Common video and Audio Leads

Sometimes buying and connecting video and audio leads can get confusing. I have provided a brief summary below on the main leads used for video and audio amongst devices.

RCA

RCA leads are the basic red, white and yellow cords connected between devices to deliver audio and video. The yellow connection transmits video whilst the red and white send audio. The output connectors plug into the device you wish the audio/video to come out of and the input connectors plug into the device you will be accessing the data from.

COMPONENT LEADS

Component video is a video signal that has been split into two or more component channels. The component leads are red, blue and yellow and the lead is only capable of broadcasting video therefore must be paired with audio cables for sound. The standard red and white cable leads are often paired with the 3 video component leads to receive audio. If the picture is not displayed on the screen after setting up the component leads often a TV setting needs to be changed allowing the YpBPr component format. The green blue and red connect into the video section and the white and red connectors go into the audio ports.

SCART LEAD

The scart lead has a 21 pin connector at the end of a lead used to hook up devices. The traditional scart cable has the 21 pin connecter each end and is capable of carrying audio, video and data signals.

The other type of scart leads have the standard 21 pin connector on one end with connectors on the opposite end. One lead has a scart with red white and yellow input connectors, which plug into the device you are trying to get video/audio off.

 

Similar to that there is a scart lead with the scart output to 3 red, white and yellow inputs as well as 3 white, red and white output connectors. Handy for connecting one device through another when there are limited inputs on the TV.

Scart to component leads are also available obviously having the scart at one end with component phono connectors completing the opposite end.   

 

HDMI

HDMI cables form part of a fully digital connection system that carries both video and audio. It is the uncompressed cable to support video and audio through a single lead. HDMI supports standard, enhanced, or high-definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on a single cable. 

HDMI lead Advantages

•    Superior, uncompressed digital video and audio quality
•     One single cable user-friendly connector, decreasing the jumble of cords running and tangling behind the entertainment unit.
•    Integrated remote control
•   Capable of transmitting high-definition content.
   Enhanced picture quality. HDMI provide the highest, sharpest picture quality.
•   HDMI supports multiple audio formats, from standard stereo to multi-channel surround-sound.
•  HDMI combines video and multi-channel audio into a single cable, eliminating the cost, complexity, and confusion of multiple cables currently used in A/V systems.

OPTICAL AUDIO LEADS

An Optical audio lead is a single cord that streams digital audio from one device to another. An optical cord is capable of transmitting extremely high bandwidth in comparison to no other. A single optical audio cable is capable of transporting a full multichannel digital audio stream such as Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS. Connecting an optical audio cable from the optical digital output on the TV to optical digital input on the amplifier will play any device connected to the TV through the amplifier speakers. Optical audio cables provide the highest quality sound you can get.