Collection: Adapters 24 24 products

Common adapters

The most used adapters convert between 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm jacks, jack and XLR, RCA and jack, and between USB-A, USB-B and USB-C. Others change gender, such as female-to-female couplers that join two cables, or split one connector into two. Dedicated adapters also exist for MIDI, such as TRS MIDI to 5-pin DIN.

What adapters cannot do

An adapter changes the connector, not the signal. It does not convert balanced to unbalanced properly, change levels or match impedances. Plugging an XLR microphone into a guitar amp with a simple adapter, for example, gives a weak signal; a preamp or the right input is the answer. Likewise, connecting an instrument to a mic input needs a DI box rather than an adapter. For TRS MIDI, make sure the adapter matches the Type A or Type B wiring your device uses.

Adapter or cable

A cable with the right plug on each end is usually more reliable than a standard cable with an adapter. Adapters add weight and leverage at the socket, which can loosen or damage it over time, especially on headphone outputs and compact gear. Adapters are ideal for occasional use and as a backup in a gig bag.

Quality matters

Look for solid metal bodies, a snug fit and good contacts. Cheap adapters can be loose, causing crackles or intermittent signals. Gold-plated contacts resist corrosion, which helps for adapters that stay in a gig bag for months between uses.