Headphone amplifiers with 3.5 mm output

mini-Jack (3.5 mm)

— connector (or several connectors) mini-Jack 3.5 mm, not intended for headphone connection.

In theory, the specific design and specialization of such a connector can vary, but in practice, headphone amplifiers most often feature a traditional three-contact socket designed to transmit an analog audio signal in stereo format through a single connector. The traditional use of such a socket is as a line-out, for example, to connect portable speakers or an external audio system. The 6.35 Jack output performs similar functions; however, the 3.5 mm connector is, on one hand, more compact, and on the other hand, less reliable, less protected from interference, and more limited in capabilities. Therefore, additional mini-Jack outputs are predominantly found in portable amplifiers (see "Type"), for which small size is crucial.

It should be noted separately that other types of inputs, such as coaxial and/or optical (see relevant sections), can also be integrated into a 3.5 mm hardware socket. Nevertheless, the presence of a mini-jack is only indicated if this connector is capable of operating in the traditional analog format.