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Audio visual cabling

Audiovisual cabling

When planning your AV installation there are so many different things to think about it’s super easy to overlook a major flaw in your design so we’re publishing a series of blog posts giving you some helpful tips and tricks to remember when planning your installation.

We expect that one day everything will connect wirelessly with no issues or connection problems but sadly, that day isn’t today. For stability and reliability, we suggest using wired connections for video and audio connectivity. I have included some examples of different cable types and their maximum distances in the following blog post.

HDMI

HDMI or high-definition multimedia interface is commonly used for high definition digital video and audio connections. Unlike other signals, HDMI has embedded digital audio which means audio and video are sent down the same cable, rather than having 2 or 3 different cables to achieve the same result. This is helpful when connecting a Blu-Ray player or laptop to a screen or projector.

HD-SDI

HD SDI or high-definition serial digital interface cables can be an alternative option to HDMI. HD-SDI can carry high definition video signals over longer distances depending on the type of cable used. SDI cables use the BNC type connector so they twist and lock into place which is superior to HDMI because it allows connections to be secured which will reduce connection problems. The big difference between HD SDI and HDMI is HD SDI is not considered to be a mainstream consumer / domestic solution so it isn’t as readily available and is therefore considered to be a professional/commercial option.

DVI

DVI or digital visual interface are capable of transferring high definition digital (and analogue) video signals and are commonly found on most Computer outputs and monitor inputs. DVI uses two threaded pins to lock the connector in place, which keeps it secured and stops the cable from disconnecting unintentionally. There are a few different types of DVI on the market so it is important to ensure you choose the right cable to fit your needs.

VGA

VGA or video graphics array cable is used to send analogue video signals to devices such as computers, projectors and monitors. VGA connectors use two threaded pins to lock the connector in place, which can be useful to keep it securely connected.

VGA connectors are considered old hat and are being replaced by HDMI and displayport connectors for digital signals. A few years ago it was common for laptop computers to have a VGA port connector whereas no you would be hard pushed to find a new computer with such a port.