As home electronics have evolved, so have the cabling requirements. Even modest entertainment centers require a number of different video cables to connect the various components. If you don’t know a coax from an HDMI, review this guide to clear up your confusion:

Coaxial Cables

Back in the days when cable TV was a luxury, everything was connected using coaxial cables. These cables were made by bundling copper wire and crimping a connector to the ends. Old televisions, VCRs and DVD players still use these connections, but it doesn’t provide the same video quality as newer products. Many homes with cable TV still use coaxial cables to deliver the incoming signal.

VGA Cables

VGA, or Video Graphics Array, cables are primarily used to connect computer monitors, but some early projection television sets also use this type of cable. VGA connectors are shaped like a trapezoid with 15 pins in the male end and 15 holes in the female end.

Component Cables

Component cables come in bundles of three to six wires depending on the usage. Each wire is color coded to match the connection point on the back of the television, VCR, DVD or gaming system. The earliest component cable included red, white and yellow wires. The red and white wires carried the audio portion of the signal separately to maintain stereo sound while the yellow wire carried the video portion. For enhanced graphics, the video signal was later separated further for finer details. The ends on each wire have a single, large pin.

DVI Cables

DVI, or Digital Video Interface, cables are used to connect video cards to external display devices. In most cases, this type of cable is used to connect a laptop to an external monitor or a television. If you choose to use a DVI cable to display images on a television, note that audio signals are not part of the signal that flows through this cable. DVI connectors are shaped like a rounded trapezoid with three rows of eight pins or holes.

HDMI Cables

HDMI, or High Definition Multimedia Interface, cables are the latest in a long series of video cables. These cables are designed to take over the industry with the cabability of carrying high-definition signals for audio, video and Internet-enabled devices. If you have an HDTV, a Blu-Ray player or digital cable, HDMI cables are a strict requirement to take advantage of the superior image quality these products are capable of delivering.

Adapters

If you’re trying to extend the life of an older piece of video equipment, you might be disappointed when you try to connect it to a brand new HDTV. Although many TVs include every type of connector ever made, some manufacturers have already started eliminating some older, outdated features. This practice not only keeps prices more affordable, but it allows high-end TVs to include more HDMI ports.

To allow the continued use of older components, a variety of adapters have been developed to connect almost anything regardless of the available ports on your TV. Although the most popular adapters are used to convert DVI signals to HDMI for computer equipment, other converters including coaxial to component and VGA to component.

Tips to Save Big When Buying Cables

Many shoppers don’t factor in the price of video cables when purchasing a new television or DVD player. When you reach the aisle with the HDMI cables for the first time, it can be shocking. It’s typical for a name-brand HDMI cable that’s only about 10 feet long to average about $50 to $60. That’s quite a departure from the older cables that never seemed to top 20 bucks. Before you’re assaulted with sticker shock, here are a few ways you can save when purchasing cables:

• Look for sales – Although cables don’t go on sale very often, you have a good chance of seeing some deep discounts during the holidays when HDTV sales are used to attract customers. Black Friday might just be the best day of the year to buy HDMI cables.
• Buy at stores with a big selection of cables – If you shop at a store that only sells one brand of cable, you’re stuck with what you find. Stores that specialize in electronics should have the biggest selection including house brands sold at a discount.
• Shop online – The best deals can sometimes be found online. If nothing else, this will allow you to compare prices on both brand-name and no-name cables to find a product that fits your budget.
• Plan ahead – If you’re desperate to get your new TV up and running, you’ll pay any price for the right cable. This is the fastest way to overspend.

Before purchasing any type of video equipment, from an HDTV to a DVD player, check to see what type of cabling is required. Next, take an inventory of the items you have on hand and shop around for anything you may need to purchase. With this plan, you’ll always know what you need to buy and get the best deal.