Cables have always played a crucial role in the sound industry. Despite the revolution of wireless connectivity, cables are essential to ensure uninterrupted transmission. Professional recording studios, esports gaming, and home entertainment systems use cables for hi-fi sound quality. Looking back in time, aux and jack cables have come a long way.
Conventional analog connectivity to digital interfaces, these cables have evolved a lot. Let’s shed some light on their origins, evolution and more:
The Beginning – Analog Jack Cables
The first ever known jack cables were ¼ inch mono and stereo jacks. These were later known as phone jacks, developed in the early 20th century. The phone jacks are known as the earliest form of sound connectors used in microphones, speakers, and amplifiers. These connectors were primarily used for telecommunication and broadcasting systems in the early 20th century.
These were thicker and longer than the 3.5 mm jack. You could compare them to the 6.5 mm jack cable. Even today, these are prominently used in professional sound systems.
3.5 MM Aux Cables – The Mini Jack
Following the development of the analog jack, we soon received the mini jack. It was the first sound cable that was universally standardized for portable devices. The mini-jack was the first standard 3.5mm stereo cable which revolutionized the way people used personal audio devices with speakers, car stereos, and even headphones.
The reduced thickness compared to the analog jack, and smaller form factor for the pins and shaft led to the convenient portability. Hence, it quickly gained popularity to be used with MP3 Players, Walkmans, and portable CD players.
The Digital Revolution
The rapid technological revolution in the digital and audio segment led to the increasing need for more connectivity options. USB cables weren’t just limited to being used for charging or connecting different devices, but also as audio connectors. Many PC Speakers started to use USB ports for connectivity.
Then we received the HDMI cable which offered dual transmission of audio and video. With the increasing demand for hi-fi sound quality, noise reduction, and less interference, Optical cables also emerged as a revolutionary technology. These optical cables in the audio industry are also known as Toslink cables.
Aux Cables – The King of Audio Connectivity
Despite the advent of so many new and unique audio cables, auxiliary cables maintained relevance. They dominated the industry’s standard. Hence, the 3.5mm jack port became the standard for all devices like phones, laptops, PCs, car stereos and more.
There has been a remarkable improvement in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. There’s no doubt that True Wireless technology and Bluetooth Speakers started to overtake the aux and 3.5 mm jack. However, due to higher latency and signal interruptions, especially from a distance, kept aux cables relevant.
Most professional gamers and professional music studios utilize wired connectivity for crip and clear sound quality. This led to the improvement in existing jack cables with copper, silver and gold used for better quality.
The Continuous Innovation
Signal boosters and antennas became prevalent, especially for wireless microphones. Low-latency TWS have also emerged with improved performance. However, the continuous power supply and uninterruptable performance of aux cables keep them relevant. Despite the fact that most gadgets are moving towards Type-C USB for connectivity, including audio connectivity, people continue using Aux. The long-standing dominance of aux cables is unshakeable, and people prefer to use the Type-C to Jack converter instead of discarding their aux cables.
Aux and jack cables are continually improved shielding and insulation to remain relevant with fast transfers and more. With compatibility with modern connectivity, it is highly likely that they will remain relevant for years to come.
