Component Video

 Also Known As

RGB, BNC, RGB-HV 		Quality

Typical Application High-end DVD players to display device.
Summary BNC is the name of the socket/cable type typically used to carry component signals. RGB-HV cable-computer video signals can be sent and received via this cable. The R is for Red, G is for Green, and B is for Blue. The H stands for Horizontal Sync and V stands for Vertical Sync. The sync portion of the signal provides information for the correct display of the signal. Digital TV receivers often have 15 pin VGA outputs, which can connect to component video.
HDMI

 Also Known As

High-Definition Multi-media Interface 		Quality

Typical Application High end DVD players to high end display devices.
Summary HDMI is a relatively new connection but is quickly becoming the standard to connect home cinema components, being a digital equivalent of the popular 'SCART' format. Like SCART, HDMI can carry both video and audio, and so minimises on untidy wires.

There are two types of HDMI connections; The standard Type A HDMI connector has 19 pins, and the other; Type B has 29 pins, allowing it to carry an expanded video channel for use with high-resolution displays. Type-B is designed to support resolutions higher than 1080i.
S-Video

 Also Known As

S-VHS, Y/C, Mini DIN 		Quality

Typical Application Television to VCR DVD player to Display device.
Summary S-Video cables differ from composite cables in that they split the video signal into two different components: Luminance and Chrominance. N.B. The S-Video cable will offer marked improvement over a composite cable.
Composite Video

  		Also Known As

Phono Audio/Video, RCA,
Cinch, Phone (RCA) Jack 		Quality

Typical Application Most common cables used to link standard VCR and stereo Equipment.
Summary This is the lowest quality cable for a video source, it is also the most common. They are usually colour coded with Yellow for video, and Red for right audio, and White for left audio.
Scart

 Also Known As

N/A 		Quality

Typical Application Digital satellite and cable boxes. Links stereo, televisions and video recorders.
Summary N.B. Scart can be converted via an adaptor to composite and S-Video.
VGA

 Also Known As

Mini D-Sub, 15 pin PC cable, Monitor Cable 		Quality

Typical Application Standard Monitor cable. A VGA cable is used for computer to a display device.
Summary It is typically male-to-male with three rows, 15 pins. Its only home theatre application may be as a connection to a HDTV decoder, such as a current RCA model. Can convert VGA to component.
DVI

 Also Known As

DVI-D, DVI-I, Digital RGV 		Quality

Typical Application Digital to Digital connection between video/data source and display device.
Summary DVI-Digital Video Interface. Developed for a plug and play standard. The digital connection automatically optimises your data source to work with the display device. DVI-D is a digital only connector. DVI-I can support both digital and analog inputs.
RS232

 Also Known As

N/A 		Quality

N/A

Typical Application Standard Network Port
Summary The RS232 standard describes a communication method capable of communicating in different environments.
PS/2

 Also Known As

Mouse Connector 		Quality

N/A

Typical Application Connects mouse to mother board or serial port.
Summary A round 6-pin DIN connector. This port creates an interface between the computer and the projector, allowing the remote control to have access to both projector and computer functions.
PC Audio

 Also Known As

Audio Cable, 3.5mm Jack, Earphone Connector,
Sub Mini 		Quality

N/A

Typical Application Standard connector for audio signals.
Summary Most often used with either phono plugs or mono phone plugs. This is the standard connector for headphones and microphones.