Guide To Audio/video Cables Options

[sparkac]

GUIDE TO AUDIO/VIDEO CABLES
Version 2.0

I've noticed that many people are confused about all the different types of cables out there and what advantages each type has
So i made this tutorial to explain them


SECTION 1
The different cables

1. RF cable (aka Coaxial Cable)


This is the thick cable you use to connect to your antenna or cable service. This was the only type of cable back then and this is the only way to hook up your Xbox to older TV sets. The Xbox, if you haven’t noticed yet, has no output for this so you will need an RF modulator. The main advantage I can think of that it is simple, only one cable is needed to transmit video and sound, also it sends all the channels at the same time so you can use the tuner on your TV. Its disadvantages are low picture quality and mono sound (half of stereo). Also this is an analog signal, for anyone who wants to know.

2. Composite

This is a step up from Coaxial, There are 3 separate cables. Yellow for video, white for the left channel audio, and red for the right channel audio. The advantages are that the picture quality is greatly enhanced and you have stereo sound. However there are some disadvantages, first of all not all TV sets support it (although most these days do), and you will need to have a separate tuner because this cable can only transmit one channel at a time. This isn't a big problem for the xbox. But you will need to carry a remote for your TV and digital cable (or satellite) receiver. Even with this disadvantage the picture quality is A LOT better then coaxial. This is also analog.

3. Svideo

S-video carries only the video signal so you will still need the composite cables to send audio. The only advantage is better video quality, the video signal is broken up which gives a better picture. The only disadvantage is that it doesn’t carry audio. This is again analog.

4. Component

This is the best consumer cable out there. Like the s-video it only carries video. This cable consists of 3 cables, red, blue and green (the green is for brightness). This separates the color even more then s-video which makes the picture quality very good. However a major disadvantage is that not many TVs have this input. This is analog

5. Optical (toslink)

This cable is used for audio. This is a digital connection and this will give you surround sound. It works by sending light through a glass fiber. The major advantage is that this will give you surround sound whereas composite doesn’t. However it costs more then composite.

6. Audio coaxial

This cable is actually a composite cable that can also send surround sound just as well as optical. It is a lot cheaper then optical so this is what I would recommend. And I have no idea why it’s called audio coaxial cable when it isn't coaxial cable. This, like optical, is also digital.


SECTION 2
Which cable should I use for my TV?

Well I made a couple of scenarios; you pick the one that best describes you. Also this is just my opinion, if you don’t agree with what I say, don’t do it.



Scenario 1
You have a small TV 25in or smaller
If it has a composite cable use it, if not, coaxial is your only hope
S-video will also work but you won’t see much of difference
If you have an expensive TV that has component, use it if you already have the cable BUT DON’T GO OUT AND BUY ONE, you won’t see any difference at all!

Scenario 2
You have a peaty big TV, 25in to ~40in.
Use s-video or composite. Stay far away from coaxial
If your TV has component, you will see a change but not a big one. If you are a heavy gamer a component cable will help

Scenario 3
You have a large projection TV (non HDTV). 40 and up.
Use s-video, composite will work but it won’t look its best.
If you have component use it, you will see a difference

Scenario 4
You have an awesome HDTV projection TV
Use s-video at least, composite if you have no other choice
Go for component whenever you have the chance. Everything is very clear, beautiful, and sharp.


Some General Tips
1. the same cable is used for composite, componant and audio coaxial. So you don't have to buy a special component cable if you have a composite cable.
2. use audio coaxial instead of optical, because it is a lot cheaper
3. using a Monster Power platinum coated cable is no better then a cheap brandless cable when it comes to digital signals,

Also if you see anything wrong with this tutorial or if you would like to add something just send me a pm or email me, I will fix it ASAP.

Good Luck

This post has been edited by sparkac: Oct 21 2003, 11:59 PM

[Wiz]

BNC is the name of the connector itself, it has little to do with what signal is being handled by the cable it is on.

BNC connectors are _usually_ used in higher end equipment such as projectors. But that kind of eqipment uses them from everything from composite (all video signal in ONE cable, usually a coaxial type) to RGB and Component (3 to 4 or in some cases even 5 cables)

Coaxial is the type of cable, BNC or RCA is what the connectors at the ends are called (or "plugs" if you will)

In order of video quality the list is this, from worst to best
1. RF (a radio signal transmitting video, if you amplify it you have your own TV station.
Cable: one Coaxial cable
2. Composite video, a "composite" or "mix" of all the separate signals that is needed to make a video image.
Cable: One Coaxial cable
3. S-Video (has nothing to do with SVHS that is a VCR standard)
Cable: Usually Two coaxial cables if the cable is of better quality
4.Component, components of the video are transmitted by individual Coaxial cables
Cable: Usually 3 coaxial cables
5. RGB with sync, the components of the video signal are transmitted separately (more so than for component video)
Cables: Usually 4 coaxial cables
6. RGB with two separate syncs (I only mention it here, since the signal is not available and have to be extracted, which is basically what your TV/Projector does anyway so it wont add to quality unless you can tap into it in the xbox someplace).
Cable: 5 separate coaxial cables.



All the above is the way it normally is done, cable manufacturers make cables in all sorts of ways and sometimes bundles signals in special cables (usually a lot of coaxial cables bundles together in one single cable)

Generally the quality gets better the more separate signals you can find (in the hardware on the xbox in this case) before they gets mixed into more complex signals. At the reciever end, the less decoding you need to do to separate all the signals again (for showing) the more of the original quality is kept.

Coaxial once and for all is nothing but a cable design, as you see above it is the most commonly used type of cable used for ANY audio/video signal. Yes the analog audio is also using coaxial cable for the most part.
Coaxial means "common axis" nothing else.

Hope the worst->best list works as a guide to what you could use in your own xbox cabling. The above is ONLY about the cables, nothing about where you live and what TV system you have there, or any practical issues like if you are able to actually find an input on your TV/Projector or whatnot.

Rgds,