DVI Connection DVI (Digital Visual Interface):
Offers a high-bandwidth, digital-to-digital video connection that bypasses 
the digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversions necessary between
components with only component video connections. Eliminating the undesirable
artifacts of such conversions results in a more faithful reproduction of the
original signal. DVI connections may optionally incorporate the High
Definition Content Protection (HDCP) protocol, enabling them to pass 
copy-protected digital broadcast content (if this capability is present, 
it's usually indicated by the designations "DVI-HDCP" or "DVI with HDCP"). 
HDMI Connection Essentially a more evolved version of DVI, HDMI 
(High-Definition Multimedia Interface) adds digital audio transmission 
to provide a convenient, one-cable solution to digital A/V connectivity. 
It offers significantly greater bandwidth than DVI, enabling it to transmit
higher-definition uncompressed digital video signals, and establishes a 
platform for the transfer of future as well as current display formats. 
And it does all this using a single cable, with a smaller, sleeker connector
than DVI. Unlike DVI, all HDMI connections are equipped with the High 
Definition Content Protection (HDCP) protocol, enabling them to pass 
copy-protected digital broadcast content. HDMI is backward-compatible 
with DVI, meaning that if your source component is equipped with a DVI 
connection and your display has HDMI (or vice-versa), you'll be able to 
convert the video portion of the signal via an adapter, while maintaining
the integrity of all-digital signal transfer. However, since DVI makes no 
provision for audio signals, you'll need to establish separate audio 
connections when converting from either connection to the other. 

IEEE-1394 Connection (aka FireWire, iLink): 
IEEE-1394 is a standard (approved by the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers) designed for the high-speed exchange of information
between PCs and consumer electronics devices that transfer large amounts 
of data. To date, IEEE-1394 connectivity has been primarily used to connect
digital camcorders to PCs for video editing, but certain high-end TV
manufacturers (such as Mitsubishi) have begun incorporating it as an
all-purpose digital A/V connection. The connection also carries control
information, enabling the seamless coordination of multiple A/V devices —
especially when optionally piggybacked with the complementary HAVi (Home Audio
Video interoperability) specification. In theory, up to 63 compatible devices
may be daisy-chained to a central control device (and operated using a single
remote!) using IEEE-1394. 

RGB Connection: 
Familiar to PC users, this connection can carry video image data in a variety
of formats and resolutions, and is often labeled according to these formats
(VGA, SVGA and XGA are the most common 4:3 formats; WVGA, WSVGA and WXGA are
their widescreen counterparts). RGB connectivity is becoming increasingly
common on high-end TVs as well, facilitating what's commonly referred to as
"digital convergence": the integration of formerly separate systems (such as
your PC and your home entertainment system) via a single common display
device. In other words, you can now compute using your TV as a monitor (and 
your home theater audio system instead of computer speakers) — particularly
exciting news for avid computer gamers. 

Component Video Connection: 
Though inferior to the digital connections listed above, component video is
superior to both S-video and composite video because it provides improved
color  purity, superior color detail, and a reduction in color noise and NTSC
artifacts. The 3-plug video output of a DVD player sends/receives the
luminance (Y) and 2 color signals, each on a separate colored RCA cable. 

S-Video Connection: 
An S-video connection is much better than a composite video connection, but it
is not as good as component video. This higher quality video input/output
segregates chrominance (color) and luminance (light) signals for excellent
reproduction from high-quality video sources such as S-VHS, Hi8 and DVD
players. 

Composite Video Connection: 
A composite video connection is a direct video connection using an RCA-type
plug and jack; it's superior to the RF type of connection but inferior to
S-video and component video. 

Coaxial Digital Connection: 
Making a digital connection (optical or coaxial) between your receiver and 
DVD player or CD player is a great option. A digital stream sends unprocessed
sound information to your receiver (which, as a general rule, has a better
digital-to-analog signal processor than a DVD or CD player) to be decoded 
and amplified. (In the case of SACD or DVD-Audio players, a 5.1-channel 
analog connection is necessary.) A coaxial digital connection sends signals
electrically, as opposed to optically. This is not to be confused with an 
RF cable, which is sometimes called coaxial. 

Optical Digital Audio Connection: 
Making a digital connection (optical or coaxial) between your receiver and 
DVD player or CD player is a great option. A digital stream sends unprocessed
sound information to your receiver (which, as a general rule, has a better
digital-to-analog signal processor than a DVD or CD player) to be decoded 
and amplified. (In the case of SACD or DVD-Audio players, a 5.1-channel analog
connection is necessary.) An optical digital connection sends signals in the
form of light, as opposed to electrically. Optical cables have the advantage
of being immune to EM and RF interference. 

5.1-Channel Audio Connection: 
A 5.1-channel analog audio connection sends processed audio signals (as
opposed to the raw audio data sent via a digital audio cable) from your SACD,
DVD-Audio or DVD player with a built-in Dolby Digital or DTS decoder to a home
theater receiver (with 5.1-channel inputs) for amplification. It is the only
way to enjoy multichannel SACD or DVD-Audio discs. Quality cables provide
shielding and improved signal transfer, resulting in premium performance from
your components. A total of 6 cables is required. We recommend an all-in-one
cable that's specifically designed for dedicated use in 5.1-channel
applications, but 3 sets of very-high-quality stereo audio cables with RCA
connectors, in identical lengths, will also do the job. 

Stereo Audio Connection: 
Stereo audio cables provide basic 2-channel audio connectivity between your
VCR, CD player or DVD player and your home theater receiver (or the audio
inputs on your stereo TV, in the case of your DVD player or VCR, if you don't
have a receiver). They provide a better signal transfer than coaxial RF A/V
connections, but a digital connection is vastly superior. 
Coaxial RF Connection Coaxial RF cable connects your cable box or digital 
satellite box to your TV. It can also be used to connect a VCR to your TV
(but A/V cables are preferable). If your TV only has coaxial RF inputs, you 
can use a video switcher and RF modulator to hook up advanced sources like 
DVD players or home gaming systems (but picture and sound quality is not 
nearly as good as with A/V, S-video or component video connections).
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