Jacks

[mountain lion]

Hi

I was wondering ,
What exactly is a Jack ?

Thank you

[Sam Spoons]

Just checked that this isn't in the lounge.

I think US and British English use the word in slightly different ways, I suspect 'Jack' referred to the male connector, Wiki says the early telephone companies used "Jack' and Plug' to refer to what we Brits would call the 'plug' and 'socket'.

We also differ in that we call an RCA 'jack' a 'phono plug' while the Americans say 'phone jack' when they mean a ¼" jack plug.

Was that what you were asking?

[Kwackman]

+1 and also check under "J" in the SOS glossary

https://www.soundonsound.com/glossary

[Exalted Wombat]

The jack is the socket. The jack plug goes into it.

But these definitions have become blurred by widespread incorrect usage. So it's worth checking that everyone's talking about the same thing!

[Sam Spoons]

The jack is the socket. The jack plug goes into it.

But these definitions have become blurred by widespread incorrect usage. So it's worth checking that everyone's talking about the same thing!

That is certainly true

[ef37a]

The 'socket' that takes an RJ45 Ethernet plug is call a "jack" in the network industry.

As said, our US biddies refer to RCA phono connectors as jacks and I don't think they differentiate between plug and socket.

"Jack" is one of those words with many meanings. Car jack, jack hammer. Nothing as in jack ****!

I TRY to keep to meaning the socket when talking about such connectors but tis easy to slip up.

Dave.

[Folderol]

Personally I prefer Jack Plug and Jack Socket. Removes all doubt as to what you are referring to.

[shufflebeat]

I am a stickler for correctness so I'll be taking my kids to see 1/4" TS plug & the Beanstalk this Christmas.

I'm not serious of course, that's obviously absurd, they're far too old for panto.

On a related note, does this suggest that TS Elliot was mono only?

[Hugh Robjohns]

On a related note, does this suggest that TS Elliot was mono only?

Not necessarily, but he was completely unbalanced....

[shufflebeat]

I have heard it said.

[Folderol]

On a related note, does this suggest that TS Elliot was mono only?

Not necessarily, but he was completely unbalanced....

Boom Boom!

[SimonZ]

It's an Americanism fogged by the passage of time.

Some time ago when working in the USA I asked a (much older) tech I was working with why they called them 'Jack' plugs.

He said 'take a good look at a jack plug'
Then he pointed at a socket and said
'in the old days we used to call those Jills, make sense now ?'

[Hugh Robjohns]

I too remember my elders referring to patchbay sockets as Jills, and plugs as Jack's. Only the latter seems to have survived into modern parlance and I doubt jacks and jills would pass modern pc approval.

[SimonZ]

Indeed, does not meet modern tastes.
But in the mid part of the previous century, a Jack plugged into a Jill.
It's as simple as that folks.

[Arpangel]

Jack plug, jack socket, surely? Both the same type.

[SimonZ]

Well, it has been Pride week and I don't want to get into any gender stereotyping controversies, but in the America of the 1950's a male connector that has a striking resemblance to a penis got called 'Jack' and it's female mating counterpart got called 'Jill'

[mountain lion]

Alright i think i’ve gotten wiser about the jack part of cables. Thank you.
I guess if something is unclear about how to connect something the local music store should be experts at that. And of Course the forum

[Wonks]

I guess if something is unclear about how to connect something the local music store should be experts at that.

Unfortunately, that's not always the case.

And of Course the forum

Whilst this is.