The following connections are available for setting up high-definition
service.
Component Video
A
component video output (YPbPr) is the type of connector that
commonly comes with HDTV's. Component video requires 3 connections
(3 cables with RCA phono-type connectors), making up the Color
and Luminance (Y) portions of the signal. 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, but RGB connectors typically come
with 5 cables - Red, Green, & Blue for color information,
and Yellow & White for sync information. A good rule of
thumb is that, if the connections are RCA phono-type (like
the ones used to connect together pieces of audio stereo equipment),
it is usually a component cable. Most high-end DVD players
and HDTV tuners will have component connections. Note that
many of these high-end DVD players also use the HDTV component
inputs marked YPbPr to accommodate progressive scan formats,
but these HDTV inputs may not necessarily support the required
1080i resolution necessary for HD signals. Check your HDTV
and DVD owner's manual for details.
Composite Video
A
composite video output requires one RCA-type cable and can
only be used for standard-definition digital or analog signals.
Composite outputs all the elements of a picture signal together
through one cable.
S-Video
An
S-Video output requires one connection via an S-Video cable
and can only be used for standard-definition digital or analog
signals. The S-Video cable keeps color and black and white
information separate when only one S-Video cable is used. S-Video connections do not carry the audio signal.
Analog Audio
Analog
audio left and right channel outputs are commonly used with
stereo equipment. RCA-type cables are required to pass the
analog signal from analog outputs. For non-stereo (i.e. monaural),
only the left audio channel output will be used.
Digital Audio
Digital
audio outputs come in two types: optical and coaxial. A fiber-optic
cable is needed to transfer the digital stream from the digital
optical out, while a digital coaxial output requires an RCA-type
cable. Because they are both transferring a digital signal,
optical and coaxial outputs should perform the same.
|
