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Plugs and Connectors
From zuuMedia Wiki
Types of Plugs
The plugs and cables listed below are frequently found on computers, TV’s, stereos and even mobile phones. Some only carry audio, some only carry video and some do both. Pictures on the left are of matching plugs and connectors with a short explanation on the right.
| Plug | Name | Cable | Short Description |
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| DVI | 
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Digital Video Interface (DVI) is used for a Digital Video connection and is found on most new computers and computer monitors as well as on some TV’s and DVD players. Essentially it is replacing VGA, which is analogue.
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| DVI/VGA Adapter |
DVI monitors will display VGA video and many monitors ship with an adapter to fit between a computer’s VGA plug and the monitors DVI cable.
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| FireWire |
IEEE-1394 (a) Originally developed by Apple Computers, FireWire has become a standard for high speed audio and video transfer. It is called DV by Panasonic and i.Link by Sony (which has a different and slightly smaller connector)
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| HDMI | 
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High Definition Multimedia Interface is similar to DVI except that it also carries digital audio and is fast becoming the norm on televisions, DVD/HD DVD players and PVR’s (Personal Video Recorders)
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| I.LinK |
This is the Firewire that Sony uses. It excludes 2 of the 4 pins needed used for power so a separate power source is used.
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| RCA | 
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Radio Corporation of America is an Analogue connector and is often used for connecting stereos, TV’s, CD/DVD and VCR’s. Different colored ends are used to avoid confusion when connecting equipment, Yellow for Composite Video, Red for right audio and White or Black for left audio, although the cables are exactly the same. The Yellow cables deliver Composit Video are also used
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| SCART |
Syndicat des Constructeurs d'Appareils Radiorécepteurs et Téléviseurs
This is an analogue connector that gets rid of the need for lots of different wires as carries audio and video (Composite, Component RGB and S-Video)
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| S-Video | 
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Separate Video
S-Video (video interface, superior to composite)
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| VGA |
Video Graphics Array
This is used for an Analogue Video connection and is found on older computers and still on some new ones.
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| IEEE-1394 | 
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Also called Firewire (computer connection standard, used for some digital video connection from camcorders and proposed as a format for digital connection from DVD-Audio or SACD players and receivers)
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| Binding Posts |
Speaker connections (a better connection than spring clips); plastic sections (sometimes made of metal) unscrew to allow bare wire, pins, spade lugs, or ring lugs to be connected to the binding post and then screw back down to lock the cable in place, or a banana plug can be plugged into the hollow core of the post
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| BNC | 
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Component video (provides more secure connection to equipment)
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| FireWire (800) |
IEEE-1394 (b) 9 pin Firewire with twice the speed of Firewire | ||
| FireWire S3200 |
A new Firewire standard was approved in December 2007 before wide spread implementation of this standard.
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| Optical | 
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Optical digital audio (connections come with plastic covers to protect the optics)
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| RF Coaxial | 
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Analog audio/video, used for connection to satellite dishes, cable TV service, etc
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| RS-232 |
System integration, home automation, system upgrade
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| Spring Clips |
Speaker connections typically found on lower-end receivers and speakers; does not offer as solid or reliable a connection as binding posts.
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| XLR (AES/EBU) | 
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Balanced analog audio and digital audio (Typically found only in higher-end equipment. The connector is borrowed from pro audio equipment, where the balanced configuration helps carry signals along extremely long cable runs.)
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| Banana | 
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Speaker connection, can be inserted into binding posts only.
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| Bare Wire | 
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Stripped and twisted ends of speaker wire, can be inserted into spring clips or binding posts.
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| Flexible Pin | 
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Speaker connection, can be inserted into spring clips or binding posts
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| Locking Banana | 
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Speaker connection, can be inserted into binding posts only.
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| Locking RCA | 
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Analog audio, coaxial digital audio, composite video, component video (provides more secure connection to equipment.
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| Pin | 
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Speaker connection (rigid or flexible pins), can be inserted into spring clips or binding posts.
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| Ring Lug | 
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Speaker connection similar to spade lug, can be inserted into binding posts only (preferred over banana because it will not become loose, also allows bi-wiring of speakers)
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| Spade Lug | 
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Speaker connection, can be inserted into binding posts only (preferred over banana because it will not become loose, also allows bi-wiring of speakers)
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