One black ring on the plug means TS: mono, unbalanced, for instruments. Two rings mean TRS: balanced or stereo, for monitors, line signals and headphones. They fit the same socket and behave differently.
Count the rings
It really is that simple at the plug: one ring is TS, two rings is TRS. The sleeve and tip are the same size, so both fit any 6.35 mm (0.25 in) socket.
What balanced means
A balanced connection sends the signal twice, once inverted, and the receiving end cancels anything picked up along the way. That is why a balanced run can cross a room without humming and an unbalanced one cannot.
Where each belongs
TS: guitar, bass, and the instrument input of an interface. TRS: studio monitors, line-level connections between devices, and stereo headphones. XLR does the same job as balanced TRS for microphones, and carries phantom power as well.
Check your own manual before you plug anything in. Voltage, polarity and current draw differ from model to model, and the manufacturer’s figures take precedence over anything written here. A supply of the wrong polarity can damage a pedal in seconds, phantom power is safe for most microphones but not for every one, and the required voltage is printed next to the socket or stated in the manual — not inferred from a connector that happens to fit.
The questions players ask
What happens if I use the wrong one?
A TS cable into a balanced monitor input works but loses the interference rejection, which is where hum comes from. A TRS cable into a guitar is harmless but pointless.
Which one does my guitar need?
TS. Guitars and basses send an unbalanced signal, and the standard instrument cable is mono with one ring.
Last reviewed 2026-08-18