Abstract: This disclosure concerns methods, systems and apparatus that can be automatically activated by means of insertion into a jack socket and designed such that when inserted, no longitudinal force is exerted on the jack. In particular, self-muting connectors employ a spring-biased switch with an internal spring and a protrusion. When the connector is disconnected, the protrusion extends outwardly of a ground sleeve and the spring contacts an inner signal conductor. In this state, the switch shorts the signal conductor and ground sleeve together. When the connector is inserted into a complementary jack socket, the protrusion is urged inwardly and the spring deformed such that it ceases to contact the inner conductor, thereby the breaking the short-circuit between the signal conductor and ground sleeve. This allows a normal electrical connection to be established between the connector and the device to which the connector is inserted.