| Introduction | | | | and Blue colour signal. This additional separation |
| There are available today quite a bewildering array | | | | gives better quality then Composite or S-Video |
| of connection types used for Audio and Video. To | | | | connections. |
| further complicate things some of the same | | | | The RGB video standard eventually evolved into |
| connectors and leads can be used for multiple | | | | the Component Video standard which is discussed |
| connection types. | | | | below. Scart cables cannot be used to carry high |
| This guide will start with the very first audio and | | | | definition video signals. |
| video connections and move up to modern High | | | | Component Video (Y, PB, PR) |
| Definition connectors and leads. It will give the | | | | Component video is an evolution of RGB |
| advantages and disadvantages of them all and | | | | mentioned above which uses higher quality cable |
| hopefully by the end you will be a little bit more | | | | and connectors so it can be used to carry high |
| informed about how to get the best quality | | | | definition video signals (720P, 1080i but not 1080P). |
| images from your setup. | | | | Component Video connectors are Phono (RCA) |
| In The Beginning | | | | connectors as mentioned above for Composite |
| In the beginning things where simpler as there | | | | Video but be aware that the cable is different. |
| was only one way to receive TV signals, through | | | | Component video connections are the best quality |
| an aerial. | | | | Analogue (i.e. none digital) connections available. |
| This connection method is called Coax and is still | | | | Component Video connections can be found on all |
| used today for connecting Freeview Receivers up | | | | High Definition equipment i.e. HD TV's, Bluray |
| to the aerial on your roof (the freeview receiver | | | | Players etc. Component Video Cables can be used |
| can either be a separate box or built into your | | | | for High Definition but please be aware that they |
| TV). | | | | cannot be used to carry 1080P signals. |
| Coax cable is what is known as screened cable | | | | HDMI |
| and is made up of a solid inner wire (core) with a | | | | HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia |
| wire mesh or foil surrounding it. | | | | Interface and is a purely digital standard. HDMI |
| As all the Video and Audio Data is carried down | | | | cables carry Video, Audio and also Control data in |
| the same cable Coax is bottom of the pile in | | | | a single cable. Control data is used to allow video |
| terms of quality. Coax cannot be used to carry a | | | | equipment to control each other, e.g. for setting |
| high definition signal | | | | the correct TV input etc. However unfortunately |
| Composite Video | | | | the major TV manufactures all have their own |
| Composite video is a step up from Coax in that | | | | systems for performing control so it is unlikely |
| the Picture and Audio data is sent separately. It | | | | that a Sony Bluray player will be able to control a |
| actually requires 3 separate connections (Video, | | | | Panasonic TV. |
| Audio Left and Audio Right) to be made in order | | | | A HDMI connection is currently the best quality |
| to show an image with sound. | | | | connection available and should be the connection |
| The connectors used are known as Phono (RCA) | | | | of choice for your High Definition signals. |
| connectors and should be immediately familiar to | | | | As HDMI is a purely digital standard there will be |
| anyone who owns a Hifi Separates System. | | | | no loss of quality over long cable lengths (as there |
| Component video is still used today to connect | | | | would be with all the other standards above). |
| things like Video cameras and Nintendo Wii's to | | | | But please be aware that there is a maximum |
| TV's. Most TV's will have a socket on the front | | | | length for a HDMI cable, this is discussed in much |
| or side in order to easily connect equipment to | | | | greater detail in our Problems and Pitfalls of Home |
| the TV. | | | | Video Distribution guide. |
| The image quality achieved by a composite | | | | There are several versions of the HDMI standard |
| connection is better than with Coax but still not | | | | which are briefly explained below; |
| great and so is not really suitable for modern High | | | | HDMI 1.0: Original version of the standard |
| Definition Equipment. | | | | HDMI 1.1: Added support for DVD Audio (Higher |
| Composite cannot be used to carry a high | | | | Quality) |
| definition signal. | | | | HDMI 1.2: Added for support for computer |
| S-Video | | | | displays |
| S-Video or S-VHS is an evolution of the original | | | | HDMI 1.3: Added support for Higher Speed for |
| composite video standard in that instead of all the | | | | future "Super" High Definition. |
| video data being sent down 2 bits of wire the | | | | Added Support for "Deep Colour" & XV |
| image is broken down into a signal that contains | | | | Colour (more colours displayed for a better |
| colour data (Chroma) and a signal that contains | | | | picture if your TV supports it). Added support for |
| brightness data (Luma). This gives a better picture | | | | Lip Sync, to get around certain Lip Syncing |
| than Composite | | | | problems with some High Definition equipment |
| Similar to Composite Video, separate connections | | | | New HD lossless audio formats, better quality |
| are required for Audio and use the same Phono | | | | audio. |
| (RCA) connectors as shown above. | | | | HDMI 1.4: Added support for a data network |
| S-Video connections can also quite often found on | | | | connection, allowing things like Internet on your |
| the front of modern TV and can used to quickly | | | | TV etc. |
| connect equipment such as Camcorders to a TV | | | | Added support for 3D video. Added support for |
| in order to show home video footage. | | | | Audio Back Channel, allows the audio produced by |
| S-Video cannot be used to carry high definition | | | | a freeview tuner in your TV to be played through |
| signals. | | | | your sound system. |
| Scart Connections | | | | All of the above standard changes seem to make |
| Scart Connectors where introduced in order to | | | | HDMI a complicated choice but this is not the |
| allow simple single cable connections between | | | | case. All HDMI equipment will work with all other |
| video equipment. Scart connections can still be | | | | HDMI equipment regardless of the version |
| found today on DVD players, Sky boxes and | | | | number. All that will happen is that only features |
| modern TV's. However they are being phased out | | | | supported by both pieces of equipment will be |
| and cannot be found on High Definition video | | | | available. |
| sources such as Bluray players. | | | | There are several different versions of HDMI |
| Scart is a multicored cable that carries a variety | | | | cables (i.e. V1.3, V1.4 etc) again they will all work |
| of video connections such as Composite and | | | | but if you connect a V1.4 device to a V1.4 device |
| S-Video as well as Left and Right Audio Data all | | | | with a V1.3 cable the additional features of V1.4 |
| conveniently located in a single socket. Generally | | | | will not be available. |
| when using a Scart Connection this is the only | | | | HDMI Cables can carry all High Definition Signals as |
| connection required to connect a source to a | | | | well as all Audio standards currently in use. HDMI is |
| display. | | | | the connection of choice for sending video around |
| Scart cables also introduced a new video standard | | | | your home. |
| known as RGB in which the separate Red, Green | | | | |