"David Looser" wrote in message
...
"Iain Churches" wrote

It's quite simple. There are two types of TRS 6.3mm jacks.
The one popularly known as the GPO type,

The "GPO" ceased to exist in the 1960s. And the B gauge plug was designed
by Western Electric, not the GPO.

That doesn't matter. It is still know as a GPO plug:-)


with the small
tip, is used in music studios only on patch bays.

Whilst outside music studios it is very widely used for balanced audio in
a wide variety of applications.

Agreed.

Cables with
one of these at either end are referred to as patch cords.

The other type, with the larger ball tip, is used everywhere
else (music amps, keyboards etc) It is referred to as a
balanced jack (add plug if you like:-)

Refered to by who?, you?

By music studio personnel

Many people call it the "stereo" plug since it is widely used to carry
unbalanced stereo.

In music studios it is known as balanced jack.
Musicians refer to it as stereo jack. Neither
is incorrect, the plug may be used in either role.


and usually has an
XLR on the other end of the cable.

Does it? even when it has a pair of heaphones on the other end?

:-) That's a pair of cans with a GPO jack (plug) Not a cable.
Balanced jack to XLR is by far the most common combination
for a cable with a jack plug at one end.


You have a way of referring to these plugs that may mean something to you
and your colleagues. But can only cause confusion when used outside your
own small circle.

Hardly a small circle:-)
I wonder how many thousand music studios there
are in the EU? Most, with the exception of the French,
seem to use English terminology. I cannot recall any
confusion.

Iain