Audio And Video Cable Differences

The differences in audio cables and video cables are very simple. Audio cables are conductors for audio information and signals that are conducted throughout media playing devices and video cables are conductors of video information and signals that are conducted throughout media playing devices. Audio and video cables each have their own unique receptors and adaptors. Some receptors can be used for both, but there are many that can only be used for one or the other. Another simple difference is that most of them come color coded so that you can easily determine which adaptors and receptors will work best with each cable.

Audio cables and video cables are by definition electrical connectors. They are used to carry the respective signal that they are designed for. They do this by carrying the signal in either analog or digital format. Analog is the classic way that most signals were transmitted up until the late 1990's, but you'll find more digital cables are being incorporated for use with media devices these days. Most audio and video cables are shielded cables. The shielding is used to prevent noise and RF interference.

Many common audio connectors with the capability of carrying both analog and digital signals exist for your use. These include single conductor connectors, multi conductor connectors and XLR connectors, sometimes called Cannon plugs. Several others are available also for your use in connecting components such as digital audio interconnects and interfaces like AES/EBU, usually are in conjunction with XLR's, ADAT's, and S/PDIF used with RCA jacks, over coaxial cables and together with the opitcal fiber cable known as Toslink.

Multitudes of video connectors abound also, there are some fairly common ones used regularly in systems. These include those that are able to carry digital and analog signals, computer video connectors, DMS-59's that work by carrying 2 VGA and 2 DVI, composite video cables (socket antenna, BNC or 1 RCA), and DB13W3. Also in this group are PAL connectors, Musa cables used in British broadcasting, Digital Video Interface or DVI, and S-video.

The differences in audio and video cables are very simple but the multiple uses for them are very complex. Audio and video cables are truly two of the things that connect the world. They do it with vital signals, through clear sound, with visual beauty and necessary shared information. Audio and video cables have been around for decades and their simple, sound design has changed very little. This shows how essential they are to our daily lives.