To get the most out of your plasma or LCD TV you'll need to ensure you've got the correct connections. HD ready TVs feature either an HDMI or DVI connection allowing them to accept a digital signal from HD receiving equipment.
You need an HDMI or DVI cable to allow you to watch high definition broadcasts or to connect to your HD DVD player, Blu-ray player or PlayStation 3.
Cables make a huge difference to the audio and picture quality you experience with home cinema. Different cable types carry pictures in different ways and vary considerably in quality. Always use the highest quality options such as HDMI or component video cables to get the very best from your equipment. Cables also vary greatly in price as they are built to different standards. Expensive cables tend to feature thicker wiring and better insulation, ensuring external interference is kept to a minimum.
View the full range of home cinema cable formats and key technical differentiators here.
HD Home Theatre Cables
There are two types of cable most commonly used for connected HD devices - HDMI and DVI.
HDMI - The one-stop super cable!
The cable and connector of choice is the High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI). Using HDMI to connect all your high-definition devices, displays and components will enable you to maximise your home theatre system and experience unbelievable HD digital content. Physically a small cable with a typical diameter of 5mm, the HDMI cable features a 29-pin plug that measures 21mm wide by 5mm high - quite unlike the cumbersome SCART cable!
Why use HDMI?
All-digital connection - High quality video and audio. HDMI is the only interface to carry both uncompressed high-definition (HD) video and uncompressed multi-channel audio in all HD formats including 720p, 1080I and even upcoming 1080p. An all-digital, uncompressed signal translates into the highest quality video and audio.
A single cable connection - No more confusion, no more tangled cable mess. An HDMI cable carries both video and audio resulting in just the one cable to plug into any HDMI-enabled source and display device. This means there's no more complicated cable set-up when installing and connecting your home theatre system and no more ugly cable mess sat behind your new plasma or LCD.
Integrated remote provides simple control of your system. HDMI has a built-in intelligence that automatically configures your system on demand. With the click of a single button, your remote control can tell your HDMI-linked system which components to turn on or off to view a DVD, listen to a CD, or watch satellite TV.
Automatic format adjustment - View HD programmes in the preferred viewing format. HD content is broadcast in a variety of sizes, resolutions and formats. HDMI systems will automatically configure to display the content in the most effective format. If satellite TV content jumps from 16:9 format to standard 4:3, an HDMI-enabled TV can automatically adjust to match the ideal format.
PC compatibility - View PC data on your HDTV. HDMI-enabled devices are backwards compatible with the broad array of DVI-based PCs so you can display PC gaming or entertainment content on your HDTV.
DVI - Digital to Digital Transfer
A DVI (Digital Video Interface) cable looks like an elongated VGA cable and carries digital signals from source to compatible peripherals. DVI was originally created to enable digital-to-digital, high bandwidth data transfer between a computer and a flat screen monitor. However, because of DVIs ability to also process high-bandwidth HDTV video, interest was generated in the consumer electronics industry. DVI connections only carry pictures digitally so you will also need a separate digital audio connector.
Why use DVI?
High quality digital video. DVI is a fast way to transfer data or video content. DVI can support computer resolutions as high as 1600 x 1200 (UXGA), and the cinematic-apex, 1080p high definition format.
Superior quality images. Using DVI with a digital display device, such as a projector or flat screen monitor, will create an entirely digital-to-digital connection providing superior quality images.
Key Technical Differentiators
| HDMI | DVI | Compontent | S-Video | Scart | Composite | |
| Analogue vs. Digital | Digital | Digital | Analogue | Analogue | Analogue | Analogue |
| Video Definition | High Definition or Standard | High Definition or Standard | High Definition or Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Signals Accepted | 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i | 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i | 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i | 480i | 480i | 480i |
| No. of Conductors | 17 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 1 |
| Brightness & Colour Detail | Optimal | Optimal | Best | Better | Better | Good |
| Resolution | Optimal | Optimal | Best | Better | Better | Good |
| Audio & Video | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No |
