A/V Cables FAQs

WHAT IS DVI?

DVI stands for (D)igital (V)ideo (I)nterface. DVI is an industry standard video interface that was created to help maximize the quality of the signal being displayed on LCD monitors or other output devices. Years ago, computer graphics cards generally came with a VGA connector. Today, with the advancement of display technologies, DVI can now be found on the majority of graphics cards, as this is the preferred method for hooking up an LCD monitor because of the difference in signal quality DVI has over VGA. DVI is also one of the few interfaces found on most of the high-end televisions available today on the market.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DVI CABLES?

DVI - A: Carries DVI signal to an analog device. Supports analog signal only.
DVI - D: Carries DVI signal to a digital device. Supports digital signal only.
DVI - I: Carries DVI signal to an analog or digital device (analog to analog or digital to digital.)

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SINGLE-LINK & DUAL-LINK?

Information sent over a digital DVI cable is sent using a format called Transition Minimized Differential Signaling (TMDS.) The only different between a single-link cable and a dual-link cable is the single-link cable has one TDMS transmitter, while the dual-link has two. Using a dual link cable when possible will increase the speed of the information transfer and produce an increased signal quality.

WHAT IS HDMI?

HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface. HDMI supports the transfer of digital information only. HDMI is a video and audio interface that supports standard-definition/enhanced-definition/high-definition video and up to 8 channels of audio (at the time this was written) on the same cable. Information sent over an HDMI cable is also sent using the TMDS (Transition Minimized Differential Signaling) format.

ARE THERE DIFFERENT TYPES OF HDMI CABLES?

Yes, there are two different types of HDMI cables. Type A and Type B. Type A has 19 pins and is the type of cable you will find in any consumer electronics store. Type B has 29 pins and is made for higher resolutions than 1080p (1080p is the highest resolution type for current high-definition televisions) and is mostly used in commercial applications.

CAN YOU CONNECT A DVI DEVICE TO AN HDMI DEVICE?

Absolutely, this is made possible because both interfaces use the TMDS format. With the use of an adapter or a complete DVI-to-HDMI/HDMI-to-DVI cable they are backwards compatible. A DVI source can drive an HDMI output device. Conversely, an HDMI source can drive a DVI output device. However, since DVI does not carry audio signals, you will have to route the audio signal a different way (if using audio) when driving a DVI device with an HDMI source.

HOW ARE THESE CABLES USED?

DVI - computer graphics card to LCD monitor, set-top box to digital tv, DVD player to digital tv, DVD player to a/v receiver, a/v receiver to digital tv, a/v receiver to projector, etc..

HDMI - set-top box to digital tv, DVD player to digital tv, DVD player to a/v receiver, a/v receiver to digital tv, a/v receiver to projector, SACD player to receiver, etc..