subject: How To Use Audio And Video Cables [print this page] Most types of audio and video equipment still require cables to connect to your computer, television and other devices. While in some cases it is possible to use wireless connections, the standard is still audio and video cables. The type of cable used to connect an audio/video (AV) device varies depending on the equipment involved. For example, uncompressed high definition digital devices like Blu-ray Disc Player, home theater systems, and game consoles like PlayStation 3 and X-Box 360 require high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) cables. You may be able to link all your AV devices to a single HDMI cable, i.e, to your Panasonic high definition television (HDTV) using VIERA LINK technology.
When you're connecting components you, of course, have to make sure you have similar ports for connections on each piece. Using optical cables to connect your digital audio devices which have Dolby Digital or like kind of technology allows those audio signals to transmit by light pulse signal.
Video connector cables have made a lot of progression over time, these are newest to oldest technology. The Component video is high definition splitting the signal into three parts, Composite video is a connector transmitting only 480i, S-Video is the same at 480i, Analog video has similar transmission and Coaxial RF is the lowest transmitter of video at only 350i video resolution.
Then you have the audio connector choices, again newest to oldest technology. HDMI is highest quality right now for Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD-Master Audio, Optical is good also but not the same level as HDMI, Coaxial is okay for lesser quality audio, Analog has XLR that can be used for higher quality, then there are the multi channel or two channel analog cables which is appropriate for older components.
You want to buy the more expensive cable within the same type because the better materials and higher quality construction is going to give a better performance than the cheaper versions. And there are going to be certain devices that need certain types of cables so you won't have a choice of what you use. This would be like if you're connecting a HDTV to one of the players like Blu-ray or Playstation you'll have to use the HDMI cable. Some camcorders are going to require the mini-USB or mini-HDMI instead of their full size versions.
