Making Audio Cables: Soldering 1/4 inch TRS to 3.5 mm TRS

Learn how to solder a quarter-inch tip ring sleeve connector to 3.5 inch mini connector with InfoComm University instructor Tom Kehr, CTS-D CTS-I.

[@jdenslinger]

Beautifully done video! I've been soldering for quite a while (I had a project with about 3200 solder points) And I really wish I had seen this video first. Your technique is what I ended up learning by trial and error and about 200 attempts!

[@xr77exo]

I’ve never done this myself. My teammates in the Audo department I work with do not do the intricate way that you do it. They just do it but not as good as this…I guess I’m the one with OCD. 😄 I’ve noticed I’m the one who If I’m going to do cable’s. I want them not to fail. My work reflects me. I’m now inspired to go and fix the broken equipment we have with this knowledge. ‼️ hahaha!!! I think I will 👍🏼🇺🇸 loved the video 💖

[@RootGinger]

Great video and a very good way to wire a TRS jack. I’ve seen some other videos where they were wiring the sleeve to the strain release clamp and knew it was wrong.

[@thinkingfirespirit]

Really good video! I'm a first timer and i did it without much fuss thanks to your instructions. thanks a bunch!!!

[@spinx2273]

Many thanks to you, sir! It had been a very long while since I messed with wires and connectors and such, and I was somewhat anxious as I couldn't remember everything I would need to complete my project. You suggesting the use of a multimeter to test which connections go where is exactly what I was missing. Not sure why my brain couldn't piece it together, but now everything has fallen into place. Thanks again!

[@filltrate]

great video! The Bob Ross of cable soldering

[@AVIXATV]

I'm going to pass this along to Tom. Not surprisingly, it's not the first time someone has made the comparison. He really is the Bob Ross of AV. We even bought him a Bob Ross shirt at one point. ;)

[@davidstewart4149]

Best video on KZbin demonstrating TRS soldering. (The words "go ahead and" are never necessary. They're like interjecting "like" constantly.)

[@jongs75]

Very good instructional videos ! Congratulations and thank you !

[@nazirite11]

Thank you for the fine instruction !!!

[@kevinobrien8803]

Nice to see a very well produced video. But I never do mine like this. Solder alone can make a very strong joint on bare metal. so I use emery cloth to slightly dull up the shiny metal contacts. Then just solder/tin up those two holes shut beforehand, then I tin the wires and solder them directly to the sides where the holes once were, without having to rout any wires through any holes. I have never had to use those holes as I have found if you do it like this its much quicker. I've found that the strain tag alone is plenty good enough for mechanical strength. It is because I am lazy. Also probably the wrong way to do it, but its always worked for me.

[@jjr2561]

great video easy info to follow THANKS

[@alexarias1985]

Excelent, Brother!!!!! Thanks...... Medellín, Colombia.

[@victorfuentes3667]

Excellent video, thanks.

[@kargeorge]

Thank you!👍

[@axx323]

excellent video

[@johnnymassacre]

10:53 That's what she said…

[@Wheel333]

Perfect thanks 🙏❤️🙏

[@rafaelikenaga]

how can I terminate a 3.5 trs plug to 2x unbalanced cable (I'm going to terminate those to XLR (unbalancedly)

[@doveshouse]

I wonder (if balanced source) that it would remain balance... And be okay for long runs?

[@luckyogoloma3426]

Thanks for the Video... Sir..! how can I solder TRS male to double TS mono, just like a Y cable.. I want to use it for my compressor ?

[@hussinsaid4716]

Neat Job👍👍👍

[@muhanadalabiri1940]

My keyboard 🎹 just works with aux in my home theater and 3 speakers out of 6 works , I dont know how to connect it in right way and make all speakers work , please help me.

[@vyoufinder]

What 3.5mm TRS is that? I've tried Neutrik 231L and Switchcraft 35HDNNPKG 3.5mm male connectors, but both have just a pole for the center connector to solder to. Yours has two nice tabs with holes. Can you tell me which model connector that 3.5mm is?

[@AVIXATV]

Since we're an association for the AV industry, I can't give specific recommendations on products, but let me see if one of our instructors know what type they used for the video and get back to you.

[@clemalford9768]

Very useful video. My Sennheiser headphones cable is very thin and has different colour wires and my eyesight is failing. I had to replace the 3.5'' jack as the thing was crackling and is a real bitch to do especially with very thin cable!! Thanks.

[@AVIXATV]

Those 3.5 mm cables can be tough--even without eyesight issues. Good luck, stay safe, and I'm glad you found this video useful!

[@Hindustan_Sound_liliya6553]

SUPAR A1 BEST Job

[@johnlloyd7568]

Im planning to make my own cables like this for 4 pairs of headphones to be connected to a 4 channel headphone amplifier which is connected to a mixer where my band connects to for guitars and an e drum kit for silent rehearsals. My question to people who has the experience and are reading this is do you recommend any particular cable and connector tip brand? I used to make mono cables for my guitar about 7-8 years back and i remember using amphenol gold tips back then, not sure what are the good to best choices nowadays.

[@whodatdere1]

Have you done this project yet?

[@biholl8002]

**Depends**- Canare L-4E6S and Neutrik connectors (at least for 1/4" TRS and TS), unfamiliar with other hardware brands and their (current) manufacturing, materials, and product quality and reliability (i.e. Switchcraft, Amphenol, ...) This is what I recall off the top my head from past vast research into a "do-it-once-make-it-last-top-shelf-worry-free" DIY cables (balanced - XLR, TRS; as well as mono, unbalanced, guitar, etc.), which I researched 90-95% thoroughly (understanding the physics of cables, their material properties (and their) respective effects on the sound, shielding from interference, cost-to-performance-ratio (professional studio as budget as possible without sacrificing quality per standards from associations along the lines of ~AES, CD Blue Book, etc.) I seem to recall Canare Star Quad mic cable (may have been a different brand, perhaps Mogami, Belden... tho price/quality played a big factor) IIRC Mogami and Canare specs were comparable and Canare cost less... worth a google unless you can compare specs on cables markertek probably has all the options, prices might differ between websites/online stores/vendors. Also, I haven't yet messed with balanced headphones, MMCX connectors, mini-TRRS, stereo balanced mini XLR, 3.5mm, 1/4".. etc. There might be brands/manufacturers that have better or comparable quality relative to Neutrik... Switchcraft I believe is hit or miss (for example, I recall reading new 1/4" Jacks that fit a vintage Gibson SG had awful quality or Quality Control or something, yet, the old models (pre-whatever-change-that-impacted-quality-poorly) were the standard, or high quality... my '79 SG had a (seemingly original) switchcraft jack that survived a flood, and may still have been A-OK, I cant remember if I got a replacement jack for reassurance or replacement... Anyway, I used the '79 to find an "old-model" jack I'm fairly confident my memory serves.

[@steveopenshaw1219]

I'm the guy who's re-purposing those connectors, and I hate you! =P

[@valley2118]

I just got schooled 😉 thanks

[@JohnSAitken]

Cheep and nasty jack. You should never use this kind of jack for microphone's as the central poll will eventually start to spin round and will start to crackle and buzz