Video, Audio, Phone, and Network Cable Descriptions

Video + Audio

Cable name	Used for	Image	Quality
HDMI High Definition Multimedia Interface	100% Digital Video and Audio signal in 1 cable Supports Dolby 5.1 Surround sound Most HDMI cables support 4K		Best Possible Signal
Component Video w/Composite Audio	Five wires standard Video: Red, green and blue bands on white connector for HD Video Audio:  Red and white bands on black connectors for audio Audio cables support stereo and (analog) Surround Sound Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround not supported Does not support 4K A Digital audio connection is needed for Dolby Digital 5.1		Video:  Excellent Audio: Good
Composite Video + Audio	Audio/Phono: two cables Video: one cable Jacks are color-coded Yellow = Video (Not HD) Red = Right Audio White = Left Audio		Video: Good Audio: Good
3.5mm to Composite + phono R/L cable A.K.A. "Breakout" Cable	Used with some versions of TiVo Minis that only have one output port for all three signals 3.5mm (1/8 inch) jack on one end (yellow) Color-coded jacks on the other end Yellow = Video (Not  HD) Red = Right Audio White = Left Audio		Video: Good Audio: Good
Coaxial RG-6 dual-, tri- or quad-shielded	Audio Video Internet (cable modem)		Functional

 

Video Only: separate audio jack needed

Cable name	Used for	Image	Quality
DVI / DVI-I / DVI-D Digital Visual Interface	Video: one cable Used for LCD monitors and video cards Does not support 4K		Excellent
VGA / DB15 / HD15 Video Graphics Array	Video: one cable Used for PC monitors, HDTV, plasma TVs, DVD players Does not support 4K		Excellent
Component Video / YPbPr	Video: three cables Jacks are color-coded Red, green and blue ends or colored bands Does not support 4K		Excellent
3.5mm to Component cable A.K.A. "Breakout" Cable	Video: three to one cable Used with some versions of TiVo Minis that only have one output port for all three color video signals 3.5mm (1/8 inch) green jack on one end Color-coded jacks on the other end Red Green Blue Does not support 4K		Excellent
S-Video / Y/C Video / SVHS Video Short for Super-Video	Video: one cable Video signal is split into two pieces, one for color or chrominance, and another for brightness or luminance Splitting the signal produces sharper images Does not work for HD Signal		Very Good

Audio Only

Cable name(s)	Used for	Image	Quality
Optical SPDIF aka Digital SPDIF, Toslink Sony/Philips Digital Interface	Audio (1 cable) Supports Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound		Best Possible Signal
SPDIF/ Digital Audio / Coaxial SPDIF Sony/Philips Digital Interface	Audio: one cable S/PDIF stands for Supports Dolby 5.1 Surround sound		Excellent

Voice / Data Connections

Cable name(s)	Used for	Image	Quality/Speed
Ethernet cables a.k.a. Category 5 / Cat5 Category 5E / Cat5E Category 6 / Cat6 (GigEthernet)	Can be used for Voice or Data 4 pairs of wires More twists per foot (the more twists, the less interference)		Cat5: Good /100Mbps Cat5E: Excellent /1000Mbps Cat6: Excellent /1000Mbps
Category 3 / Cat3	Voice or DSL only May have either 2 or 4 pairs of wires Less twists per foot than Cat 5 cable		Good 10 Mbps