Why does the headset buddy 3.5 mm male to microphone and speaker female have a stereo jack for the microphone?

Question

I'm looking over this product by Headset Buddy. Simply, why does this reviewer claim the microphone jack is stereo:

Mic port has to be stereo. Most headsets use stereo mics, so if you're using it with a headset it won't be a problem, but if you need to use a mono mic you'll have to purchase a "mono to stereo" adapter to use in combination with it - you can find one here: Cables To Go 40634 3.5mm Stereo Male to 3.5mm Mono Female Adapter (Metallic Silver)

There aren't enough cables here for this to have two stereo channels right? This is just a regular TRRS connection?

Answer 1

I'm having a tough time understanding what that reviewer is talking about. "Most headsets use stereo mics."?!? A microphone is, in it's nature, mono.

The way your adapter is wired, yes, it is just a regular TRRS jack. Left, Right, Mic, Ground (not necessarily in that order :). I couldn't find any wiring diagrams for this adapter, but I don't think there's anything fishy going on.

The adapter he refers to basically doubles the mono signal going into it so that there will be signal at all on the right channel going out of it. That may just have been necessary for him given the way his next female jack was wired up. Unfortunately, once you get beyond TRS, there is no real standard as to the how jacks are wired up.