In the early days of video game consoles and home computers, the
term "audio cable" only applied to one kind of cable. Anyone who was
around during the rise of computers and computer games remembers the RCA
cable with yellow plugs at each end that was designed to deliver the
best possible sound quality for devices such as video games, televisions
and VCRs. As VCRs turned into DVD players, the RCA cable was still
king. But once Blu-Ray and high definition plasma televisions made their
way onto the scene, the need for fuller sound increased.
Today, televisions and Blu-Ray players connect to stereo receivers through one of two connections. There is the composite RCA sound connection, or the HDMI output. The composite RCA jack is a bit higher quality than the older RCA standard, but it can still be a bit limiting. The HDMI sound output was considered to be the highest quality sound connection available for many years. In recent times, the optical sound cable has emerged as the Cadillac of sound conversion for video games, televisions and Blu-Ray players. As more and more devices start to become equipped with optical jacks, the landscape of audio changes yet again.
Another element of audio connection that is improving and changing is the connection between portable music players and exterior speaker systems. Since the music and the connection are based on digital sound, the highest quality jacks and cabling can be used to get the best possible sound. Right now, a high quality version of the RCA standard is what is being used to get music from devices such as iPods on to large speakers and through the speaker systems in cars. But as the technology continues to change and evolve, there will most certainly be something that can expand the sound even more to get real surround from a small music player.
Audio has become just as important as video when it comes to quality. There are even high quality headphone extension cables that will prevent and degradation of sound from the player to the headphones. When people install home theatre systems, they want the best possible sound for their money. HDMI and optical sound cables stand as the highest possible achievement for home theatre sound. That could change in the years to come, but these two standards still offer some of the broadest and highest possible sound quality available for any home system.
Today, televisions and Blu-Ray players connect to stereo receivers through one of two connections. There is the composite RCA sound connection, or the HDMI output. The composite RCA jack is a bit higher quality than the older RCA standard, but it can still be a bit limiting. The HDMI sound output was considered to be the highest quality sound connection available for many years. In recent times, the optical sound cable has emerged as the Cadillac of sound conversion for video games, televisions and Blu-Ray players. As more and more devices start to become equipped with optical jacks, the landscape of audio changes yet again.
Another element of audio connection that is improving and changing is the connection between portable music players and exterior speaker systems. Since the music and the connection are based on digital sound, the highest quality jacks and cabling can be used to get the best possible sound. Right now, a high quality version of the RCA standard is what is being used to get music from devices such as iPods on to large speakers and through the speaker systems in cars. But as the technology continues to change and evolve, there will most certainly be something that can expand the sound even more to get real surround from a small music player.
Audio has become just as important as video when it comes to quality. There are even high quality headphone extension cables that will prevent and degradation of sound from the player to the headphones. When people install home theatre systems, they want the best possible sound for their money. HDMI and optical sound cables stand as the highest possible achievement for home theatre sound. That could change in the years to come, but these two standards still offer some of the broadest and highest possible sound quality available for any home system.
