by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.
A lady asked,
I was wondering if I can make phone calls using the Music Links? If not, can I listen to music using the T-links. I don’t want to buy both, I just want to buy one. Can you help me with this?
The Music Links are designed as their name implies, to listen to music. With them you can hear in true stereo. They plug into any standard 3.5 mm (1/8″) audio jack.
On the other hand, the T-Links are designed for talking on the phone in place of using another headset. They include a built-in microphone. Thus they have the 2.5 mm (3/32″) plug used for headsets.
Thus, normally you’d have to buy both if you want to listen to music (Music Links) and use the phone (T-links).
However, if you have one of the new smart phones that uses a 4-pin (4-pole) plug (the plug has 3 separators and thus 4 separate metal sections on the plug) AND is the standard audio plug size (3.5 mm or 1/8″) then you are in luck.
What you do is get the Music Links and listen to music the normal way. When you want to use the phone for phone calls you listen via the Music Links (just like you do for music), but you have to speak into the phone’s mouthpiece like you normally would if you weren’t using the Music Links.
This works because on 4-pin (4-pole) phones, when you plug in a 3-pin (3-pole) plug like the music links has, it does not switch into headset mode (which would disconnect the phone’s internal microphone) like it would with a 4-pin plug. As a result, you get the best of both worlds. You can listen to music with your Music Links AND also use your Music Links to listen to the other person while you are making a phone call.
If you do not have a 4-pin phone, you’ll need both the Music Links and the T-links. You can see the Music Links here.
Leave a Reply