The latest HDTVs and video components are capable of delivering a truly spectacular picture. And today's TV makers routinely include a generous array of audio/video inputs even on small, inexpensive models — great news for those of us who remember TVs with just one back-panel input.

But a single wrong connection can seriously compromise video quality. And if you're not that familiar yet with high-definition images, you may not even realize what you're missing. In this article, we'll define the various types of connections you'll find on today's HDTVs, then we'll cover common connection scenarios.

The back panel of today's HDTVs may look intimidating, but we'll help you make the right connections for the most common video components.

Video connection types

	HDMI HDMI can carry both video and audio. Sometimes this digital connection can provide a slightly cleaner picture than a component video connection. This is especially true for non-tube-based "digital" TV types such as plasma, LCD, and DLP. The video signal can remain in its pure digital form from wherever it started all the way until it's displayed on your screen. All HDMI connections include HDCP copy protection. HDMI is backwards-compatible with most DVI connections if you use an adapter (video only; DVI doesn't carry audio). For an in-depth look at HDMI, see our HDMI connections article. Signal type: digital Maximum resolution: 1080p
	DVI This connection carries video signals only. On consumer electronics gear, DVI has largely been replaced by the newer, smaller HDMI connection (above). Size aside, the key difference between DVI and HDMI is that on older components, the DVI connection may not use HDCP copy protection, which may make it incompatible with HDMI connections. DVI connections on HDTVs and video components are sometimes listed as "DVI-D" because they can only handle digital signals. Another version of DVI called "DVI-I" is rarer on TVs but fairly common on computers, monitors, and video cards. DVI-I handles both analog and digital signals. Signal type: digital (DVI-D and DVI-I) and analog (DVI-I) Maximum resolution: 1080p
	Component video The three-jack component video connection splits the video signal into three parts (one brightness and two color signals). This analog connection delivers an extremely accurate picture with clearer color reproduction and less bleeding than S-video or composite video (below). For situations where an HDMI connection isn't possible, component video is an excellent alternative. Signal type: analog Maximum resolution: 1080p (however, many video components will only send video up to 1080i via component video)
	S-video This 4-pin connection usually provides a sharp picture by transmitting the chrominance (color) and luminance (brightness) portions of a video signal separately. The signals can then be processed separately, reducing interference. S-video connections generally outperform composite connections (below), but don't measure up to component video (above). Signal type: analog Maximum resolution: 480i
	Composite video This is the most universal video connector, found on most TVs made in the last 20 years. Picture quality is a big step up from RF (below), but typically not as good as S-video (above). Signal type: analog Maximum resolution: 480i
	Coaxial or RF Probably the most common way folks shortchange their TV's picture quality is through the overuse of RF-type connections. There's a reason the RF inputs on TVs are usually labeled "Antenna" or "Cable" — those are the signals they were designed for. RF-type connections should generally be limited to bringing signals into your A/V system from outside your house: TV antenna, cable TV jack, or satellite dish. If you find yourself tempted to use RF because it's a simple one-cable hookup, and that cable is usually included free in the box, remember that it's the lowest-quality type of video connection. Once the signal has reached your set-top box, use the highest-quality connection from the types listed above. Signal type: analog Maximum resolution: about 350i

To see larger photos of each type of input and connector, visit our A/V connections glossary.

Connecting A/V gear to your TV

If you'll be receiving over-the-air broadcasts by way of an antenna, you're looking at a fairly simple connection to your TV. (If you plan on using an antenna but haven't chosen one or installed one yet, you might want to check out our article on choosing an antenna.)

Your antenna passes the broadcast signals it receives via a single coaxial RF cable. Most of the time, all you need to do is connect that cable to your TV's UHF/VHF input (usually labeled ANT or ANT 1), and that takes care of both video and audio connections.

Connect your cable box or satellite receiver via HDMI if this connection's available. If not, component video offers the next best option.

Your cable box or satellite receiver usually connects to your wall jack or satellite dish via a single coaxial RF cable. However, when you make the connections from this component to your TV, we recommend using the best-quality video connection your cable box or satellite receiver will permit, starting with HDMI or component video for an HD-capable box or receiver.

If you opt for HDMI, you may be able to pass both your audio and video signals to your TV via a single cable. On the other hand, if you opt for a component video, S-video, or composite video connection, you will need to make an additional stereo RCA audio connection to your TV.

If your cable or satellite programming delivers digital surround sound, and you want to hear that surround sound, you'll need to make a digital audio connection from the cable box or satellite receiver to a home theater receiver — even if you've made a single HDMI connection to your TV for audio and video. Depending on the connectors available on your cable box/satellite receiver and your home theater receiver, you'll probably want to use either an optical digital or coaxial digital audio connection.

You'll need to make an HDMI connection (left) from your DVD player to your HDTV if the player offers video upconversion. If not, you'll want to use component video (right) for the best picture.

Most of our customers tell us they plan on connecting a DVD player to their new TV. Although a standard DVD player can't deliver true high-definition video, it's still good to make the best possible video connection between your DVD player and your TV. Here's why:

• Popularity. Watching DVD movies is a popular pastime in many households. If that's the case in your home, you obviously want them to look as good as possible.
• Upconverted video. Many newer DVD players can upconvert the video signal before they send it to your TV, transforming it to a resolution that more closely matches your screen's. Although an upconverted picture isn't true high-def, it usually delivers a noticeably improved image. And to see that upconverted signal, you'll usually need to make an HDMI connection to your TV.

If you opt for HDMI, you may be able to pass both your audio and video signals via a single cable. On the other hand, if you choose component video, S-video, or composite video, you'll need to make an additional stereo RCA audio connection to your TV.

You'll need to make a digital connection to your home theater receiver if you want to hear Dolby Digital or DTS surround sound.

To hear the Dolby® Digital and DTS® surround sound encoded on most DVDs, you'll need to make a digital audio connection to a home theater receiver. Depending on your DVD player's and receiver's available connectors, you'll probably want to use either an optical digital or coaxial digital audio connection.

Make an HDMI connection from your Blu-ray player to your TV to enjoy Blu-ray's top resolution of 1080p.

As we've suggested for other connections, we recommend using an HDMI connection between your Blu-ray player and your TV. In fact, it's especially important here, because you can only get the top-quality 1080p signal via an HDMI connection. (For more info on 1080p and resolution, see our article on the subject.) And if you opt for HDMI, you may be able to pass both your audio and video signals via a single cable.

On the other hand, if you choose a component video connection, you'll need to make an additional stereo RCA audio connection to your TV. (We recommend against using any lesser video connection with such a player, as you won't get the picture quality you paid for.)

To hear the surround sound encoded on most Blu-ray discs, you'll need to make a connection to a home theater receiver. To hear standard Dolby Digital or DTS, you can simply make either an optical digital or coaxial digital audio connection from your Blu-ray player to your receiver.

However, to hear the more sophisticated surround sound formats offered on Blu-ray discs, such as Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD™, you can't rely on a simple optical digital or coaxial digital connection. Instead, you'll need to connect your player to your receiver using either HDMI or a multichannel analog connection. See our article on connecting a Blu-ray player for more information.

Just a quick note on connecting these types of devices: When you connect devices that can record video as well as play it back, your connections become a little more complicated. That's because the programming that you're feeding into your TV needs to pass through these devices, so that they can record your favorite shows.

The most common approach is to run an antenna, cable or satellite signal into the recording component first and then into your TV. You can read about connecting antenna, cable and satellite above.

All three of today's big gaming systems deliver intense entertainment, with vivid images and impressive sound. And just as with other components, there's a real value to making the best available connection, in order to get the best picture and sound.

However, not every game system offers the same connection options. Some require the use of proprietary cables or cable adapters. Others don't offer the full range of video connections. The bottom line? Using the best possible video connection and audio connection that your system allows is still the way to go.

With Microsoft's Xbox 360™ and Sony's PlayStation® 3, that means using an HDMI cable for video, and making an optical digital audio connection to a home theater receiver in order to get surround sound. If you can't use these connections, then be sure to use a component video cable and make at least a stereo RCA audio connection to your TV or receiver for sound.

With Nintendo's Wii™, the best video connection is made via an aftermarket proprietary component video cable designed for use with the Wii (the Wii doesn't support HDMI). To get sound from your TV, you'll need to make a stereo RCA audio connection.

Because each game system differs as to whether it requires proprietary audio and video cables, and which cables are included, check your game system's requirements and included accessories before you buy additional cables.

Making video connections through a home theater receiver

In the previous sections, we've described how to make an audio-only connection to a home theater receiver, in order to get sound from TV broadcasts, DVD movies, and more. However, not everyone with a receiver makes audio-only connections to it.

Actually, many folks with a home theater receiver (or one of the DVD/receiver combo pieces that come with a prepackaged home theater system) end up connecting all of their components to the receiver's video inputs, as well at the receiver's audio inputs.

Here's why you might choose to do the same:

• If your receiver offers video conversion for an HDMI or component video output (that is, it can pass any video signal you send into it out along an HDMI or component video cable), you'll only have to make a single video connection to your TV.
• If your receiver also offers video upconversion, it will upconvert any signal you send it, making all your video sources look as good as possible on a high-def screen.
• If you don't want to have to switch sources on the receiver for sound, and switch sources on the TV for video, this approach lets you make just one selection for both sound and video.

If you take this route, be sure to follow the general recommendations we've already shared: use the best-quality connections available in order to get the best picture. We recommend making a connection to your TV via HDMI or component video, for full high-definition viewing.

Of course, if you have an older receiver that can do home theater, but doesn't have component video or HDMI (and therefore can't send an HD signal to your TV), you may not want to run all your video sources through your receiver. Instead, you may want to just make audio connections from your components to the receiver, and make separate video connections directly to your TV.

Use high-quality cables for a better picture

Along with choosing the best connection type, high-quality video cables can also improve picture quality. Video signals are actually more vulnerable to degradation than audio signals, due to their much higher frequencies. Interference can cause lines, snow, and other artifacts to appear on your TV screen. A higher-quality cable with good shielding and corrosion-resistant, snug-fitting connectors will ensure maximum signal quality for years of use. For more tips, check out our article on choosing A/V cables.

Protect your investment: plug in to clean power

A lot of folks don't think about power protection for their TV — until it's damaged by a power surge. To protect your HDTV investment, you should plug your TV and all of your other components into a good-quality surge suppressor. You can also actually improve your TV's picture, and in some cases extend its life, by using a higher-quality power protection and line conditioning unit. These components clean and filter AC power, often resulting in a noticeably crisper, clearer picture. For more info, see our article on choosing power protection.