AVID AE-55 TRRS Single-Plug Headset for SBAC & PARCC Testing

Testing platforms expect one thing at the audio jack: a single plug that carries both the earphones and the microphone. That is a TRRS connector, and it is exactly what the AVID AE-55KL uses. Here is why the single-plug TRRS version is the testing standard, and when the USB-C AE-55 is the one you actually need instead.

Which AVID AE-55 do I buy for SBAC and PARCC testing?

Buy the AVID AE-55KL with the TRRS single plug for SBAC and PARCC. A TRRS single-plug carries both stereo audio and the microphone over one 3.5mm connector, which is exactly what a testing device's combo headset jack expects on Chromebooks, laptops, and iPads that still have a 3.5mm port. The AE-55KL is $12.99 at Encore Data Products. Only choose the USB-C AE-55 ($18.59) when your devices are USB-C-only Chromebooks with no 3.5mm jack. For the widest testing compatibility on standard combo-jack devices, the TRRS AE-55KL is the default.

2 Tools Compared

Tool / Business / Provider Score Speed / Distance Pricing / Details Rating
Top Choice
97%
3.5mm TRRS $12.99 ★★★★★
90%
USB-C $18.59 ★★★★☆

AVID AE-55KL (TRRS Single-Plug)

The AVID AE-55KL is an over-ear classroom headset with an inline microphone that terminates in a single 3.5mm TRRS plug. That one connector carries both stereo audio and the mic, which is precisely what a testing device's combo headset jack expects. For SBAC, PARCC, and other platforms with listening and speaking items, the single-plug TRRS design plugs into a Chromebook, laptop, or iPad's 3.5mm port and works without adapters or splitters. Distributed by Encore Data Products at $12.99.

  • Single 3.5mm TRRS plug carries stereo audio plus microphone in one connector.
  • Matches the combo headset jack on standard testing Chromebooks, laptops, and iPads.
  • Inline microphone for SBAC and PARCC speaking and recorded-response items.
  • Over-ear black-and-silver build sized for repeated classroom use.
  • No adapter, splitter, or driver install required.

For any testing fleet with a 3.5mm combo jack, the AE-55KL is the default: one plug, both signals, and the connector testing platforms are built around.

Read More : https://www.encoredataproducts.com/single-plug-trrs-headsets/avid-ae-55-black-and-silver-headset-trrs-plug/
Pros
  • Single-plug TRRS carries audio and mic together, the testing-standard connection. High
  • Works on any device with a 3.5mm combo headset jack, no adapter needed. High
  • Inline mic covers SBAC and PARCC speaking and recorded-response items. High
  • Lower cost than the USB-C version at $12.99. High
Cons
  • Will not connect to a USB-C-only device that has no 3.5mm jack. High
  • Wired inline mic rather than a boom mic. Low

AVID AE-55 (USB-C)

The USB-C AVID AE-55 is the same over-ear headset with an inline mic, but it terminates in a USB-C plug instead of a 3.5mm TRRS connector. That makes it the right choice for newer Chromebooks and tablets that have dropped the 3.5mm jack entirely. It handles the same listening and speaking testing tasks; it simply connects over USB-C. Encore sells it at $18.59.

  • USB-C plug for devices with no 3.5mm headphone jack.
  • Inline microphone for SBAC and PARCC speaking items.
  • Same over-ear black-and-silver build as the TRRS AE-55.
  • No adapter needed on USB-C-only Chromebooks and tablets.

Choose the USB-C AE-55 only when your devices lack a 3.5mm port. On standard combo-jack fleets, the TRRS AE-55KL costs less and is the more universal testing connector.

Read More : https://www.encoredataproducts.com/school-headphones-with-microphones/avid-ae-55-headphones-headset-with-usbc-plug-black-and-silver/
Pros
  • Connects directly to USB-C-only Chromebooks and tablets with no jack. High
  • Same inline-mic headset design, ready for speaking and listening items. High
Cons
  • Costs more than the TRRS version at $18.59. High
  • USB-C only; will not fit the many devices that still use a 3.5mm combo jack. High
AVID AE-55 (USB-C)

AVID AE-55 (USB-C)

Same AE-55 headset for USB-C-only Chromebooks

$18.59
Per Unit
USB-C
Plug Type
Yes
Microphone

AVID AE-55 (USB-C)

Same AE-55 headset for USB-C-only Chromebooks

The USB-C AE-55 is not a lesser headset; it is the same AVID AE-55 with a different plug. It ranks second only because most testing fleets still use a 3.5mm combo jack, where the single-plug TRRS AE-55KL is the more universal and lower-cost connection. If your district has moved to USB-C-only Chromebooks, the USB-C AE-55 becomes the correct pick, not the runner-up. Match the plug to the device, and buy the plug your testing platform expects.

AVID AE-55KL (TRRS Single-Plug)

AVID AE-55KL (TRRS Single-Plug): The single-plug TRRS testing standard for SBAC and PARCC

$12.99
Per Unit
TRRS
Plug Type
Yes
Microphone
Shop the AE-55 TRRS

TRRS or USB-C AE-55: Which Should You Buy for Testing?

Match the plug to your devices. For the standard case, a testing fleet with a 3.5mm combo headset jack, buy the AVID AE-55KL with the TRRS single plug at $12.99. One connector carries both audio and the microphone, which is exactly what SBAC and PARCC devices expect, with no adapter and no splitter.

If your Chromebooks or tablets are USB-C-only with no 3.5mm port, buy the USB-C AE-55 at $18.59 instead. Both ship from Encore Data Products with school pricing and PO acceptance. Call 866-926-1669 to confirm the right plug for your device fleet before a testing window.

Frequently Asked Questions

TRRS is a 3.5mm connector with four contacts that carries stereo audio and a microphone over one plug. Testing devices with a combo headset jack expect that single-plug connection, so a TRRS headset like the AE-55KL handles both the listening and speaking portions of SBAC and PARCC without an adapter or splitter.
Buy the AVID AE-55KL with the TRRS single plug at $12.99 for any device with a 3.5mm combo jack. Choose the USB-C AE-55 at $18.59 only if your Chromebooks or tablets are USB-C-only with no 3.5mm port.
Yes. Both the TRRS AE-55KL and the USB-C AE-55 have an inline microphone, so they cover SBAC and PARCC speaking and recorded-response items as well as the listening portions.
The headset is the same; only the plug differs. The AE-55KL uses a 3.5mm TRRS single plug for combo-jack devices, while the USB-C AE-55 uses a USB-C plug for devices that have no 3.5mm jack. Match the plug to your device fleet.
Yes. Encore Data Products accepts school and district purchase orders and quotes volume pricing for testing-window quantities. Call 866-926-1669 from the Lafayette, CO office to set up a PO or confirm which plug fits your devices.

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