Audio and video interfaces and connectors

DisplayPort carries digital audio and video, as well

as auxiliary information

Audio connectors and video connectors are electrical

connectors (or optical connectors) for carrying audio signal and video signal, of either analog or digital format.
Analog A/V connectors often use shielded cables to inhibit radio frequency interference (RFI) and noise.

Mini DisplayPort smaller form factor of display port

that performs the same function

The existence of many dierent audio and video standards necessitates the denition of hardware interfaces,
which dene the physical characteristics of the connections between electrical equipment. This includes the
types and numbers of wires required along with the
strength and frequency of the signal. It also includes the
physical design of the plugs and sockets.

Thunderbolt
Unied Display Interface (UDI)
Mobile High-Denition Link (MHL)
F connectors are used with RF modulators for
televisions without direct inputs

An interface may dene a connector that is used only

by that interface (e.g., DVI) or may dene a connector
that is also used by another interface; for example, RCA
connectors are dened both by the composite video and
component video interfaces.

SCART, now the most common in Europe

TRS phone connectors with more than one ring, or

Sony's hybrid RCA with a TRS pin
Since both analog and digital signals are used with some
styles of connectors, knowledge of the interface used is
Coaxial
cable/RG-6/RG-59/Cable
television
necessary for a successful transfer of signals. Some in(CATV)
terface types use only a distinctive connector or family of
connectors, to ensure compatibility. Especially with analog interfaces, physically interchangeable connectors may Other composite connectors that carry video, audio,
not carry compatible signals.
power, and USB:
Some of these connectors, and other types of connectors,
are also used at radio frequency (RF) to connect a radio
ADC, now-defunct Apple Display Connector
or television receiver to an antenna or to a cable system;
RF connector applications are not further described here.
Apple 30-pin dock connector, a docking cradle for
Apple iPod, iPhone and iPad

Interfaces and their connectors

Interfaces

Multiple signals

Portable Digital Media Interface (PDMI) - includes

DisplayPort for digital video and audio, analog audio, USB 3.0, and power

3.1 S/PDIF

The electrical coaxial cable (with RCA jacks) or optical

Some connectors can carry both audio and video signals
bre (TOSLINK).
simultaneously:
Note that there are no dierences in the signals trans HDMI combines DVI-compliant uncompressed mitted over optical or coaxial S/PDIF connectorsboth
video data with compressed or uncompressed audio, carry exactly the same information. Selection of one over
and supports other protocols.
the other rests mainly on the availability of appropriate
connectors on the chosen equipment and the preference
FireWire is used on Camcorders, commonly ones
and convenience of the user. Connections longer than 6
using MiniDV tapes, and high-end audio equipment.
meters or so, or those requiring tight bends, should use
Digital Media Port a connector proposed by Sony on coaxial cable, since the high light signal attenuation of
its audio/video products
TOSLINK cables limits its eective range.
1

3 MULTIPLE SIGNALS
Unlike Point-to-Point connections listed above, IEEE
1394 is able to host several signals on the same wire, with
the data delivered and shown on the destination set. It
is also fully bi-directional, with its full bandwidth used
in one direction or the other, or split directions up to its
maximum.[2]

3.4 DisplayPort

19

20

15

17

18

16

13

14

12

10

11

pinout_caption=External connector (source-side) on PCB

HDMI Type A socket

3.2

HDMI

DisplayPort is a digital display interface standard (approved May 2006, current version 1.1a approved on January 11, 2008). It denes a new license-free, royalty-free,
digital audio/video interconnect, intended to be used primarily between a computer and its display monitor, or a
computer and a home-theater system.

High-Denition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a compact audio/video standard for transmitting uncompressed The video signal is not compatible with DVI or HDMI,
but a DisplayPort connector can pass these signals
digital data.
through. DisplayPort is a competitor to the HDMI conThere are three HDMI connector types. Type A and Type nector, the de facto digital connection for high-denition
B were dened by the HDMI 1.0 specication. Type C consumer electronics devices.
was dened by the HDMI 1.3 specication.
Type A is electrically compatible with single link DVI-D.
Type B is electrically compatible with dual link DVI-D 3.5 Combined audio/video interfaces
but has not yet been used in any products.
Some connectors can carry both audio and video signals
simultaneously:

3.3

IEEE 1394 FireWire

Digital Media Port a connector proposed by Sony on
its audio/video products
Unied Display Interface (UDI)
SCART, now the most common in Europe

The 6-circuit and 4-circuit alpha FireWire 400 connectors

IEEE 1394 FireWire is a digital data transfer protocol

commonly used for digital cameras (common on MiniDV
tape camcorders), but also used for computer data and
audio data transfers. In the United States, cable TV converter set top boxes by law[1] also have the connection for
transferring content directly to a TV (if equipped with a
port) or computer for viewing. 1394 can also use coaxial
cable as a medium for longer runs.

Other composite connectors that carry video, audio,

power, and USB:
ADC, now-defunct Apple Display Connector
Apple 30-pin dock connector, a docking cradle for
Apple iPod, iPhone and iPad
Portable Digital Media Interface (PDMI) - includes
DisplayPort for digital video and audio, analog audio, USB 3.0, and power

4.1

Phone connector

Audio connectors

Audio connectors are used for audio frequencies. They

can be analog or digital.
Single-wire connectors used frequently for analog audio
include:
Banana connectors
Spade connectors
Five-way binding posts and banana plugs for
loudspeakers
Fahnestock clips on early breadboard radio receivers.
2.5 mm (3/32) mono (TS), 3.5 mm (1/8) mono and stereo

Euroblock European-style terminal block or (TRS), and 6.3 mm (1/4) stereo (TRS) phone connectors
Phoenix connectors, screw terminal connectors
used for audio and control signals

4.1 Phone connector

Multi-conductor connectors:

Main article: Phone connector (audio)

DB25 is for multi-track recording and other A phone connector (tip, ring, sleeve) also called an audio
jack, phone plug, jack plug, stereo plug, mini-jack, or
multi-channel audio, analog or digital
mini-stereo. This includes the original 6.35mm (quarter
DIN connectors and mini-DIN connectors
inch) jack and the more recent 3.5mm (miniature or 1/8
Euroblock European-style terminal block or inch) and 2.5mm (subminiature) jacks, both mono and
Phoenix connectors, screw terminal connec- stereo versions.
tors used for audio and control signals
RCA connectors, also known as phono con4.2
nectors or phono plugs, used for analog or digital audio or analog video
Speakon connectors
loudspeakers

by

Neutrik

DIN

for

Phone connector also known as tip-ring-sleeve

(TRS) or tip-sleeve plug, phone plug, jack
plug, mini-jack, and mini-stereo. This includes the original 6.35mm (quarter inch) jack
and the more recent and standard 3.5mm
(miniature or 1/8 inch) and 2.5mm (subminiature) jacks, both mono and stereo (balanced)
versions.[3]
XLR connectors, also known as Cannon plugs, Five-pin male 180 DIN connector
used for analog or digital balanced audio with
a balanced line
A DIN connector is a connector that was originally standardized by the Deutsches Institut fr Normung (DIN).
Mini-DIN is a variation.
Digital audio interfaces and interconnects:
ADAT interface (DB25)
AES/EBU interface, normally with XLR connector

4.3 BNC

The BNC (Bayonet Neill Concelman) connector is a very

S/PDIF, either over electrical coaxial cable common type of RF connector used for terminating coax(with RCA jacks) or optical ber (TOSLINK). ial cable.

5 VIDEO CONNECTORS
XLR connector are also known as Cannon plugs after
their original manufacturer. They are used for analog or
digital balanced audio with a balanced line
Digital audio interfaces and interconnects with the
AES/EBU interface also normally use an XLR connector.

4.6 RCA

Male 50 ohm BNC connector

4.4

TOSLINK

RCA Plugs for composite video (yellow) and stereo audio (white
and red)

RCA connectors, also known as phono connectors or

phono plugs, are used for analog or digital audio or analog video. These were rst used inside pre-World-War-II
radio-phonographs to connect the turntable pickup to the
radio chassis. They were not intended to be disconnected
and reconnected frequently, and their retaining friction
was quite sucient for their original purpose. Furthermore, the design of both cable and chassis connectors was
for minimum cost. Initially intended for audio frequency
Clear TOSLINK cable with a round connector
connections only, the RCA plug was also used for analog
composite video and non-critical radio-frequency appliTOSLINK or Optical Cable is a standardized optical ber cations.
connection system.

4.5

XLR

5 Video connectors
Main article: List of video connectors
Video connectors carry only video signals. Common
video-only connectors include:
Component video aka YPbPr (3 RCA or BNC; or
D-Terminal)
Composite video (1 RCA, Antenna socket, or BNC)
DB13W3 (13W3 computer video connector)

XLR3 cable connectors, female on left and male on right

DMS-59, single connector carrying two DVI and

two VGA

XLR connector plugs and sockets are used mostly in professional audio and video electronics cabling applications.

Musa, British connector used in broadcasting and

telecommunications

5.3

Video In Video Out

A VGA connector

mini-DIN 4 pin for S-Video

PAL connector, common in Europe as an antenna

connector
S-Video (1 Mini-DIN)
SDI - Broadcast grade digital interface over BNC
cables
VGA connector A type of D-sub connector standard
on most video cards
Mini-VGA Found on some laptop computers
5 BNC Connectors can also be used to carry the
VGA signal as R, G, B, HSync, VSync
Digital Visual Interface (DVI) A hybrid analog/digital connector commonly found on PC graphDA, DB, DC, DD, and DE sized connectors
ics cards and LCD monitors
Mini-DVI Found on some Apple laptops
Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA)
RGB interface
RGBI interface

connectors used in computers. The DB25 is used for

multi-track recording and other multi-channel audio, analog or digital (ADAT interface (DB25)).

5.3 Video In Video Out

VESA Digital Flat Panel

5.1

Mini-DIN

The Mini-DIN connectors are a family of multi-pin electrical connectors used in a variety of applications. MiniDIN is similar to the larger, older DIN connector. Both A graphics card with VGA, VIVO and DVI outputs
are standards of the Deutsches Institut fr Normung, the
German standards body.
Video In Video Out, usually seen as the acronym VIVO
(commonly pronounced vee-voh), is a graphics card port
which enables some video cards to have bidirectional (in5.2 D-subminiature
put and output) video transfer through a Mini-DIN, usuD-subminiature or D-sub is a common type of electrical ally of the 9-pin variety, and a specialised splitter cable
connector used particularly in computers. Calling them (which can sometimes also transfer sound).
subminiature was appropriate when they were rst in- VIVO is found predominantly on high-end ATI video
troduced, but today they are among the largest common cards, although a few high-end NVIDIA video cards also

EXTERNAL LINKS

recommendations for IBM PC compatible personal computers, compiled by Microsoft and Intel Corporation during 19972001. PC 99 introduced a color code for the
various standard types of plugs and connectors used on
PCs.
The color codes for audio plugs follow:[4]
Though the input is often mono, the actual connector is usually still a 3-conductor TRS phone minijack.
Many mono computer microphones have 3-conductor
TRS plugs.

6.2 Video
A 6-connector VIVO splitter cable. From left to right: SVideo In, Component Pb out, Component Pr out, Component Y
out/Composite out, Composite in, S-Video Out

have this port. VIVO on these graphics cards typically

supports Composite, S-Video, and Component as outputs, and composite and S-Video as inputs. Many other
video cards only support component and/or S-Video outputs to complement Video Graphics Array or DVI, typically using a component breakout cable and an S-Video
cable.

Newer connectors are identied by their shape and not

their colour.

7 See also
Speaker wire
Category:Telecommunications standards
Computer port (hardware)
Speakon connectors

5.4

DVI Connector

Color codes

6.1

Audio

Y-cable

8 References

For computers:

[1] http://www.1394ta.org/consumers/FCC_complaint.html
All Cable TV box have working 1394 ports, FCC rule
CS Docket 97-80 and section 47 C.F.R. 76.640(b)(4)

Although the mic input is usually mono, the input is still

a TRS phone socket. Many mono 'computer' mics are
tted with TRS plugs. The tip is for the MIC and the ring
is for power (to power an electret-condenser style MIC).

[2] http://www.1394ta.org/about/HANA/HANA_
Presentation_041808.pdf Demonstrating the multidevice capabilities of IEEE A/V network.

There are exceptions to the above:

[3] 2.5mm Audio Cables

Hosa cables use grey and orange for left and right
analogue channels.
RadioShack cables sometimes use grey and black for
left and right.
Older sound cards had non-standard colour codes
until after PC99, prior to that there were no colors
at all.

[4] PC 99 System Design Guide, Intel Corporation and Microsoft Corporation, 14 July 1999. Chapter 3: PC 99
basic requirements (99 System Design Guide (Self extracting .exe). Requirement 3.18.3: Systems use a colorcoding scheme for connectors and ports. Accessed 200902-05

9 External links
Audio and Video Connector

6.1.1

PC System Design Guide audio

Older sound cards had no common standard color codes

until after PC99. The PC System Design Guide (also
known as the PC 97, PC 98, PC 99, or PC 2001 specication) is a series of hardware design requirements and

10
10.1

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

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Audio and video interfaces and connectors Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_and_video_interfaces_and_connectors?oldid=

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10.2

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10.3

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