The audio ecosystem, by parameter.
Search any audio connector, device, transducer, cable or accessory by part number, parameter or compatibility. Authoritative pinouts, datasheets and pairing analyses across the full listening chain — 4.4mm Pentaconn balanced, MMCX, 0.78mm 2-pin, DAPs, DACs, headphone amps, planar IEMs and beyond.
The full audio ecosystem
Connectors, parts, devices, transducers, cables, materials, formats and accessories — every category cross-referenced.
Connectors
Diameter, poles, signal type.
Parts (MPNs)
Manufacturer datasheets and pricing.
Devices
DAPs, DACs, amps, streamers.
Transducers
Headphones, IEMs, monitors.
Cables
Headphone, IEM, interconnect, speaker.
Materials
OCC, OFC, silver, litz reference.
Formats
PCM, DSD, FLAC, MQA.
Accessories
Tips, pads, adapters, stands.
Most-referenced audio connectors
The canonical references that account for the majority of headphone, IEM and pro-audio connector engineering.
4.4 mm Pentaconn Balanced Connector
The modern portable-balanced standard. Pin assignment per JEITA RC-8141C: L+, L-, R+, R-, GND shield.
Pentaconn Ear — Premium IEM Connector
Designed by Nippon Dics to fix the mechanical reliability problems of 0.78 mm 2-pin while keeping a cleaner aesthetic than MMCX.
3.5 mm TRS (1/8″ Stereo) Headphone Jack
The universal consumer headphone jack. Tip = Left, Ring = Right, Sleeve = common ground.
MMCX — Micro-Miniature Coaxial IEM Connector
Coaxial RF-style connector adapted for IEM cable use. Rotatable joint provides cable-strain relief but loosens over thousands of cycles.
0.78 mm 2-Pin — Universal IEM Connector
Two parallel 0.78 mm cylindrical pins, friction-retained. The single most-shipped IEM connector in modern production.
4-Pin XLR Balanced — Desktop Headphone Standard
Pin 1 = L+, pin 2 = L-, pin 3 = R+, pin 4 = R-. Independent of AES48 microphone XLR3 wiring.
Engineering guides
Long-form reference articles — the "why" behind the parameter database.
How to choose a headphone amplifier
Match amplifier output power, output impedance and topology to your headphones — a practical framework for picking a headphone amp.
4.4mm vs 2.5mm balanced — which to pick
Both 4.4mm Pentaconn and 2.5mm TRRS carry a balanced headphone signal — but they differ in pole count, mechanical robustness and standardization.
IEM driver types explained: DD, BA, hybrid, planar, electrostatic
Dynamic, balanced armature, hybrid, planar magnetic and electrostatic IEM drivers — what each topology does well and where it falls short.
Curated headphone + amp pairings
Power headroom, damping factor and signal-path analysis for transducer + device combinations that actually make sense.
Active 5-Inch Near-Field Studio Monitor (Bi-Amped) + Desktop Reference DAC (Dual ES9038Pro)
n/a (active)Ω transducer with ?mW @ 32Ω
Active 5-Inch Near-Field Studio Monitor (Bi-Amped) + Studio Monitor Controller with Headphone Amp Front-Panel
n/a (active)Ω transducer with 1100mW @ 32Ω
Classic 300Ω Open-Back Dynamic Reference Headphone + OTL Tube Headphone Amplifier (6N6P / 6N1P)
300Ω transducer with 120mW @ 32Ω
What is in the parameter database
Every entry in this reference is structured: connector diameter, pole count, signal topology, contact resistance, MPN datasheets, headphone impedance and sensitivity, DAC chip, amplifier topology, conductor metallurgy, format bit-depth and sample rate. Each entity links to the others it touches — connectors link to the parts that mate with them, transducers link to the cables they accept, devices link to the headphones they pair with.
The site is built for hardware engineers who need an MPN or a pinout, integrators who need to verify cross-manufacturer compatibility, and audio enthusiasts who want to understand why a 4.4mm Pentaconn exists or how a planar magnetic IEM differs from a balanced armature design — not for marketing material.