AV Connections

Which connections give the clearest image?

Connections greatly affect your image quality. Old analog cables are no longer capable of carrying the data 4K UHD images require. For Home and portable presentations HDMI 1.4 up is recommended. For professional installs HDMI 2.0, SDI and HTBaseT should be considered.

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DVI

Digital Video Interface (DVI) cables look a little like a standard VGA cable, but they are slightly larger. Under ideal circumstances, the DVI cable creates a ‘digital to digital’ connection between video or data source and display device.

The High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) standard has expanded the use of DVI in high definition DVD players and HDTV set top boxes.

Current Types

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HDBaseT Cables

The HDBaseT cable combines audio and video signals, USB, network and even power into one single cable and is set to replace HDMI when it starts hitting shop shelves in 2012.

The cable was designed by the HDBaseT alliance which represents a culmination of efforts from Sony, Samsung, LG and Valens. By combining all of the normal connections found in the home the companies hope to make the new industry standard. Most current generation displays will probably be incompatible due to their lack of an ethernet port which supports the cable. The HDBaseT alliance insists that new cables won't need to be purchased due to the technology working with current network wiring, ethernet cables and an RJ-45 connector.

The cable allows "a network of sources - such as digital video recorders (DVR), Blu-ray disc players, game consoles, PCs and mobile devices - to be connected directly to displays in multiple locations".

Current HDMI 1.4 cables allow stereoscopic 3D signals to be sent to a TV as well as normal and high definition content. The HDBaseT is capable of doing the same but also adds the ability to use a 100Mb/sec ethernet connection and up to 100W of charging power.

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HDMI Cables

High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cables are a smaller version of DVI cables. With one added feature HDMI cables can also carry 16 bit, 8 channel, digital audio signals as well as video. HDMI is the best choice for AV applications.

Developed by Sony, Hitachi, Thomson (RCA), Philips, Matsushita (Panasonic), Toshiba and Silicon Image, the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) has emerged as the connection standard for HDTV and the consumer electronics market.

HDMI is the first and only digital interface to combine uncompressed high-definition video, multi-channel audio and intelligent format and command data in a single digital interface.

HDMI offers significant advantages over analog A/V connections, including the ability to transmit uncompressed digital video and audio content. In addition to numerous device and display manufacturers, Hollywood studios and cable and satellite operators also support HDMI.

The Evolution of HDMI

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RJ45 (LAN, Ethernet) Cables

Commonly used to connect technology together over a network, RJ45 cables are mostly used for control purposes with projectors. There are a limited number of projectors that offer "video over LAN".

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Serial Digital Interface (SDI)

SDI is a professional video interface used for broadcast quality video. High Definition Serial Digital Interface (HD-SDI) uses two BNC connectors and is commonly referred to as Dual Link HD-SDI. SDI uses BNC connectors. The 5 different standards for SDI are:

Transfer Rates:

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USB Cables

Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a serial bus standard to interface devices to a computer. USB was designed to allow many peripherals to be connected using a single standardized interface socket and to improve the plug-and-play capabilities by allowing devices to be connected and disconnected without rebooting the computer (hot swapping). Other convenient features include providing power to low-consumption devices without the need for an external power supply.

USB was originally designed for personal computers, but it has become commonplace on other devices such as PDAs and video game consoles. As of 2008, there are about 2 billion USB devices in the world. With the advent of Flash Memory Sticks USB Type A is a convenient way to make presentations with your projector without using a PC.

USB Type B is used a a mouse connection on older projectors and is not compatible with Flash Memory Sticks. There are also mini versions of USB A & B commonly found on cameras and mobile phones.

Old Analog and Digital Connections

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RCA or Composite Cables

These are the most common cables, used to hook up your standard VCR and stereo equipment. They are color-coded: red, white, and yellow. Red is for right audiochannel . White is for left audio channel . Yellow is for video. The entire video signal is transmitted by one cable. the lowest quality cable for a video signal. Most televisions, video camcorders, VCRs, and videodisc players will have RCA jacks for these cables.

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BNC Cables

A BNC cable is actually just another form of an RCA/composite cable. The end of the cable looks different from an RCA cable, but can be changed to an RCA end with an adapter. Most professional video equipment will have a BNC jack instead of a RCA jack. The physical connection is more secure because BNC cables twist and lock in place.

A BNC Connector is used in Serial Video Interface (SDI) connections. SDI is a professional video interface used for broadcast quality video. High Definition Serial Digital Interface (HD-SDI) uses two BNC connectors and is commonly referd to as Dual Link HD-SDI.

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S-Video or Y/C Cables

Or SVHS cable can be found on most high-end televisions, all videodisc players, camcorders, digital cable and satellite set top boxes, and SVHS VCRs. S-video cables differ from composite cables in that they split video signal into two different components: luminance and chrominance. The S-video cable will offer marked improvement over a composite cable.

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Component Cables

Component cables look just like composite cables. The difference is that, where a composite cable carries the entire video signal on a single cable, component cables split the signal in three. This connection gives a superior image over composite or S-video connections.

The signal itself is referred to as either Y,Cr,Cb, or Y,Pb,Pr. The tips of the cables and jacks will be red, green and blue. Unfortunately, this can be a bit confusing because computer RGB connections are colored the same way. A good rule of thumb is that, if the connections are RCA type, it is usually a component cable. Computer RGB cables will usually be BNC type. Most high-end DVD players and HDTV tuners will have component connections.

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M1 Cables

The M1 Display Interface System is a standard created by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA).

A consortium of video adapter and monitor manufacturers founded in 1989, whose goal is to standardize video protocols specifically for digital displays. The M1 standard was approved in August of 2001.

Compatible with DVI, VGA, USB and Fire Wire signals. The M1-DA connector replaces the VGA, DVI and USB connectors found on other projectors. Adaptors are required to connect to a VGA or DVI source. Like USB, M1-DA can provide power to external devices. The popularity of the M1 connectors is in decline because nearly all connections you will make will need an adaptor.

Variants of M1 connectors are in line with the DVI types.

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RGB Cables

These cables look split the video signal into five. There are three different types of RGB cables:

• RGBHV is a five-cable system that splits the video signal for color into red, green, and blue, and then has two more cables to carry the sync for the signal (horizontal and vertical sync).
• RGB H/V is a four-cable system that splits the color the same way, but has the horizontal and vertical sync on a single fourth cable.
• RGB video cables again split the color signal in three, but carry the additional sync signal on one of the color cables, usually the green (called RGB sync on green).

An RGBHV signal is the way a computer connects to a projector. Five pins on a 15-pin VGA cable are RGBHV. The projector recognizes the type of signal and projects accordingly.

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VGA Cables

This is your standard computer monitor cable. It is typically male-to-male with three rows, 15 pins. or computer to projector connections. Some HDTV boxes have connections for VGA.