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Jack voltage

Batslide -  
 Batslide -
Good evening, I would like to know what voltage is delivered by the different jack sockets of a standard motherboard?

4 answers

  1.
    georges97 Posted messages 14625 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   2 942
     
    Hello,

    The jack inputs on a PC correspond to a microphone input, a headphone output, and on older towers, often a line output.

    Only the outputs produce a few millivolts to power a headset or connect to amplified speakers or a hi-fi amplifier.

    https://blog.son-video.com/2019/07/comprendre-limpedance-et-la-sensibilite-des-casques-et-ecouteurs-audio/

    For headphones, the sound level depends on the impedance (resistance measured when passing a signal). With certain European headphone brands (Sennheiser, Beyer, AKG), the impedance is higher (300 ohms) than with Japanese or Asian brands or other international ones (Sony, Audio-Technica, JVC, Philips, JVC, etc.), which range from 8 to 50 ohms.

    As a result, the maximum volume may be less significant on average impedance headphones, regardless of quality. In this case, the power (in milliWatts, i.e. volts x current) provided by the sound card matters when indicated; again, this is unrelated to quality.

    Therefore, there is no reason to use an external sound card, but it is better to use a suitable headset, or as a precaution, to choose a low impedance model.

    For microphones, which correspond to a voltage of a few millivolts, impedance is also a concern, and it's important to match the microphone's impedance to that of the PC input. Values range from about 50 ohms to 600 ohms.

    Some microphones (electret, condenser) include a preamp, which generates a higher output level. In the case of electret microphones, which belong to the entry-level category, this does not imply better quality compared to other types of microphones (dynamic).

    Best regards.
    1
    1. Batslide
       
      thank you but my microphone indicates that it needs 4.5 volts to function properly
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      1. georges97 Posted messages 14625 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   2 942 > Batslide
         
        First, indicate the model of the microphone, then, if your microphone requires a voltage to operate (this is the case for electret microphones), it is not the jack plug that provides it (this is not intended for that, except for some rare microphones for camcorders). A battery is used, usually 1.5 V. In your case, you would need three. Condenser microphones require 48 V (forty-eight). This is called phantom power. Check the manual that comes with the microphone for the type of battery or power supply needed.

        Only professional sound cards or mini-mixers for balanced wired microphones provide 48 V to condenser microphones.
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      2. Batslide > georges97 Posted messages 14625 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention  
         
        It's the Neewer NW 800, a condenser microphone delivered with a 48V phantom power supply.
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      3. georges97 Posted messages 14625 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   2 942 > Batslide
         
        You need to connect to the mic input with an XLR cable on the microphone side and a 3.5 mm mini-jack on the PC side. As I'm not sure if that exists, it would be more like XLR to 6.35 mm mono jack plus a 6.35 mm female mono to 3.5 mm male mono adapter. In any case, avoid cables or adapters for headphones as that will not work.

        Also avoid monoblock adapters (guaranteed breakage). Check if cables or adapters are available in music stores or at Cultura.

        In any case, I do not see where you saw the mention of 4.5 V to power a mic, which is already powered by phantom power.

        Otherwise, connect to a mixing table or an amplifier and take the sound from a headphone output.
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      4. Batslide > georges97 Posted messages 14625 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention  
         
        Thank you very much for your help. Have a great day.
        0
  2. Batslide
     
    Yes, thank you, but I think I've seen that to connect an external microphone, it needs to be plugged into an external sound card because the one on the motherboard doesn't provide enough power as I believe it requires 4.5V.
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  3. jag72 Posted messages 14864 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   2 790
     
    I just did a quick search and it seems to me that this kind of card is made to connect musical instruments to a PC.
    If it's for a microphone, it really serves no purpose

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  4. jag72 Posted messages 14864 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   2 790
     
    Good evening,

    I’m not an electrician, but in a Jack, it’s mainly sound that comes out, like from the wires connecting an amp to speakers.
    So it’s not volts that pass through it but Ohms.

    It’s a current for sure, but not one that you get stuck to.

    I might be mistaken, but it’s worth seeing if there are other opinions on the subject.

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