Key differences in the performance quality inherent in both audio and video cable formats help determine how close to the source you can actually get. Two critical factors to consider are the features these cables deliver from your components and the quality of performance that is dictated by the technology formats themselves.

VIDEO CABLE FORMATS

Key Techinical Differentiators

HDMI

HDMI enables delivery of both uncompressed, all-digital, high-de?nition video and uncompressed, multichannel, digital audio through just one cable. HDMI enables high-de?nition video and is ideal for connecting digital display devices and digital source devices.

HDMI-to-DVI

HDMI is backward-compatible with DVI. HDMI-to-DVI allows connection of HDMI-enabled components with DVI-enabled components, delivering all-digital, high-de?nition video. The only loss in HDMI-to-DVI is the multichannel, digital audio.

DVI

DVI has even wider bandwidth than Component Video, allowing it to deliver uncompressed, high-de?nition digital video. It also integrates copy protection, making it a common connection on HDTVs.

Composite

In Composite Video cables, the brightness information, the colour information, and the synchronization signals are all combined in one conductor. This can reduce the picture quality with blurred edges, dull colour, and less detail.

RF Coaxial

RF Coaxial Cables provide a standard coaxial connection that is most commonly used to run cable and satellite signals into a home. It is not engineered to achieve the optimal performance of Component, S-Video, or Composite Video.

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Source to Sense

This chart describes the differences in the general formats of Video cables, and highlight which formats bring you closer to the source and improve your experience.

Component

A Component Video cable separates the information even further, with the picture's luminance information, red colour-difference information, and blue colour-difference information on three separate conductors. Component Video provides better colour resolution than S-Video. It also has wider bandwidth, which is necessary to deliver high-quality video from DVD players, digital satellite systems, and HDTVs.

S-Video

An S-Video cable carries the picture's brightness information and colour information separately on two conductors. This improves brightness and colour accuracy over Composite Video.