Audio cable and Dell

[Jonny Two Shoes]

Hi there,

Who is any good with audio cables? I would have flunked sound engineering class lol

Anyway I have a cable which fits into a speaker from a PC. On one side the jack is small enough to fit into a standard audio port on a PC. On the other side is a really large jack which fits into the speaker.

I have noticed that the smaller side fits perfectly into most PC's. However with some of the latest Dell laptops this is not the case. The smaller side no longer fits flush into these. It makes a very poor connection and is almost useless to use at presentations and what not.

Does anyone know if Dell have changed the spec somewhat? If there is a way I can tell what I need to get it to fit properly? Is it just me?

 

[LandyMan]

which Dell machine are you talking about? I had a similar "problem" with my MacBook Pro ... it was a digital out jack, and not a normal analogue plug

 

[sn3rd]

There's a good chance it is a 2.5mm jack instead of the usual 3.5mm jack (TRS connectors). Compare them at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS_connector

You would need a cable that does it (I have one that you can have if you arrange shipping). It's a 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable. You would then need a 3.5mm to 1/4" convertor (dirt cheap at most electronics stores).

 

[Ecco]

the audio ports on the pc's are standard size, dont thin dell would use a different spec.

 

[sn3rd]

the audio ports on the pc's are standard size, dont thin dell would use a different spec.

They do

 

[Jonny Two Shoes]

Strange thing is that it fits on older Dells perfectly but not newer ones. Thanks sn3rd I will try and compare.

I just got a hold of someones headphones and that jack fits perfectly in newer Dells. I had a look and tried to compare it with the problem cable but the difference is so minimal I am having difficulty telling them apart.

The only diff is that the headphone jack and the problem cable vary slightly right at the tip it seems. The headphone jack is less ummmmm...conical than the problem cable but only by a tiny tiny difference :/ if that makes sense. Meaning the tip of the jack on the problem cable looks ever so slightly more shapely and wider than the headphones but the jack itself seems like they are the same size.

 

[Jonny Two Shoes]

Im thinking its the other way around. Problem cable is 3.5 and what I need is 2.5. Could I be right?

 

[sn3rd]

3.5mm is by far the most common. iPods, Hi-Fi's, etc use 3.5mm jack. Check that wiki article and compare (there's a pic comparing 2.5mm mono, 3.5mm mono, 3.5mm stereo and 6.3mm stereo jacks). Note the black bands. And note the measurements (diameter).

That being said, it could be a variation of one of these. The best way to tell would be to upload a pic.

Or cut the jack off your friend's headphones and use that... probably won't win you any sympathy though

 

[Jonny Two Shoes]

Naught...taking a closer look on that wiki page and there is an obvious difference between 2.5 and 3.5. With what I have got the size is the same...you can't tell the difference. Only difference is at the end/tip of the jack which is so minimal. Strange that it doesnt fit :/

 

[Ecco]

They do

Now why would dell want to go and do that for. Eish!

 

[sn3rd]

Very strange. Is there an issue with length? Maybe the difference in shape is what's causing a problem by not letting the one jack make proper contact? In that case, I'd try find a jack that fits nicely and connect it up

 

[sn3rd]

Now why would dell want to go and do that for. Eish!

Anti-competitive strategy?

 

[Jonny Two Shoes]

lol I am trying to send the picture I took of the cables to my e-mail address using my cellphone so that I can upload it. I have set up that it can receive gmail e-mails but it cant send apparently I need some certificates on the cellphone but I cannot get them installed eish

I dont have bluetooth on the PC so double eish.

 

[sn3rd]

Download the GMail mobile application?

Or use your phone's native email client with a different email service?