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The connectors below are listed in increasing order of quality. There are seven levels of quality for video and three levels for audio. How you connect your sources can improve the quality in one of two ways. First, it can refine the signal more, decreasing the chance of interference. For example, RF connectors send audio and video for every channel you receive down one cable. By contrast, Composite Video only carries the video from one channel. That alone can improve the image. Secondly, if you use a digital connector, like HDMI, then you have all but eliminated any chance of noise interfering in your signal.
VIDEO CONNECTIONS
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Radio Frequency (RF)
This threaded connector (known as an 'F' type connector) is how to connect an antenna or cable TV service to a digital TV. It can also be used to connect a VCR but is no longer used for other analog sources due to low picture quality. It also carries the audio signal.
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F-Connector Jacks
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Video Quality
7
Low
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Composite Video
This is the most common video connector and is found on virtually every TV, DVD player, and set-top box, not to mention camcorders and digital still cameras. This connector cannot be used to send High Definition video to a television. It requires audio cables to be run separately.
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Composite Video Input Jack
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Video Quality
6
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S-Video (also known as Y/C)
This connector resembles a mouse plug. It's a small, round input jack with four pins on it. Like the composite connector, the highest resolution you can connect to this input jack is 480i. However, it will produce a better picture than composite because it does not require as much processing. DVD players, set-top boxes and some camcorders use this connection. It also requires separate audio cables.
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S-Video Jack
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Video Quality
5
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Component Video (also known as YPbPr)
This is the first High Definition connector on this list and will accept up to 1080i signals. Despite the fact that it is three wires, this is still only one connection. This is the best connection for most DVD players and older, high definition set-top boxes. Audio still needs to be run separately.
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Component Video (YPbPr) RCA Cables
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Video Quality
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RGB Video (also known as PC Video)
This connection is primarily used to connect a PC to the TV though some older set-top boxes also used it. It bypasses all of the processors in the set and sends the picture straight to the screen resulting in a "pure" picture with all of the detail and noise from the source. It needs separate audio connectors.
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RGB Video Jacks
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Video Quality
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IEEE1394 (also known as FireWire)
This connector is a two-way digital system. This makes it perfect for camcorders and other digital recorders that can both play a video and record it. It also carries audio.
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Firewire Inputs
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Video Quality
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DVI (Digital Video Interface)
By using this connector, the digital signal does not need to be converted to analog, sent to the set and then converted back to digital (as it does with all of the connections previously discussed) thereby significantly reducing the chance that noise will get into the picture. Set-top boxes and some DVD players use this cable. DVI requires separate audio. By using a simple adapter, DVI can be connected to HDMI which is found on newer sets
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DVI Jack
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Video Quality
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HDMI (High Definition Digital Multimedia Interface)
This is another digital connections that bypass analog conversions. Newer set-top boxes and some DVD players use this cable. This cable can also carry up to eight channels of uncompressed digital audio. As a result, it is the only cable you need to connect between two components equipped with this connection.
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HDMI Jack
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Video Quality
1 High
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AUDIO CONNECTIONS
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Line Level RCA (Stereo)
This is a familiar analog connection for stereo audio. The jacks are usually marked L and R and colored white (for left channel) and red (for right channel). It is a very common connection on older analog TV sets, and most digital TVs, DVD players, VCRs, and digital TV set-top receivers support this connection.
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Line Level RCA Inputs
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Coaxial RCA (Digital)
This connector is always colored orange, and is how to connect a digital signal from a DVD player or digital TV set-top box. Some digital TVs have this as an output to connect sound from the set to an A/V receiver to listen to surround sound audio formats. Note: never connect this jack to an analog audio input on a digital TV.
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Coaxial Digital Audio
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Optical (Toslink Digital)
This small, square connector is uses fiber optics to move the digital audio data from a DVD player or digital TV set-top receiver to the digital TV or home theater A/V receiver/amplifier. This is also used to connect surround sound audio formats.
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Toslink Digital Jack
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