Connections

To get the most out of your Home Cinema System it is extremely important that you use the correct connections; otherwise you may find that your new equipment is under performing. Below are some brief examples of visual and audio connections that are commonly found on Home Cinema equipment.

SCREEN CONNECTORS
Your screen will include a range of connections usually at the rear bottom end of the screen. Placement of connectors here means that the screen can be wall mounted and the connections will still be accessible.

HDMI (also includes audio)

DVI (digital like HDMI but no audio)

Component

SCART (also includes audio)

S-Video

Composite

VIDEO CABLES

1. HDMI
The best available connection type for Digital Video signals. It also combines Digital Audio. An alternative is DVI which only caters for Digital Video. DVI to HDMI and vice versa adaptor are available. The new SKY HD box includes an HDMI connector for easy installation with HD Ready Plasma Screens

2. Component
Until HDMI, this was the best commonly available connection type for visual signals. Component is a high-grade video signal that separates the 3 basic components of a video signal. The typical connectors are three RCA Jacks with green, blue and red markings. This system is used primarily on DVD players and enables you to get the sharpest pictures.

3. SCART
The RGB SCART is a one-plug route to high-quality video, which takes picture and analogue sound from the system to the screen. This is currently the most commonly used type of connection because of it combines visual and audio and it available on nearly all Home Cinema equipment.

4. S-Video
This cable carries a higher quality signal than a composite cable. However, in order to use this type of cable, both connecting products require a dedicated s-video input/output. In some cases, the s-video signal is carried via the Scart connection, in this instance, the cable will consist of a connector as above on one end and a Scart on the other. An S-video cable carries the picture signal only. Therefore, in addition to an s-video cable, you will also require two phono cables to carry the audio.

5. Composite/ RF Aerial
You may also have a number of composite cables lying around, but composite video is poor quality in comparison to Component and SCART and is only used as a last resort. In no circumstances is it recommended to run a plasma or LCD with composite video, due to the fact that it will only feed approximately 250 lines and the picture will be so bad you will kick yourself for buying a decent screen.
Normal cables are Male to Female but you can also get Male to Male and Female to Female composite cables.

6. PC Connections
Most screens also feature a ‘SVGA monitor’ type PC connector for connecting a PC or Media Centre. A standard monitor type cable is used to connect the PC to this port.

AUDIO CABLES

1. Digital Optical
This connection uses fibre optical cable that transfers digital audio signals to a surround sound amplifier. Optical cables can carry digital 5.1 sound and should be used if available.

2. Digital Coaxial
An alternative to optical that carries digital sound to the amplifier.

3. Analogue Phono/RCA
Prior to digital sound, Phono / RCA cables were commonly used, but like composite visual cables, these should only be used as a last resort because they only capable of carrying analogue sound.

ADAPTERS/ REPLICATORS

Adaptors are used to connect two different types of ports eg. SCART to composite.

Switchers/ Replicators allow you to increase the number of connectors or split connectors so that multiple devices can remain connected to one port.

Multi-Scart connector
This is useful in that it allows multiple devices to connect to a single SCART port. Most adaptors auto select the output which has been switched on last, whilst with others there is a manual switch.

An alternative way of connecting more than one video source to a single SCART is to use pass through method if your video source has both SCART-IN and SCART-OUT ports.

EXAMPLE SET-UP

Typical Set-Up using 5.1 Surround Sound

Connections
1. RF lead (aerial) from external aerial to feed the digital and analogue signal to your set top box
2. RF lead to carry the analogue signal from your set top box to your DVD Recorder
3. RF lead to feed the analogue signal from your DRD Recorder to your set top box
4. Scart connection to allow you to watch DVDs played on your DVD Recorder
5. Scart connection to allow you to watch and record from your set top box
6. Scart or Video phono cable (depending on your model of Surround System) carry video from the Surround System to the TV
7. Optical or Coaxial cable to carry the 5.1 audio from your DVD Recorder to your Surround System
8 Audio phono cable to carry your TVs sound to the Surround System
To Use

To watch DVDs played on your DVD recorder, select AV2 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control

To watch a tape from your VCR, select AV2 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control and set the DVD Recorder to line 3 using the input select button

To record from your VCR, using the input select on your DVD Recorder's remote control, select Line 3 then follow the instructions in your DVD Recorder's instruction manual on how to record

To watch video from your Surround System, select AV1 on your TV by using the input select button on your TV remote

To listen to the audio from your DVD Recorder or TV through the Surround Systems speakers press the function button on your remote until the relevant input is selected (e.g. to listen to the TV in the diagram above you would press Function until Video 1 was displayed)

Advanced Set-Up using Amplifier and 5.1 surround Sound

To watch DVDs played on your DVD recorder, select AV2 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control

To watch a tape from your VCR, select AV2 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control and set the DVD Recorder to line 3 using the input select button

To record from your VCR, using the input select on your DVD Recorder's remote control, select Line 3 then follow the instructions in your DVD Recorder's instruction manual on how to record

To watch video from your Surround System, select AV1 on your TV by using the input select button on your TV remote

To listen to the audio from your DVD Recorder or TV through the Surround Systems speakers press the function button on your remote until the relevant input is selected (e.g. to listen to the TV in the diagram above you would press Function until Video 1 was displayed)