The Neutrik NP3X Stereo Phone Plug is a professional 3-pole 1/4-inch (6.35 mm) phone plug for soldered termination of stereo and balanced audio cables. Built in Neutrik’s X Series, it pairs a slim 14.5 mm shell with the company’s proven chuck-type strain relief, so it fits densely packed jackfields while holding the cable securely. It is the plug cable builders, stage technicians and studio engineers reach for when a moulded connector has failed or a custom lead needs a termination that will survive daily handling.
Why Choose the Neutrik NP3X Stereo Phone Plug?
The Neutrik NP3X Stereo Phone Plug earns its place in professional cable kits through mechanical details that cheaper plugs skip. Its tip contact is machined from one piece, with no rivets, so there is nothing to hook inside a socket or snap off under side load. The chuck-type strain relief clamps the cable jacket evenly as the bushing is tightened, meaning a snagged cable pulls against the clamp rather than against the three solder joints inside. The all-metal zinc diecast shell, plated in nickel, gives the plug its rigidity and screening, while the slim profile meets the requirements of high-density jackfields with a 15.88 mm jack pitch.
Key Features
Extra-slim 14.5 mm shell: the thinnest available A-gauge 1/4-inch plug profile, made for highest packing density on crowded panels and patchbays.
One-piece machined tip contact: precision-machined without rivets, so the tip cannot hook up in a socket or break off in use.
Proven chuck-type strain relief: clamps the cable jacket for reliable retention and protects the solder joints from pull forces.
Nickel contacts and nickel shell: brass contacts with 2 micrometre nickel plating in a zinc diecast shell for durable, corrosion-resistant service.
Solder termination: three solder contacts accept wire up to 1 mm² (18 AWG) and cables from 4 to 7 mm outside diameter.
Rated for professional duty: more than 1000 mating cycles, rated voltage below 50 V, and compliance with IEC 60603-11 and EIA RS-453.
Best Suited For
The Neutrik NP3X Stereo Phone Plug suits guitar and instrument leads, balanced interconnects, audio snakes, speaker and amplifier patch cables, and mixing-desk cabling. It is equally at home in a hire-company cable shop building looms in quantity, a studio replacing failed moulded plugs with serviceable terminations, and a musician’s spares box for field repairs. Because it is supplied unterminated, it is a component for someone who solders, not a ready-made cable.
Setup and Connection Guide
Strip the cable to expose the three conductors and prepare them for soldering. Solder the tip, ring and sleeve conductors to the corresponding contacts, keeping the joints neat and free of stray strands, and confirm the wiring against the equipment manual before closing the plug: tip and ring carry the two signal legs of a stereo or balanced connection, and the sleeve is the common ground. Slide the chuck and bushing over the cable before soldering, then assemble the shell and tighten the bushing so the chuck grips the jacket firmly without crushing it. Check that the cable outside diameter is within the 4 to 7 mm range and the wire size within 1 mm² (18 AWG). Test the finished lead for continuity and shorts before connecting it to amplifiers, mixers or instruments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Neutrik NP3X Stereo Phone Plug a stereo or balanced connector?
Both, depending on how it is wired. It is a 3-pole TRS plug: wired as tip-left, ring-right and sleeve-ground it carries a stereo signal, and wired as tip-hot, ring-cold and sleeve-ground it carries one balanced mono signal. The plug itself is the same; the application is decided by the cable wiring and the equipment it connects.
How is the NP3X different from the black-shell NP3X-B?
The standard NP3X has nickel contacts and a nickel-plated shell, while the NP3X-B variant has a black shell finish. The mechanical design, chuck strain relief and electrical ratings are shared across the X Series family, so the choice between them is a finish and identification preference rather than a performance difference.
What cable sizes does the NP3X accept?
The NP3X accepts cables from 4 to 7 mm outside diameter with wire up to 1 mm² (18 AWG). Cables outside that diameter range will not be gripped correctly by the chuck strain relief, so measure the cable before ordering.
Technical Specifications
Brand
Neutrik
Model
NP3X
Connector type
3-pole 1/4-inch (6.35 mm) professional phone plug, male, cable mount
Contacts
Brass, 2 micrometre nickel plating
Shell
Zinc diecast, nickel plating
Shell width
14.5 mm
Termination
Solder contacts
Cable outside diameter
4 to 7 mm
Wire size
1 mm² / 18 AWG
Strain relief
Chuck type, polyacetal
Rated voltage
Below 50 V
Dielectric strength
1 kV DC
Insulation resistance
Greater than 2 GΩ (initial)
Lifetime
More than 1000 mating cycles
Temperature range
-20 °C to +65 °C
Standards
IEC 60603-11 / EIA RS-453; solderability complies with IEC 68-2-20
Buy with peace of mind. The Neutrik NP3X 1/4 Inch Stereo Phone Plug comes with the official manufacturer’s warranty for India, valid from the date on your GST invoice. Pro Audio Video is a specialist audio video store, and every product we sell is brand new, sealed and sourced through authorised channels, so your warranty is honoured at brand service centres across India.
Official Indian warranty, as specified by the manufacturer
GST invoice with every order, needed for warranty claims
We help you raise and follow up warranty claims with the brand
Delivery and Shipping
Same-day dispatch on most in-stock orders
Delivery anywhere in India; delivery time depends on your location
Shipped securely in the original manufacturer box
Cash on delivery available on orders up to ₹45,000
Tracking details by SMS and email as soon as your order ships
Returns and Refunds
Not right for you? Return unused products in their original packaging within 7 days of delivery. If a product arrives damaged or defective, tell us within 48 hours with photos and we will replace it or refund you in full.
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