Video, Audio, Phone, and Network Cable Descriptions

Video + Audio

Cable name(s)	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	5 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  (2 cables) Video (1 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(s)	Used for	Image	Quality
DVI / DVI-I / DVI-D  (Digital Visual Interface)	Video (1 cable) Used for LCD monitors and video cards   Does not support 4K		Excellent
VGA / DB15 / HD15 (Video Graphics Array)	Video (1 cable) Used for PC monitors, HDTV, plasma TVs, DVD players  Does not support 4K		Excellent
Component Video /  YPbPr	Video (3 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 (3 to 1 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) jack on one end (green) 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 (1 cable) Video signal is split into two pieces, one for color (chrominance), and another for brightness (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 (1 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