One of the most intimidating elements of setting up a home theater system, computer, or other electronic device is the wiring and connectors. If you look at the back of any electronic device, you’ll see a whole slew of different connectors of various shapes and sizes. It can a real scary sight to people who aren’t familiar with them. Although it may not look like it, all connectors follow a standard, and once you’ve learned what each does and what it looks like, you’ll have any easy time setting up any device.
Audio/Video Connectors
Below are some common audio/video cables:
RCA Connectors: These cables are easily identified by their simple design. They are a single prong connector, usually about ¼ inch in length. They are commonly used in stereo equipment and analog TVs. In stereo equipment, there are usually two connectors bound together, one colored red, the other white – each corresponding to a different stereo channel. There are RCA connectors for TVs as well, and usually the video connector is colored yellow.
HDMI Connectors: This type of connector looks somewhat similar to the common USB cables found on computer devices. They have a similar rectangular shape and 19 pins. HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface. These connectors are used to transfer high resolution and audio and video simultaneously. HDMI has become the standard for use with high definition televisions and digital audio systems.
Computer Connectors
VGA Connectors: VGA connectors are 15 pin connectors with a thick rectangular design. VGA stands for Video Graphics Array. They are the standard for connecting a computer’s video card to a monitor. The male end of the connector often features screws which allow the user to attach the two ends of the connector securely.
DVI Connectors: DVI is a type of a connector that can be used either with computer video cards, or with high definition digital video devices. DVI stands for Digital Video Interface. It used to be one of the main standards for high definition television, but due to the dominance of HDMI, it has become primarily used with computers. DVI has advantages over VGA, because it can maintain a digital signal, rather than converting it to analog, which causes quality loss. There are different types of DVI connectors. The most versatile type, the DVI-I, features two separate 9-pin inputs with an additional 4-pin input.
