audio jack
A socket for plugging in an audio source. Audio jacks are found on many types of audio equipment and musical instruments that accept external sound sources. In a car, an audio jack, also called a "media jack" or "auxiliary jack," is a mini-phone socket that connects any tape, CD or digital music player with "audio out" to the vehicle's amplifiers and speakers. Any iPod can be hooked up as well, but there are also adapters designed strictly for the iPod (see MP3 car adapter and iPod car adapter). See jack.
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| Audio Jacks |
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| Phone and mini-phone sockets are the traditional audio jacks. Jacks are sockets, not plugs, and audio jacks are not much more than a hole in the case. |
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| Holes, Literally |
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| Both used to connect headphones, the 1/4" phone connector socket (top) is the audio jack on a stereo receiver, and the 1/8" mini-phone jack (below) is at the bottom of an iPod touch. To the casual observer, both jacks look like "holes in the case." |