HDMI
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HDMI stands for high definition multimedia interface and it’s what is needed to get the best quality or picture and sound when using high definition components such as a television, Blu-ray player or game console. HDMI cables run video and audio elements from your device to your television, so you don't have to worry about stringing multiple cords.
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There are many different types of HDMI cables, at different prices and different qualities. You don't have to overspend for a quality HDMI cable, but you should take a couple things into consideration. Where is this cable going to be used? If your cable is going to be run behind walls, stretched, pulled, or possibly kinked- look for a durable cable with a strong outer coating.
Sewell offers 2 lines of HDMI cables. Our standard line is perfect for every day use, while our Premium line of HDMI cables feature 5 layers of protection for more strenuos applications. you can see the 5 layers in the illustration here-
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DVI
DVI stands for Digital Video Interface and was introduced to provide a digital signal to flat screen computer monitors. DVI is the successor to VGA, the analog display signal used in earlier CRT monitors. DVI comes in 3 flavors, but DVI-D is the only fully digital connection (the DVI interface supports both digital and analog signals).
Identification
All three variations of DVI cables are very similar in appearance but all of them feature unique characteristics. The easiest way to identify a DVI-D cable is to look for a small horizontal pin on the left side of the male connection. If there are no pins above or below the horizontal pin, then the cable is a DVI-D cable. If there are 4 pins surrounding the horizontal pin, then the cable is either DVI-A or DVI-I.
DVI-D
Of all the DVI connections, DVI-D are the most beneficial as it uses only a digital signal, for the smoothest video transfer. When using analog cables such as DVI-A, DVI-I, and VGA- your device and display have to convert the signal from digital to analog and then back to digital, slowing the transfer and impacting the signal quality. That’s why you should try and use DVI-D cables whenever possible.
Dual-Link
To further complicate selecting DVI cables, there is one more variation among DVI cables. DVI cables use a digital signal transmitter to send your video signal across the cable. Some DVI cables feature 2 transmitters for added speed and efficiency; these cables are called Dual-Link DVI cables. Look for these to give you the highest quality video transfer.
VGA
VGA, the predecessor to DVI was the standard of monitor connections since it was introduced in 1987, but is still widely popular today. Most popular in older CRT monitors, the interface is still common as an alternate connection in flat screens today. Many computers from recent years will still only feature a VGA output rather than the newer DVI or HDMI connections, and is still adequate for most applications. While VGA is an analog signal, it is transferred back to a digital signal when it gets to your display, so you won’t see a loss in signal quality at most screen resolutions.
S-Video
S-Video is commonly known under a variety of alternate names. Names like: Separate Video, Y/C, S-VHS, and Super Video. Analog video signal is transmitted across an S-Video cable on two channels: Luma (luminance, intensity) and Chroma (color). This is in contrast to the lower quality single channel composite video signal and the higher quality component video, which is encoded across three channels.
S-Video connections have been popular across a huge range of devices, including: TVs, DVD players, DVRs, and graphics cards. For the most part these connections have since been replaced by newer standards like HDMI and DVI. Even though S-Video is losing popularity among consumer products, there are plenty of those older devices out there running strong.
Composite RCA
Composite video is an analog video signal usually featuring a yellow RCA type connector. All required video information is run through the single cable. This connection can be found unaccompanied by other cables, but is more commonly found with attached white and red connectors. The red and white connectors handle the left and right stereo audio channels. This is what you will typically find on TV/DVD/VCR connections.
Component 5 RCA
Unlike composite video, component video connections split up the video signal across 2 or more components. Component signal most commonly refers to a cable set of 3 RCA plugs in red, blue, and green. This cable set is also referred to as YPbPr cable. YPbPr refers to the color space used in this particular kind of component video cable. Referring to YPbPr Component cable simply as “component cable” is technically imprecise but is a popular term in the product space.
Component cables are capable of high definition resolutions in HDTVs and video players. Component cables are able to reproduce full color HD signal because of the direct video information transfer to device to display.
5 RCA Component cables refer to the added 2 audio cables (left/right stereo) to the 3 video cables. YPbPr Component cables are also available in cable sets without the left and right audio and you can find those below.
Component 3 RCA
Unlike composite video, component video connections split up the video signal across 2 or more components. Component signal most commonly refers to a cable set of 3 RCA plugs in red, blue, and green. This cable set is also referred to as YPbPr cable. YPbPr refers to the color space used in this particular kind of component video cable. Referring to YPbPr Component cable simply as “component cable” is technically imprecise but is a popular term in the product space.
Component cables are capable of high definition resolutions in HDTVs and video players. Component cables are able to reproduce full color HD signal because of the direct video information transfer to device to display.
3 RCA Component cables lack the 2 audio cables (left/right stereo) found in 5 RCA component cables. These cables run the video signal only across the 3 RCA connections for YPbPr signal. If you’re looking to simultaneously run audio signal you can find those in a 5 RCA Component cable above.
Coaxial RG6
RG6 is a common type of Coaxial cable. The most common application for RG6 coaxial cable with this particular type of connector (F-connector) is in cable television. RG6 is used for cable television connections because it features low loss over long lengths of cable, so your signal will come out with the best quality picture.
