Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide an audio receptacle that can detect the presence of an audio jack without using mechanical switches or other such mechanical mechanisms. One example provides an audio receptacle having two contacts that may be electrically connected when an audio jack is inserted. When no audio jack is inserted into the audio receptacle, the two ground contacts may not be connected. When an audio jack is inserted into the audio receptacle, the resulting closed circuit may be detected and used to activate or otherwise turn on one or more audio circuits in or associated with the audio receptacle. Conversely, when no audio jack is inserted, the resulting open circuit may be detected and used to deactivate or otherwise turn off or reduce power in one or more audio circuits in or associated with the audio receptacle.