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User profile for user: Gil Dawson
Gil Dawson Author
User level: Level 1
134 points

Four-pin pinout

Does anyone know where to look up the pinout specs for the four-conductor iPhone headset jack?

I would expect left, right, mic and ground for the earbuds, but
(1) which pins carry which signal?
(2) What does the squeeze-switch on the earbud mic connect together?
(3) Would it be OK to Y-connect (i.e., short) left and right for a 3-conductor (audio, mic and ground) mono headset?
(4) I hear reports that people have plugged in stereo headphones after scraping off some plastic for mechanical fit. I expect their headphones would have only 3 connectors (left, right, ground) in a stereo submini (sleeve, ring, tip) configuration. How does this 3-conductor plug work in the iPhone's 4-conductor jack?

--Gil

12 inch PB G4 w/20 inch Flat Plane Array, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Sep 5, 2007 4:37 AM

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User profile for user: LarksHead
LarksHead
User level: Level 2
200 points

Posted on Sep 5, 2007 6:33 AM

From my own observations, starting from the tip:

Tip - Right
R1 - Left
R2 - Common
Sleeve (outer) - Microphone

The switch appears to short Mic to Common. Inserting a 3-pin plug into the iPhone's 4-pin receptacle would also short Mic to Common. That wouldn't hurt anything and would allow the L/R earphones to work correctly. It also Stops/Starts the iPod, just as the switch would.

You will not get access to the Microphone without a 4-pin plug.

I found 4-pin connectors at Arcade-Electronics.Com. The plugs still have to be trimmed to fit the iPhone receptacle. The right-angle plug cannot be trimmed sufficiently.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
-Peter
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3 replies
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User profile for user: LarksHead
LarksHead
User level: Level 2
200 points

Sep 5, 2007 6:33 AM in response to Gil Dawson

From my own observations, starting from the tip:

Tip - Right
R1 - Left
R2 - Common
Sleeve (outer) - Microphone

The switch appears to short Mic to Common. Inserting a 3-pin plug into the iPhone's 4-pin receptacle would also short Mic to Common. That wouldn't hurt anything and would allow the L/R earphones to work correctly. It also Stops/Starts the iPod, just as the switch would.

You will not get access to the Microphone without a 4-pin plug.

I found 4-pin connectors at Arcade-Electronics.Com. The plugs still have to be trimmed to fit the iPhone receptacle. The right-angle plug cannot be trimmed sufficiently.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
-Peter
Reply

Four-pin pinout

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