Even with the increase in popularity of wireless headphones, wired headphones are still used quite regularly. There are a few different sizes of headphone jacks and plugs. Two of the most commonly used sizes are 3.5 mm and 6.5 mm jacks; people often wonder about their differences.
There isn’t any noticeable difference between 3.5 mm and 6.5 mm jacks other than the obvious size difference. The audio quality remains the same across all sizes of headphone jacks and plugs. There may be a power consumption difference but it is also very little and doesn’t affect the sound quality whatsoever.
Here in this article, we will go into a bit more detail on both 3.5 mm and 6.5 mm jacks so you have a better understanding of them.
Differences Between 3.5 mm and 6.5 mm Audio Jacks
As stated before, there are very few differences between these two jacks. Nevertheless, here are the ones that you should know –
| Features | 3.5 mm | 6.5 mm |
| Size | Smaller | Bigger |
| Power Consumption | Less | More |
| Uses | Phone, Audio player, Laptop | Amplifier, Speaker |
Different in Size
The obvious difference you can see between these two jacks is their size. The number given to them refers to the diameter of the jacks. However, the lengths of the plugs are different as well.
The size difference is only there to determine the type of audio signal the headphone plug can carry. But it doesn’t make any difference in the audio quality.
Power Output
Although wired headphones don’t really need much electricity, it’s still safe to say that smaller headphone plugs like the 3.5 mm take less power than a 6.5 mm plug. Again, this doesn’t affect the audio quality either.
Application
The 3.5 mm headphones are used with smaller devices such as smartphones, audio players, laptops, etc. These are all portable devices and 3.5 mm is a better fit for these devices because of its smaller size.
On the other hand, 6.5 mm jacks are used in bigger devices such as amplifiers and speakers. These are mostly found in studios for recording audio. They are harder to pull out because of their size, making them a perfect fit for recording.
Our Verdict
From what we’ve discussed so far, it is clear that nothing related to audio jacks and plugs makes a difference in audio quality. It is just a matter of which one you need. You can actually go for either one and buy an adapter later if you need to.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does 6.5 mm sound better?
The 6.5 mm jack is more robust. But the audio quality will be the same across all sizes.
Can I use a wired headphone if there is no 3.5 mm audio jack?
Yes, you can use a USB adapter to plug in a 3.5 mm headphone to your phone or other devices.
Conclusion
The 3.5 mm jacks are great for their portability. But if you already own a 6.5 mm headphone and don’t want to spend on another headphone, try getting an adapter and you will be able to use your 6.5 mm headphone on your phone or laptop. We hope we were able to help you understand 3.5 mm and 6.5 mm jacks and plugs better. If you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us in the comment section.
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