So, you've got a brand spanking new high definition television and want to get the best possible picture on the screen? Well, unfortunately buying a TV doesn't mean you'll immediately have a great picture. First, you've got to pick up the right video cables, and here we'll take a look at which cables best suit your needs, including composite video cables and HDTV cables like HDMI or component video cables.
Composite Video Cables
First, let's start with discount video cables – the cheap stuff. If you want a fair picture at a reasonable price, the best option is to invest in composite video cables. The advantage of composite cables, which have three plugs for connecting to a TV, is that they're very cheap. Finding them is easy; in fact, most dollar stores today carry a set, and although they may cost a couple bucks rather than just one, they're a cheap and easy way to get that new television set up in a hurry.
Component Video Cables
However, if you want to get a better picture out of an HDTV, you'll need to spend a little more money. The next best option is a set of component cables, digital video cables capable of bringing a 720p or 1080i (interlaced) picture to your new television. Component cables are HDTV cables and most come with three special HD plugs (blue, green, and red), standard video plug (yellow), and stereo audio plugs (red, white). Because they offer a better picture, component cables usually run a little more expensive; budget brands like Dynex and Recoton are still quite affordable (usually $10-$20 a set), but premium component cables from companies like Monster, which promise videophiles a slightly better picture, can run as high as $60 a set.
HDMI Video Cables
Of course, in order to get the absolute best video for your TV, you'll want to invest in an HDMI cable. These offer both digital audio and video output in one single, solid cable. The best part? Unlike composite cables, which only offer standard definition picture, and component cables, which peak at 1080i, HDMI cables are capable of bringing a 1080p display to your new television. Of course, you'll want to make sure your TV supports such high resolutions, but if it does HDMI is definitely the way to go. The only problem? HDMI cables aren't cheap, and although they've come down a long way since the introduction of HD gaming and Blu-ray players, premium cable sets still retail for $50 to $80 each, depending on the length of cord. You can save a bit of money by using a video cable adapter to plug a DVI cable into your TV's HDMI port.