting of a 21 pin multi-connector that can carry two audio in and out channels, in and out video channels, RGB signals, ground and some additional control signals.
Secure Digital Card
Alternate Names: SD Card, Mini SD, Micro SD, HDSD
A miniature flash memory storage card popularly used in digital cameras, camcorders and audio players. SD stands for Secure Digital, and the cards can in fact protect content with digital rights management (DRM) although this isn't frequently used. Storage can extend to 8 GB, and progressively smaller versions are seen as the Mini SD and Micro SD.
Spade Lug
A type of termination for wired speaker connections, so-named because the U-shaped metal terminal resembles a spade.
Speaker Bi-Wire
A type of speaker connection with two conductors on one end (the side that goes into the amplifier) and four conductors on the speaker end. Not all speakers can accept this connection; in order to be bi-wired, each speaker must have two sets of connection terminals (two plus, two minus). The advantage to bi-wiring has been the subject of debate. Proponents claim that sending amplifier energy to different drivers separately (as bi-wiring does) results in more optimal performance. Bi-wiring can be accomplished with special bi-wires or with conventional speaker wire.
Speaker Wire
Speaker wires are two-conductor wires, with the plus and minus sides usually indicated on the insulating jacket that surrounds the copper wire. Speaker wires may terminate in numerous types of connectors, such as spade lugs, banana plugs, speaker pins, or even nothing at all, just bare wire. When connecting speaker wire from a speaker to an amplifier or receiver, plus must always be connected to plus and minus to minus.
Sub Mini Connection
Alternate Names: Sub Mini Plug, Sub Mini Jack
An extremely miniaturized 2.5mm plug and jack for analog audio, mainly used in personal and portable devices. It is seen in both mono and stereo versions, and can be used with a Mini connection by way of an inexpensive adapter.
S-Video
Alternate Names: Y/C video
An analog video connection that sends color and brightness information through separate paths along a wire. By separating these signals, there's less interference between them than with a composite cable, hence potentially superior picture quality for an S-Video connection. This connection uses a miniature round, 4-pin DIN connector, and is sometimes called a Y/C cable, with Y representing brightness (luminance) and C representing color (chroma).
Toslink
Alternate Names: Optical Digital, Fiber Optic
A connection for a fiber optic wire, commonly used for digital audio applications, such as Dolby Digital and DTS. Developed by Toshiba (hence TOSlink), the connectors consist of a small snap-in port with a center pin. The cable's single conductor uses a special plastic fiber instead of copper, which eliminates the possibility of household interference with the signal. Toslink cables transmit light, which cannot be bent; therefore it is important to avoid bending or crimping the cable. See Optical Cable.
VPORT
A connection specifically designed for the Microsoft Xbox game console, which allows component video and stereo audio (analog) from an Xbox to travel over a single wire to the TV or AV receiver. The connection port is physically similar to the Xbox multi-connector, and an accessory connection block on the cable allows the user to connect a special optical cable for digital audio to a receiver.
Wire
Alternate Names: Cable, Cord
An elongated strand of a conducting material, usually metal or strands of metal, that carry electricity or communications signals. Wires may contain a single conductor or several, and may be made of various metals, as well as plastic fiber. Wire is always insulated with plastic, rubber or other materials to protect users and the signal. Wires may be terminated by one or more of many different types of connectors, depending on usage. Signals may degrade over the length of long wires, depending on their type.
XD Card
The "extreme digital" (XD) Card is flash memory card used mainly in digital cameras. Developed by Olympus and Fujifilm and available through numerous brands, the miniature cards (about the size of a fingernail) have capacities of up to 2GB. Their main advantage is physical size, but because newer technologies have matched or exceeded XD in terms of size, storage and cost, the format is falling behind in the marketplace.
XM Connector
A type of plug-in connection used for XM satellite radio systems. A round collar surrounds a center pin on the plug end of the wire, which slides into the jack end on the device with no turning or threading. An XM-type connector generally works with the competing Sirius satellite radio system and its antennas.