Not sure what that port or plug is called? This guide covers the audio and video connectors you are most likely to meet, and what each one is used for.
Technology changes quickly, and it is easy to lose track of which cable a new product needs. If you are looking at a new component, or at the back of your system, and wondering “what cable is this?”, this guide is a quick reference. It runs through the cables and connectors you are likely to come across in hi-fi, home theatre and everyday equipment, and what each is used for.
Analog (or analogue) cables carry an analogue signal between two devices. The signal is electrical, alternating between positive and negative voltage in a sine wave that represents the audio or video. Despite the growth of digital equipment, analog cables remain very relevant in hi-fi and home theatre.
RCA is one of the most common connectors in audio and video equipment. It takes its name from the Radio Corporation of America, which introduced the design in the 1940s. The plugs are often coloured red, white or yellow. Yellow is usually reserved for video, while a red and white pair normally carries stereo audio. If you are choosing one, Chord Company’s Clearway X RCA and Shawline X RCA are two to consider.
XLR is found mainly in professional audio, though it has also found its way into high-end audio components. XLR cables are commonly called balanced cables. They use a three-pin layout (positive, negative and ground) and come in male and female versions. Chord Company also makes the Clearway X XLR.
Found on most consumer products, 3.5mm to 3.5mm cables often connect a phone’s headphone jack to the auxiliary (AUX) port on a desktop computer speaker. Some Bluetooth speakers also have an AUX port, giving you the option of a wired connection.
Subwoofer cables are sometimes brand-specific, but they are generally similar to RCA cables and use the same connectors. Some subwoofers have two RCA ports, while others have a single RCA port marked LFE (Low Frequency Effects).
If your turntable has a built-in phono pre-amp, you will most likely need RCA cables for its outputs. Some RCA cables also have a grounding wire attached at both ends, so the turntable can be grounded to prevent unwanted hum. Some other turntable makers use DIN connectors instead of RCA.
Like XLR, DIN connectors use pins, arranged in different configurations (3-pin, 4-pin, 5-pin and so on). They are less common than RCA, but you will still find them on some hi-fi equipment.
Digital cables carry a digital signal between two devices. The signal is electrical and transmits data (ones and zeros) that represents the audio or video. Unlike an analogue signal, it has to be converted to analogue at the final stage. This is usually the job of a digital-to-analogue converter (DAC).
Toshiba introduced the Toslink cable (Toshiba Link) in the 1980s to connect its CD players to receivers. It has since found its way into most consumer audio products and some televisions. Optical ports look squarish, with the top forming an arch. Toslink cables carry data as light and often have a core of optical fibre strands. They are fragile, so handle them with care and avoid bending them unnecessarily.
Coaxial connections are common on higher-end audio products, alongside optical and sometimes as the only digital option. They can look like RCA cables and use similar connectors, but a coaxial cable carries data and is often used to connect streamers and DACs. Coaxial generally supports higher data rates than optical, so it is usually the better choice when a product offers both.
AES/EBU was developed by the Audio Engineering Society and the European Broadcasting Union. It is a two-channel digital standard for connecting digital devices, often used between high-end audio components. The connectors resemble XLR, but the cable carries a digital signal, so check the label on the port before connecting.
HDMI is one of the most widely used connections in audio and video. Whether you are connecting a TV to an AV receiver or a PlayStation 5 to a TV, you will most likely use an HDMI cable, because it is built to carry the high data rates this involves.
Ethernet cables are network cables. They connect a device to other devices on a local network, or to the internet. For streaming systems, English Electric, a Chord Company brand, makes the EE1, a network noise isolator that sits between Ethernet cables.
Still trying to work out what a USB connector is called so you can find the right cable? This may help.
USB Type A has been around for a long time and is very common. It is a flat rectangular connector, found on consumer electronics from games consoles to TVs and DVD players. Type A connectors all look alike, but the USB version can differ (for example USB 2.0 and USB 3.0).
USB Type B is usually square in shape. It is found on many devices, from audio interfaces and DACs to home printers.
Micro-USB comes as Micro-A and Micro-B, both miniaturised versions of the USB interface. You will find Micro-USB ports on Bluetooth speakers and on products such as wireless earphones.
USB-C is a newer standard that can carry both data and power in a single cable. It is similar in size to Micro-USB, with a thin oval shape, and it can be plugged in either way up.
If you would like a hand choosing cables or planning how a system connects, tell us about the room and we will take it from there. Absolute Sound is the distributor for Chord Company in Singapore, and you can browse cables and accessories in the store.
Tell us about the room and how you use it. We will take it from there.
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