There are many different connections and transmission formats available to the home entertainment enthusiast. Deciphering which format is correct for your needs is not always easy. The following should help you make that choice.

VIDEO FORMATS - DIGITAL

HDMI
High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a unique technology that supports uncompressed digital mutlichannel audio and true high definition video signals. HDMI can be found on most LCD and Plasma screens as well as many high quality DVD players and Satellite receivers. HDMI is physically a small cable, typically 5mm in diameter with a 29-pin plug that measures only 21mm wide by 5mm high.

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DVI
Digital Video Interface (DVI) delivers digital video signals only by the use of extensive bandwidth. That's why the picture quality is true high definition. DVI is backwards compatible with HDMI for transferring digital video signals but does not include sound.

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VIDEO FORMATS - ANALOGUE

COMPONENT VIDEO
Best of all analogue picture connectors, it separates images into their colour components. Component Video or YUV is the highest possible analogue video standard to transfer signals in almost High Definition quality between LCD/Plasma/Projector TV and DVD player. The video signal is transferred over 3 separate conductors: Green (Y), Blue (Pb or Cb) and Red (Pr or Cr) and therefore offers superior video transfer over Composite or S-Video formats. The separation of the picture components into individual cables dramatically increases picture resolution and detail, making Component ideal to use with widescreen, LCD & plasma televisions.

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SCART
Carries pictures and analogue sound from system to screen. RGB Scart gives the best pictures over regular scart leads. Scart technology offers the most complete & convenient connection between home entertainment components. Scart to scart cables carry video, stereo audio and command signals for menu facilities on even the most advanced televisions. Scart is capable of transmitting and receiving all video formats, including component & RGB, so the highest quality picture transfer is possible.

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S-VIDEO
Carries pictures only. Better than composite video and regular Scart, but not as good as RGB Scart or Component Video. By electronically separating the video signal into two paths the S-Video format provides an improved picture transfer over single core composite cable designs. In splitting colour (chrominance) and brightness (luminance) signals, the risk of interference between the two is greatly reduced. Picture quality is greatly improved and there is a reduction in colour bleeding.

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COMPOSITE VIDEO
Average-quality cable for carrying pictures from system to screen. Composite video cable carries the picture signal only and leaves the audio signal to be carried by another cable, whereas standard UHF coaxial cable combines both video and audio signals. Composite delivers greater bandwidth than UHF Coaxial cable and therefore gives you better picture quality by separating the audio and video signals.

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RGB + SYNC
All video signals require synchronisation of both the horizontal and vertical picture information. Combined synchronisation, or 'CS' as it is also known, provides both horizontal sync and vertical sync in a single conductor. By keeping sync separate from quality picture information provided by the Component Video format, accurate colour and timing transfer is achieved.

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VGA
VGA interconnects are designed for transferring high resolution analogue video signals from Media Centres, DVD Players and PC's to your LCD/Plasma monitors.

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ANALOGUE AUDIO
One of the most common transmission formats, audio analogue is used to transfer stereo audio signals only. Hugely versatile, the audio analogue interconnect can range from the most affordable entry level to the highest possible quality available, depending on the materials and the geometry used in cables construction.

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DIGITAL AUDIO
Carries digital 5.1 sound from a DVD player or a SKY + Box to a amplifier. Digital audio signals are both complex and fragile. There are two ways of transmitting the signal, one is a 75 Ohm coaxial cable and the other is optical transmission. 75 Ohm coaxial cables are able to transmit digital signals by restricting the impedance to 75 Ohms using precise construction and materials. Optical cables work by transmitting light signals down medical grade light conductive cores.

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UHF
UHF coaxial cables combine both video and audio signals in one compact design. True 75 Ohm construction, required by the transmission format, will ensure a consistent and high standard of signal reproduction. UHF signal cables can also be used to transmit FM stereo signals from a wall socket to your tuner.

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CONNECTION TYPES

1 RCA (PHONO)
The female RCA socket is designed to accept a male coaxial connector. The connector can carry both analogue and digital stereo audio and video signals.

2 SCART
The female Scart socket is designed to accept male 21 pin scart connector. The 21 pins can transfer each of the signal types mentioned above including menu command signals for televisions and DVD players.

3 MINI TOSLINK
Mini TosLink was designed for portable applications such as personal CD and MD players, where space was too tight for the TosLink connector.

4 TOSLINK
The female TosLink socket is designed to accept the male TosLink connector, protecting the connection from any light interfering with the delicate signal.

5 BNC
The female BNC socket sits proud of the equipment, and is designed to accept a male coaxial BNC connector. The BNC connector is often used for high quality RGB + Sync video transmission because of the excellent connection integrity achieved when the male plug is twisted onto the female socket.

6 UHF
The female UHF socket is designed to accept the male UHF connector for the transmission of the television of FM broadcast signal.

7 S-VIDEO
The female S-Video socket is designed to accept a male 4 pin s-video connector. The 4 pins carry the separated chrominance and luminance signals to and from the video source component.

8 F CONNECTOR
The female F Type socket is designed to accept the male screw on F connector. Used for carrying television broadcast signals where audio and video are combined, typically to connect your TV or Video to your cable TV, satellite or roof antenna.

Reproduced by courtesy of the Path Group Plc.