I have a discussion with a friend of mine. He finds the 3,5mm cables and the devices that use them untrustworthy and not suitable for professional and studio use.
Does he have a right?
I personally don’t find a difference between the sound in both neither have had any problems with the smaller ones. Would like to hear the general opinion around here.
There are advantages to a heavier gauge wire with more shielding in some applications, but in most instances, I think that the difference in fidelity is inconsequential if not immeasurable.
I would not want to plug in my guitar with a 3.5mm cable though, regardless of the sound quality.
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I agree with the above. One thing that can happen with 3.5mm though is that the female ports can wear and you can get drop-outs. I’ve experienced this on mobile phones and back in the day with mp3 players.
i like 3.5s because you can snake them around and hide them easily. and i amassed a disporportionate amount of 3.5 to 6.3 trs adapters in college so im rich in 3.5 opportunity
I’ve never heard of differences in sound quality, but 3.5 cables usually have a lifespan rated in tens of thousands of pulls, while 6.3 cables can withstand up to a million uses. At least, that’s what 5U modular folks always say to Eurorack users.
TRS 3.5mm cables are often built with two independent cables running parallel, separately shielded for stereo applications, whereas TRS 6.3mm will usually be a twisted pair inside a single shield. Both would work in balanced applications but the twisted pair has better CMRR due to the helical twist on the signal conductors and shared outer shielding. As for plug size - good connectors are good connectors. I’ve had shitty 6.3mm jacks where the tip breaks off.
He has the ‘right’ to think whatever he wants to
Whether it’s based in reality is a different thing.
It’s only likely that he’ll change his mind through experience. He’ll need to try out a few devices and judge for himself.
A lot of things use small connectors and have done for decades. Eurorack seems to be doing ok.
The solidity of the jack socket make sense.
Soundwise I have never seen any difference.
But I think there is the other argument of long cable with TS and TRS and symmetrical and asymmetrical cable and noisy environment.
I have never seen in use a symmetrical cable in 3.5mm. Nothing should prevent it I would imagine but still I think it does not exist.
And in noisy environments a 6.35mm symmetrical should behave more properly than the standard 3.5mm stereo and assymetrical.
But at home, I use both 3.5 and 6.35 and I adapt myself to what I have buy 
No difference at all in sound quality given the assumptions that there is no oxidation and the parts are made properly.
No much difference in reliability either, although it could be argued larger jacks and sockets are easier to service and a little more robust.
As long as you are sensible and don’t do dumb things like reducing a 6.35mm plug with a 3.5mm adapter then you should be fine.
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