Switched Jack Confusion

[Ginsly]

I've always been under the impression that all stereo jacks were considered "switched jacks" by nature of the TRS layout. I use them as Input jacks to "switch off" the battery when a cable isn't inserted. I'm wondering what would make a stereo jack like this "unswitched":




I'm also not quite sure when one would need a switched mono jack like this:



Or a 5-conductor stereo "mega-switched" jack like this:

 

[Robert]

I'm wondering what would make a stereo jack like this "unswitched":

I'm not sure what Tayda's criteria is for being switched, those are switched jacks in my mind. I suppose technically they are "normalled" and "switched" could mean something else.

I'm also not quite sure when one would need a switched mono jack like this:
Or a 5-conductor stereo "mega-switched" jack like this:

Effects loops / patch bays/expression pedal inputs. When nothing is plugged into the jacks the entire loop can bypass itself.

 

[Aentons]

Switched means it has a line disconnect built-in like the second picture. A regular TRS jack is unswitched which is what the first one is. The third mega one has two switches, one for tip and one for ring.

 

[jimilee]

Switched means it has a line disconnect built-in like the second picture. A regular TRS jack is unswitched which is what the first one is. The third mega one has two switches, one for tip and one for ring.

To piggyback on this. The jack is switched when you’re using a stereo jack to disconnect the battery or 9v dc input.

 

[KR Sound]

The two middle ones are Switched stereo jacks turned into switched mono by removing the sleeve parts. It’s an FX loop/bypass setup. You can see the green wire connecting the two- it’s bypassed when they’re used so the signal goes out then back in.

 

[Ginsly]

I'm not sure what Tayda's criteria is for being switched, those are switched jacks in my mind.

That's kinda what I figured, but it seems like maybe the Ring acting as a switch in certain situations (i.e. batteries) doesn't technically qualify as "switched" the way the other two examples are. I feel like I've seen normal Stereo jacks referred to as Switched in other situations, adding to the confusion.

Effects loops / patch bays/expression pedal inputs. When nothing is plugged into the jacks the entire loop can bypass itself.

Gotcha. With a regular TRS or TS in those situations, an empty jack wouldn't seem to pass any signal through; Switched Jacks pass signal whether or not an external exp pedal or effects loop is inserted by essentially switching itself "off", sounds like. I think.

Switched means it has a line disconnect built-in like the second picture.

"Line disconnect" meaning it removes itself completely from the signal when nothing is inserted, correct?

To piggyback on this. The jack is switched when you’re using a stereo jack to disconnect the battery or 9v dc input.

Yep - I think it acts "as a switch" but isn't able to "switch itself off" like a truly switched jack would. Unless I'm misunderstanding something...

The two middle ones are Switched stereo jacks turned into switched mono by removing the sleeve parts. It’s an FX loop/bypass setup. You can see the green wire connecting the two- it’s bypassed when they’re used so the signal goes out then back in.

View attachment 79940

That picture is helpful thanks. If you had used normal jacks in this situation, no signal would pass through them when unoccupied by Loop Cables. With switched jacks, everything is still connected when you don't have a loop set up. Correct me if I'm wrong! Ha...

 

[Aentons]

"Line disconnect" meaning it removes itself completely from the signal when nothing is inserted, correct?

Yes, but switches can be Normally Open or Normally Closed so it depends on the the configuration of the jack. You can have different combinations of NO or NC in a single jack.

To be clear... a TRS jack is not a "switched"jack. There is not a switch built in to it, but it can be implemented as a switch for a battery disconnect.

 

[jwin615]

The more elaborate tra jacks are used in half normal and full normal patching situations.
Think patchbays. Say you have a row of patch points that have you mic inputs of a console on them. Below them are you mic tie lines from your live room/ISO booths. If the patch bay is setup correctly, ideally that mic signal will flow directly to that console input with nothing patched in. Without getting to deep, it can also be setup for breaking that connection on the sending or receiving side.
Say, an external mic pre output is normaled to a console input(output goes to input without a patch cable inserted. Let's say channel one. Usually you'll set it up where one can insert a cable at the pre output point and sent it somewhere else. Say a compressor. That line level signal is now split at that patch point, going both to channel one and the compressor. You can patch the compressor in on channel 2. Now you have compressed signal and uncompressed signal on adjacent channels. Move the compressed cable to channel one patch point and it breaks the signal split at the patchbay and only the compressed signal is present.
This is a very useful way to setup as it saves manual patches(less spaghetti) and allows you to do things like split signals without using the busses of the console.