Audio / Video Cables - racketboy.com

VGA to Component Cable - Dreamcast to HDTV

racketboy — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 00:18:00 +0000

While some higher-end High-Definition TVs have VGA-In ports on them, many do not. However, I have not seen a HDTV that does not have a Component input on it.

So, if you want to hook up your Dreamcast (or any other VGA-out device) to your HDTV with the best video quality available for an affordable price, you need something that can convert VGA to Component.

I was hoping that a simple VGA-to-Component cable would work, but the one I have results in some weird on-screen action.

Don't take my word on it, but you might be able to get a more expensive conversion box to do the trick. If you get it to work, please let me know!

Composite Video Jack

racketboy — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 22:49:00 +0000

A composite video input or output uses a single standard RCA-style jack to pass video signals. This type of connection combines chrominance and luminance information, sending it along a single cable. Though capable of delivering a high-quality picture, composite video is not as accurate as either S-video or component video, both of which provide separate paths for chrominance and luminance.

Commonly found on A/V components like DVD players, VCRs, TVs, DBS systems, etc., composite video jacks are often grouped with corresponding stereo audio jacks (the composite video jack is usually yellow). Though they use standard RCA-type connectors, composite video cables are specially designed to maximize video signal transfer.

More Pictures of the Dreamcast VGA Box With S-Video

racketboy — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 17:11:00 +0000

Overhead View:

From this view, you can clearly see the switch to toggle between VGA and "TV" mode

On this side you you have your VGA out and your Headphone/PC Speakers audio output

And on the other side your have your S-Video Out, Composite Video Out, and your RCA Audio out jacks.

S-Video Jack

racketboy — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 22:55:00 +0000

Found on DVD players, DBS receivers, Super VHS VCRs, TVs, and other kinds of A/V gear, S-video inputs and outputs use a round, 4-pin jack to pass video signals. The "S" in S-video stands for "separate": S-video connections transmit the chrominance (color) and luminance (brightness) portions of a video signal along different paths, allowing them to be processed separately.

S-video provides a sharper picture than composite video. However, component video connections yield even better performance than S-video by further dividing the chrominance portion of the video signal.

Buy VGA Cables - The Cheapest & Best Sources

racketboy — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 00:07:00 +0000

Does your VGA monitor or HDTV not have its own VGA cable? Do you need a cable to connect your Dreamcast VGA adapter to your display? Below are some great places for you to get started in finding the best deals for the proper cable.

I've bought cables from Cable Wholesale.com and have been quite satisfied with both the quality and the price.

Super VGA Cables (various sizes)
VGA Extension Cables (various sizes)

If you High-Definition TV doesn't has a Component Video connection, but no VGA port, you may want to look into a VGA to Component cable.

Audio and Video Cables: Does Quality Matter?

racketboy — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 22:57:00 +0000

Whether you're a hardcore gearhead or you just bought your first home theater system, you want to get the most out of your A/V equipment. Poorly made cables can allow noise and interference to compromise the signals coming from your source components, resulting in a subpar listening or viewing experience.

If you owned a high-performance sports car, you wouldn't outfit it with low-end tires — you'd get insufficient traction, poor handling, and increased road noise. You'd lose all the benefits of buying a high-performance car in the first place! In the same way, low-quality cables can rob you of the performance you paid for when you bought your system.

Many A/V components don't include all the cables you need; some may include a cable whose length isn't right for your setup. And, when cables are included, they're always low-quality. Replace those free "in-the-box" cables with higher-quality ones, and enjoy more realistic sound and a clearer picture. With Crutchfield's 30-day money-back guarantee and free return shipping, you can feel free to give our high-quality cables a try — if you don't like what you see (or hear), return them!

Anatomy of a cable
There are three main parts of a cable which affect signal quality: the conductor, the shielding, and the connector. The conductor is the part of the cable through which the signal actually passes. Since the conductor is basically a wire which can act as an antenna to receive radio frequency interference (RFI) and electromagnetic interference (EMI), a good cable also includes some kind of shielding, to filter out these potential sources of noise. The connector is the part of the cable that actually comes into contact with your gear; types of connectors include RCA, S-video, and F-type.

Audio interconnects
Most good audio cables contain an oxygen-free copper (OFC) conductor, which passes signals accurately with minimal signal loss. Many cables also include two separate shields — one made of braided copper, to guard against RFI, and one made of foil, to guard against EMI — so that no annoying buzzes or "pops" are introduced into the signal.

In many cables, the shield is grounded only on the end that connects to the audio or video source, so that interference will drain away from the destination end of the cable. Cables of this type often have directional arrows printed on their jackets, and should be hooked up with the arrow pointing away from the source.

Connectors are extremely important to cable quality. Good RCA connectors provide constant, high-pressure contact with your components' jacks, and are usually gold-plated to prevent corrosion. This results in high-quality signal transfer that won't cut out intermittently or degrade over time.

Some manufacturers such as Monster Cable offer several different levels of cable quality; how do you pick the level that's right for your system? If you've noticed lots of interference in your picture or sound, or if you're running cable over a relatively long distance, look for the best shielding you can afford. (However, if you find you need an audio interconnect longer than 30 feet, you'll get better results by running longer speaker cable instead, and moving your components closer to one another.)

Digital audio interconnects
A special subset of audio interconnects is digital audio cables. There are two types: optical and coaxial.

Optical cables transmit digital audio signals as pulses of light. Toslink connectors — the connector type found on most optical cables — are often found on CD and DVD players, as well as home theater receivers. Some portable players (such as most MiniDisc and some CD portables) are equipped with mini-optical jacks. To connect a standard-sized component to a portable's mini-optical input (for recording to MiniDisc, for example), you'll need a special Toslink-to-mini-optical cable. To connect a CD portable's mini-optical output to an MD portable's mini-optical input, you'll need an optical cable with mini connectors on both ends.

Because they use pulses of light rather than electrical impulses to transmit audio signals, optical cables are virtually impervious to interference. It's still important to look for a well-made cable, however: a quality fiber-optic element can prevent jitter, while solidly built connectors add durability.

Coaxial digital cables look on the surface like standard analog RCA cables; however, you should avoid using a standard audio interconnect to transfer a coaxial digital signal. Cables engineered specifically to pass a digital signal provide 75-ohm impedance and wider frequency bandwidth, ensuring superior signal transfer.

Common video interconnects
Video signals can travel over many different types of cabling, but the majority of video components are equipped with at least one of the following four types of jacks (listed in order from lowest-quality signal transfer to highest):

* coaxial RF, also known as F-type
* composite video, also known as RCA
* S-video
* component video

Used for connecting antennas, cable boxes, VCRs, TVs and more, coaxial RF cable (not to be confused with coaxial digital audio cable, above) can carry video and stereo audio information simultaneously. Standard coaxial cable is stamped "RG-59"; higher-quality "RG-6" cable features lower signal loss and better shielding, both of which are essential for DBS satellite systems and longer cable runs.

Composite cables plug into the composite video jacks found on many kinds of A/V components, including DVD players, VCRs, receivers, and DBS satellite systems. These jacks are often marked in yellow, and grouped with corresponding red and white stereo audio jacks. Composite video cables use standard RCA-type connectors, and are designed for high-quality video signal transfer.

S-video cables feature round, 4-pin connectors, and transmit the chrominance (color) and luminance (brightness) portions of a video signal along different paths. As a result, they provide better color accuracy and detail than either RF or composite connections do.

Found on most DVD players and HDTV tuners, and on a growing number of TVs and A/V receivers, component video connections deliver better detail and color accuracy than you get with RF, composite, or S-video. They do this by splitting the video signal into three parts, with each part transmitted via its own cable. Unlike the other three types of connections, component video is capable of passing high-definition and progressive-scan video signals.

Because of their higher frequencies, video signals are more susceptible to degradation than audio signals are, particularly while traveling through a substandard conductor. And, as with audio, radio frequency and electromagnetic interference can taint the signal. This can cause lines, snow, and other artifacts to appear on your TV screen. A higher-quality cable with a copper conductor, 75-ohm impedance, and double shielding can effectively preserve the strength and accuracy of the original signal.

Digital video interconnects
The shift to digital video sources and displays has led to digital video connections. There are two main digital video options: DVI cables and HDMI cables.

DVI (Digital Visual Interface) and HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) cables are especially beneficial if you're using a "fixed-pixel" display (like a plasma, LCD, DLP, or LCoS TV). Since these cables permit the video signal to remain in digital form all the way to the screen, you avoid the slight picture degradation that can come with translating the signal from digital to analog, and back.

Both DVI and HDMI cables can carry standard-definition and high-definition digital video signals. HDMI is also capable of carrying 2 to 8 discrete channels of digital audio (depending on the capabilities of the source component).

Most HDTV tuners and HD-ready TVs, and, increasingly, many DVD players now come with either a DVI or HDMI terminal; a few high-end components have both. (Also, HDMI cables are backwards-compatible with most DVI connections, so you can use an HDMI-to-DVI adapter to connect a component with a DVI terminal to one with an HDMI terminal.)

Kits and specialty cables
Want to upgrade your audio and video cables at the same time? We've got the perfect solution — convenient A/V cable kits. They include the audio and video cables you need, all in one package!

Game systems have come a long way in the last few years. Take advantage of the high-quality picture and sound produced by your PlayStation2 or XBOX� console by using premium game cables to connect it to your home theater system. Your gaming experience will be much more intense, with clearer graphics and more realistic sound effects!

If you've already got a digital camcorder or you're thinking about buying one, you'll want to check out our selection of i.LINK� cables. Since camcorders rarely include them, you'll need one if you want to hook your cam to your computer's i.LINK jack in order to perform desktop editing.

Because a high-definition video signal contains so much more information than a standard-def signal, only a few types of cables are capable of carrying HD. One such type is i.LINK. Another, DVI, was designed specifically for this purpose. Yet another type of cable, RGB, is often used to connect PCs to monitors. Any of these connections will give you superb image quality from your high-definition source if you use a high-quality interconnect (such as one made by Monster Cable).

Cable connection tips
Follow these general rules of thumb to get the best results from your cables:

* Avoid long cable runs if possible — the shorter the cable, the better.
* That said, make sure your cables are long enough, especially if your components are shelved in such a way that the rear panels are difficult to access. There should be enough slack to let you pull the component forward and reach the rear panel.
* Because they can introduce interference into the signal, try to keep power cords away from signal cords. If this isn't possible, at least try to minimize contact between the two.
* If an interconnect has arrows printed on its jacket, hook it up so that the arrow is pointing away from the signal source, and toward the destination.
* Avoid kinking or bending cable. Don't try to make a short cable reach — it can put stress on the connector and potentially cause damage. Buy a longer cable, if necessary. (This is especially important for optical interconnects.)
* Don't keep excess cable lying in loops. Arrange it in an "S" shape or a figure-eight instead; this can help minimize electromagnetic interference.

Stereo RCA Jacks

racketboy — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 22:52:00 +0000

RCA connections are the standard means of passing analog line-level (or "preamp-level") audio signals between components. RCA jacks are commonly found on most types of A/V gear: receivers, CD players, turntables, MiniDisc recorders, cassette decks, VCRs, DVD players, and more.

The audio inputs and A/V inputs found on receivers are RCA connections (though some A/V inputs may also include a different type of jack — such as S-video or component video — for the "video" portion of the signal).

Usually, RCA jacks, connectors and cables are grouped in stereo pairs, with one connection for the left audio channel and one for the right. However, some components (such as many powered subwoofers) use a single mono RCA jack for audio input and/or output.

Component Video Jacks

racketboy — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 22:51:00 +0000

This 3-cable connection allows the chrominance (color) and luminance (brightness) portions of a video signal to be processed separately. S-video works similarly, but component video improves color accuracy further by splitting the chrominance signal into two portions.

Component video connections are found on most DVD players and HDTV tuners, and on a growing number of TVs and A/V receivers. However, this type of connection can vary in bandwidth from unit to unit. To pass progressive-scan DVD signals without noticeable softening of the picture, a component video connection should have bandwidth of 12 MHz or higher; passing HDTV signals without softening requires bandwidth of 30MHz or higher. If you are only slightly shy of the required bandwidth for the signal you're viewing and your TV is 36" or less, the picture softening may be extremely subtle, or even unnoticeable.

Analog Audio Minijacks

racketboy — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 22:40:00 +0000

Most portable CD players, MD recorders, and computer sound cards use minijacks for their analog audio inputs and outputs. Portable players usually output sound via a single headphone minijack. Portable recorders usually add 2 additional minijacks: a line input and a microphone input.

PC sound cards typically have at least 1 minijack line output; some also have a separate headphone minijack output. Like portable recorders, most sound cards also feature minijacks for line input and mic input (these permit you to record sound directly to your hard disk drive).

Most minijack connections are stereo; that is, they pass both a left and a right audio channel. However, some minijack connections (such as microphone inputs) pass just a single mono audio channel.