I’d like to introduce resident “digital home entertainment” expert and personal friend Travis Marceau. A little background. Travis is a 19 year old freshman at Texas A&M. He’s majoring in Computer Science, and has (by far) the coolest dorm-room I’ve ever seen. When I asked Travis if he’d be interested in doing a guest article for my blog, he said “Definitely.” And the rest of this is his post. He will guide you through all the cables you’ll need for your perfect entertainment system.

Audio & Video Cables

Coaxial (The cable used for Cable):

The dinosaur on the list, it is the one cable that everyone has seen and every TV will accept. We all remember the days when this was the only connection a TV had, all plunged our hands into the darkness behind our sets to match male to female and screw them together. Remember the days when Channel 3 (occasionally 4) was where you met your friend Mario, and went on your first duck hunt? This cable was great because you could stack as many as you wanted and they would all funnel into your TV. There are still a sad few (my younger sister included) who continue to hang on, converting composite inputs from their $30 DVD players to feed those equally outdated TV sets. This cable is far from useless however; we still depend on it daily to bring our favorite channels home. (That is at least until Fiber Optics take over)

Bottom Line:
Unless you have your old Sega Genesis hooked up like me, you probably won’t need this one for anything beyond cable.

Composite Cables:

The most recognizable and most widely used AV cable for a few years now is the composite cable(s). Composite cables are composed of 3 bundled cables. They consist of 1 yellow cable for transmitting video, and two cables for transmitting audio, one red and one white. The reason there are two audio cables is because each one transmits a separate channel of stereo audio (left and right). This configuration still ships in the boxes of most DVD players and game systems you can purchase today.

Bottom Line:
It is capable of transmitting stereo sound and standard definition video (480i).

Component Cables (YPbPr):

Component cables are the lowest member on the high definition totem pole. Component cables are identical to composite cables in the way they connect, the only difference is the component cables carry a range of color over individual cables instead of all video in one. There are three video cables in all. Typical component cables also come coupled with the same stereo audio cables as composite cables. Component outputs can be found on most new DVD players and will provide a slight boost in picture quality from 480i to 480p, known as enhanced definition. Some people will argue that Digital Video and Analog Video (HDMI/DVI (get to them in a sec) vs. YPbPr) will carry an equal picture reaching resolutions up to 1080p. I have personally used high quality versions of both cables on the same TV and I can honestly tell you there is a noticeable difference in picture, more specifically, depth.

Bottom Line:
For some TVs it is the only HD option and will still provide a solid HD picture (480i-1080p), and carries stereo sound.

High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI):

HDMI is simply put as good as it gets, at least for now. HDMI has the ability to carry maximum video quality at 1080p; what many manufacturers refer to now as “trueHD”. HDMI carries an all digital video signal as well as audio. High definition audio is 5.1 to 7.1 channels of audio. DVD’s are capable of outputting high definition audio at 5.1 channels. The capacity of a DVD limits it to 5.1 instead of the 7.1 channels of audio that can be read from higher capacity Blu-Ray and HD-DVD discs. Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are the only sources currently outputting trueHD video, also because of capacity limitations. HDMI is very useful because the HD video and audio is contained in a very compact single cable.

Bottom Line:
It’s small size and HD audio and video abilities make it the best cable. Most HDTV’s only contain 1 or 2 HDMI inputs so an expensive HDMI receiver is required to utilize them for all components in your home system.

Specialty Cables: Audio or Video

Video Graphics Array (VGA):

Anyone who has ever owned a computer should be familiar with these. This is most commonly the blue colored cable used to connect your computer to your monitor. It carries what can be considered HD video based on the available resolutions. I’m not really going to discuss this because everyone pretty much knows what it does and what it is used for.

Bottom Line:
Unless your computer and monitor can use the next choice, use this.

Digital Video Input (DVI):

DVI is interesting because is it sort of a hybrid. DVI was, and is still sometimes, included in HDTVs as a high definition video choice, and a way to plug in computers. (slight tangent follows, skip to bottom line if you wish) My HDTV/Monitor, an earlier version of what can be found in Dustin’s college prep article, is made by Viewsonic who is known for their computer monitor production. Viewsonic decided to grace the backside of my monitor with 2 component inputs, 1 composite input, 1 VGA input, 1 S-Video (which I’m ignoring because no one should ever use it, because I said so), and 1 DVI input. Since I have been more than satisfied with VGA for my computer I was left with an empty DVI input. After a couple weeks lobbying my father, he subscribed to HD cable service just for me (he has yet to take the HD plunge, I’m on HDTV #2). I noticed the HDMI output on the back of my new receiver and soon found I could purchase a cable with HDMI on one end and DVI on the other. I stopped using the components, got my new cable and began experiencing HDTV bliss.

Bottom Line:
If you have one of these on the back of your TV get an HDMI->DVI cable and use it, Video quality is identical. Be warned you must be prepared to use an audio alternative.

Optical & Coaxial Digital Audio:

Digital Audio cables are basically just the audio half of the HDMI cable. They can transmit single channel sound all the way up to 7.1 cannel (7 speakers and a subwoofer for those of you who really don’t know your stuff). Optical audio is more commonly used, you can find it on the back of the original PS2, and is a very good audio cable. A receiver like mine, also on Dustin’s “off to college” list, is affordable, supports 7.1 channel audio, and receives 3 optical audio and 3 component video inputs. My receiver also includes one coaxial audio cable input (the orange one that looks just like the yellow/red/white tips), but the only device I own that can output it is my cable box, which outputs pretty much anything.

Bottom Line:
Digital audio combined with component or DVI video can be a good alternative for those seeking a more affordable home theater. (Plus optical transmits by little laser looking red lights that I find really cool)

I hope you enjoyed it all. Travis would love to hear any comments (and so would I). Please leave a comment about your own entertainment system. What cables do you use?

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