CABLE, LEADS, CONNECTS
RESOURCES
LEADS ADVICE:
Choosing The Right Video Leads
The leads you use are most often determined by the sockets available on your units. It always pays to use the best quality leads available and you should always replace the leads supplied in the box with better quality ones as these will improve both your sound and your picture.
Below is a brief outline of the different lead types and their uses.
Coaxial Analogue
Used to carry RF signals from an aerial, these leads are also used to connect a video to the TV. However, these leads have largely been replaced by Scart on more recent models.
Coaxial Digital
This audio-only digital cable is usually used to connect a DVD player to an amplifier. Unlike the analogue Phono leads, which they closely resemble, this uses only a single cable.
Component Video
Three separate leads used to carry video signals only. In terms of performance this is the best with only RGB scart coming close.
Composite Video
A single lead terminated in phono plugs that transfers video only signals. However, S-Video, Scart and Component leads will all produce superior pictures.
Optical
A digital lead that uses fibre optics to carry the signal. This audio only lead is most commonly used to connect a DVD player to a home cinema amplifier.
Phono
The standard connector used in stereo systems. Phonos have two separate cables - one for the left stereo channel and one for the right.
Scart
A high quality connection that can carry both sound and picture. RGB scarts separate the signal into Red, Green and Blue channels and provide a picture quality second only to component video. Scarts can carry signals in both directions making them ideal for connecting a video recorder to a TV.
Six Channel
Also known as 5.1, the audio only six channel connection is essentially 6 phono leads and is used exclusively to carry the decoded surround sound from a DVD player with a built-in decoder to a surround sound amplifier.
Speaker Cable
In the video world, these will typically consist of a pair of wire leads (positive and negative). The bare wire is usually exposed, twisted and inserted into a 'Binding Post' which is screwed in to hold the wire securely.
S-Video
A video only cable that produces pictures which, while not as good as RGB scart, are better than composite. Separate audio cables will be required.
