A digital video recorder records digital versions of live television broadcasts. A DVR has many methods for connecting audio and video signals to a TV. To make sure a DVR is compatible with your TV, make sure they have compatible audio and video connectors. Several types of connectors are available. If your TV and DVR each have at least one of these connectors, you can connect them.
Coaxial Cable
A coaxial cable is a circular cable with a thin, inner wire. These are traditionally used to connect cable television boxes to the house cable wire.
RCA Cables
RCA cables are three cables in one. They have a video cable, a stereo audio left channel cable and a stereo audio right channel cable.
S-Video
S-Video cables are multi-pronged cables that produce crisper images than RCA cables. They only transmit video, so an additional audio connection must be made. If a television or DVR has an S-Video connector, it will also have stereo audio RCA connectors.
Component Video and Audio Connectors
Component cables are similar to RCA cables but feature three video cables, each of which contains a different color channel. These cables are capable of higher image quality than S-Video.
HDMI
High-definition multimedia interface sends audio and video data as uncompressed digital data. This connection is capable of displaying very high quality images and full surround sound. If your television and DVR have this connector, you should use it preferentially to the other connectors.
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- Pacific Cable: HDMI Tutorial
- S-Video: Comparisons of Composite to S-Video Adapters
- ABCCables: Is There a Difference Between RGB and Component?
