| You're thrilled to have that new HDTV and Hi-Definition | | | | this connection. |
| DVD player. For many, the excitement of purchase | | | | In order to help you get the most out of your new |
| dims when they arrive home and see the multitude of | | | | HDTV, consider the following scenarios. |
| cords and multi-colored jacks, knowing that they must | | | | 1) In this scenario you want to hook-up a brand new |
| be correctly connected in order to make your Home | | | | HDTV with a new Blu-Ray DVD player. A single HDMI |
| Theater system function properly. No doubt hooking up | | | | cable is all that is needed to connect these devices. |
| your Home Theater system can be a challenge, | | | | This will maximize the quality of sound and video |
| especially if you don't know which cables will give you | | | | passing between the Blu-ray and the HDTV. Also, this |
| the best quality. | | | | is the only cable required to connect these two |
| Almost all of the new HDTVs found in today's market | | | | components, excluding power plugs. |
| have multiple connections on the back of each unit. | | | | 2) For this example you want to connect a brand new |
| These are some of the connections you might see on | | | | HDTV, a new Blu-ray DVD player, and a full surround |
| the back of your new HDTV. | | | | sound system. The best way to connect these three |
| Analog coaxial RF Connection: This is a "legacy" | | | | devices, provided the Surround A/V Receiver has |
| connection found on all older TVs. It is the poorest | | | | HDMI input/output capability, is to use a short HDMI |
| quality TV connection. This is a connection that | | | | cable from the Blu-ray to the A/V Receiver and run a |
| transports both an audio and a video signal in a purely | | | | longer HDMI cable from the A/V Receiver's output to |
| analog format. | | | | the HDTV. This allows the receiver to switch the HDMI |
| Composite Video: This is the yellow jack that is | | | | connections and is especially useful if your new HDTV |
| located on the back of your TV, and it passes Analog | | | | only has one HDMI jack and you have multiple pieces |
| video only. This single cable has both Chrominance and | | | | of equipment with HDMI jacks that you want to |
| Luminance portions of a video signal and can pass up | | | | connect. It will also make it possible for the A/V |
| to 480 interlaced lines of resolution. | | | | Receiver to use the digital Audio track from the |
| S-Video: This is a small 4-pin jack that is located on | | | | Blu-ray player in order to give you mind-blowing |
| the rear of your television. It is an upgrade in terms of | | | | surround sound when playing your new Blu-ray DVDs. |
| image quality on your television because S-Video | | | | 3) In this instance you want to connect a DVD player |
| separates the Chrominance and Luminance portions of | | | | with an older HDTV and a surround sound system. |
| a video signal, which increases the quality of your | | | | When you go about connecting these items, the first |
| video image. S-Video is a connection that sends an | | | | thing to do is check what type of video connections |
| analog signal with resolution of up to 480 interlaced | | | | your DVD player and HDTV have. Check Scenario 2 |
| lines of resolution. | | | | if your HDTV has a DVI or HDMI connection and your |
| Component Video: The red, blue, and green RCA | | | | DVD player has either connections. If the HDTV's best |
| jacks on the back on your TV make up this | | | | connection is a DVI connection and your DVD player |
| connection. The signal for this does not have Audio, | | | | has HDMI, a simple conversion cable can help to |
| and it is an Analog only signal. The Luminance and 2 | | | | convey the digital Video signal to the HDTV. To pass |
| colors are separated in this connection by component | | | | the digital Audio portion of your signal from your DVD |
| video, which results in true High Definition image quality. | | | | player to your A/V Receiver, you need either a |
| Component Video connections allow 1080 progressive | | | | Coaxial Digital (the orange jack on you're A/V |
| lines of resolution (1080p/FullHD) to be passed. | | | | Reciever) or a Toslink Optical (the small square jack |
| DVI: Digital Video Interface has a true digital video | | | | that says 'optical on the A/V Reciver). |
| connection, but no audio. This type of connection was | | | | If you use one of the set-ups that have been |
| the Hi-Def standard until recently and provides up to | | | | described here, you will have an optimal connection, |
| 1080 progressive lines of resolution. | | | | making all of your Hi-Definition equipment work |
| High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI): This | | | | together. But there are many different ways to |
| connection allows a solo connection between your | | | | configure the equipment beyond what is listed here. If |
| auxiliary equipment and HDTV. It is a fully digital Audio | | | | none of the above cases fit your situation, read the |
| and Video connection. Almost all new HDTV's provide | | | | manufacturer's manuals supplied with the equipment. |