PureAV Video Glossary

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Video Glossary

Component video

Easily confused with the similar sounding “Composite Video,” a Component Video connection involves a set of 3 cables: 2 cables to handle the colour (aka chrominance) and 1 to handle the brightness (aka luminance). PureAV Component Video cables are colour coded (red, green and blue) for easy identification when hooking up your components. Component connections are found on most DVD players and HDTVs and on mid- to upper-level AV receivers. Generally superior quality to S-video, but not quite as good as DVI or HDMI. For more on how the different video formats compare, check out “Source-To-Sense.”

Composite video

Unlike Component video’s 3-cable method, Composite video is a single cable, typically colour coded yellow for easy differentiation from similar looking audio cables. Composite video cables are designed specifically to handle video signals. Composite video does a capable job of delivering a good picture via a single cable, but there are several higher quality choices. See “Source-To-Sense” for more information on which type is best for you.

DVI (Digital Visual Interface)

DVI is one of the best methods for delivering video digitally and is available on most HDTV tuners and HDTV-ready televisions as well as on many DVD players, mid- to upper-level AV receivers and newer computer monitors. PureAV DVI Dual Link Cables are designed to handle all HDTV formats, including the highest resolution currently available, 1080p. DVI is an encrypted format so you can’t record a signal delivered via DVI. However, you can use DVI for your TV and an Analogue video format (such as component video or S-video) to record to a DVR (such as Tivo®) or DVD recorder. For more on how the different video formats compare, check out “Source-To-Sense.”

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)

HDMI is the current state-of-the-art in delivering the highest quality video and audio through a single cable. HDMI can send high definition video (HDTV) as well as surround sound. Most recent HDTV television and mid- to upper-end home theatre receivers and DVD players offer HDMI connections.

HDMI is also compatible with most DVI connections for video so if you have, say a DVD player with DVI output and a plasma TV with HDMI input, you can use an HDMI-to-DVI cable to connect them, although you will need a separate connection for the audio, such as optical digital or coaxial digital.

HDMI is an encrypted format so you can’t record a signal delivered via HDMI. However, you can use HDMI for your TV and an Analogue video format (such as component video or S-video) to record to a DVR (such as Tivo®) or DVD recorder. For more on how the different video formats compare, check out “Source-To-Sense.”

FireWire

Also known as IEEE 1394 or i.LINK, FireWire is a two-way digital connection between computers and peripherals like digital camcorders and cameras. Most equipment uses 4-pin FireWire ports and connectors, but some peripherals use a 6-pin version. PureAV offers both types plus a hybrid 4-to-6 pin interconnect.

RF coaxial Analogue

Also known as “75 ohm input” or simply “coaxial input,” this is the basic connector for hooking up antennas, cable boxes, VCRs and TVs. This connector carries both video and audio (though only stereo, not surround sound). For more on how the different video formats compare, check out “Source-To-Sense.”

Super VGA

Also sometimes referred to as RGB (D-sub 15-pin), Super VGA cables are used to connect a computer to a projector, computer monitor, plasma TV, LCD TV or other digital flat panel TV’s. Super VGA provides high quality Analogue video by separating the video signal into 3 parts which allows for exceptionally clear and bright images.

S-video

Virtually all DVD players, most satellite receivers and AV receivers and most newer TVs have S-video connections. In the “Good-Better-Best” scenario of choices, S-video is somewhere between ‘Good’ and ‘Better.’ Utilising a round, 4-pin connector, S-video provides better picture quality than RF Coaxial or Composite video, but not as good as Component video or the two digital formats, DVI and HDMI. For more on how the different video formats compare, check out “Source-To-Sense.”

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports are on virtually every PC and Mac made in the past 5 years (and on many that are older than that). A USB connection is often used to connect digital camcorders, digital cameras, mp3 players and other portable A/V devices as well as more recent products like digital media servers to a home theatre system.

There are a few types of USB connectors. The USB Type A connector plugs into the USB port on your computer. The USB Type B connector plugs into a peripheral device (such as a monitor or printer). Compact devices like cameras and mp3 players typically have smaller USB jacks called a mini USB. All USB cables have a Type A connector on one end (for the computer) and either a Type B or mini USB connector on the other end.