9 pin mini-DIN female special connector at the subwoofer front panel.
The Creative Inspire T3100 is a 2.1 PC speaker set in which a powered subwoofer drives two satellite speakers via a proprietary 9-pin mini-DIN interconnect. Unlike the 4-pin mini-DIN used for S-Video, this connector is not related to any published IEC or DIN audio standard; it is specific to Creative’s product line. The connector carries unamplified stereo input signals from the computer into the subwoofer, amplified drive signals back out to the satellite speakers, a shared power rail, and a headphone-detection line. Satellite specifications for the T3100 include 6 W per channel for the satellites and 17 W for the subwoofer, with a frequency response of 40 Hz–20 kHz.
| Pin | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | R.SIG | right computer signal (entering the subwoofer) |
| 2 | R.AMP1 | amplified right signal (going from the subwoofer back to the satellite’s speaker) |
| 3 | L.SIG | left computer signal (entering the subwoofer) |
| 4 | R.GND | ground for audio pin 1 |
| 5 | SHIELD | shielding ground |
| 6 | R.AMP2 | amplified right signal (going from the subwoofer back to the satellite’s speaker) |
| 7 | L.GND | ground for audio pin 3 |
| 8 | VCC | power coming from the subwoofer |
| 9 | HEADPHONES | signal to the subwoofer that the headphones are connected (then it should go in silent mode) |
Signals
- R.SIG — unamplified right-channel analogue audio input received from the PC sound card.
- R.AMP1 — first wire of the amplified right-channel speaker drive output leaving the subwoofer’s built-in amplifier.
- L.SIG — unamplified left-channel analogue audio input received from the PC sound card.
- R.GND — signal return (ground) for the right-channel input on pin 1.
- SHIELD — chassis/shielding ground, common to the mini-DIN shell.
- R.AMP2 — second wire of the amplified right-channel drive; together with R.AMP1 it forms the speaker output pair to the right satellite.
- L.GND — signal return (ground) for the left-channel input on pin 3.
- VCC — DC power rail supplied by the subwoofer to the satellite unit.
- HEADPHONES — detection line: when headphones are plugged into the subwoofer’s headphone socket, this pin signals the amplifier to mute the satellite outputs.
Notes
The 9-pin mini-DIN shell on the subwoofer panel is female; the mating plug on the satellite cable is male. Do not attempt to connect this plug to S-Video or other standard 9-pin mini-DIN sockets — the signal and power voltages are incompatible.
References
- Creative Technology — Inspire T3100 2.1 Speaker System (product documentation; Creative Labs, circa 2003)