What are the icons used on sound card jacks?

Answer 1

Most sound cards, or built-in motherboard sound chips, have color coded jack plug sockets. Here is a general list of what each one is for:

• Pink = Microphone In (mono)
• Blue = Line-In (stereo)
• Green = Line-Out / Front Speakers / Headphones
• Orange = Center Speaker and Subwoofer
• Black = Rear Surround Speakers (5.1, 7.1 systems)
• Grey = Mid Surround Speakers (7.1 systems)

Not all sound cards have all of the jacks shown above. Additional jacks are provided to connect surround sound speakers. Also note that colors may vary between different sound card manufacturers. For example, M-Audio sometimes use Black for Microphone connection and Pink for 7.1 Rear Surround. If in doubt you should refer to your sound card user manual or manufacturers web site.

On my PC, the corresponding symbols are:

Pink: a microphone

Green: right pointing horizontal arrow with 3 semi-circles open on the left, looks like --)))-->

Blue: right pointing horizontal arrow with 3 semi-circles open on the right, looks like --(((-->

Black: horizontal arrows pointing in both directions with two pairs of semi-circle, looks like <--(((-)))-->

I don't have orange or grey jacks.

I do have a Yellow jack, which has a symbol which is a 90 degree rotation of the black one above.