3.1 What are the outputs of a DVD player?
Description
This article is from the DVD Formats FAQ, by jtfrog@usa.net (Jim Taylor) with numerous contributions by others.
3.1 What are the outputs of a DVD player?
Most DVD players have the following output connections:
Video:
- Composite video (CVBS) RCA (NTSC or PAL)
- Y/C (s-video) (NTSC or PAL)
Audio:
- Dual RCA stereo analog audio (with Dolby Surround encoding)
- Digital audio (IEC-958 Type II , EIAJ CP-340, EIAJ CP-1201) via RCA coax
(S/P DIF) or optical (Toslink). Raw digital audio (AC-3, PCM, MPEG-2, or
optional DTS or SDDS) requires an external decoder or an amplifier/receiver
with built-in decoder. (Note: The digital AC-3 audio output is not the same
as the RF AC-3 output on laserdisc players.)
Some players may have additional connections:
- Component interlaced analog video, NTSC or PAL (Y'PbPr: 3 RCA connectors,
RGB: SCART connector or 3 RCA).
- Component progressive analog video, NTSC or PAL (Y'PbPr, 3 connectors).
(Toshiba SD7108)
- RF video output for connecting via channel 3 or 4 to TV without direct
input. (Panasonic DVD-A300, RCA 5500P)
- 6 RCA jacks for analog surround sound output. (Panasonic DVD-A300, RCA
5500P, Samsung DVD905)
- AC-3 RF output on combo LD/DVD players. LD AC-3 on RF output only, DVD
AC-3 on coax/optical outputs only. (Pioneer DVL-90, DVL-700)
Some players and receivers support only S/P DIF or only Toslink. If your
player and receiver don't match, you'll need a converter such as the
Midiman C02.
Some players can output 96/24 PCM audio using a non-standard variation of
IEC-958 running at 6.2 MHz (6.144 mpbs) instead of the normal limit of 3.1
MHz. Note: The DVD license restricts digital PCM output of CSS-protected
material to 48kHz/24-bit signals.
Most of the DVD players with component video outputs use YUV (Y'PbPr),
which is incompatible with RGB equipment. European players with SCART
connectors have RGB outputs. YUV to RGB transcoders are rumored to be
available for $200-$300, but seem hard to track down. A $700 converter is
available from avscience, and $900 converter, the CVC 100, is available
from Extron. Converters are also available from Altinex, Kramer, Monster
Cable, and others. For progressive scan you need a converter that can
handle 31.5 kHz signals. Converters from s-video are also an option (
Markertek Video Supply, 800-522-2025).
Note: The correct term for analog color-difference output is Y'Pb'Pr', not
Y'Cb'Cr' (which is digital, not analog). To simplify things, this FAQ uses
the term YUV in the generic sense to refer to analog color difference
signals.
No DVD players have yet been announced with digital video outputs, but it's
expected that at some point digital output will be available using FireWire
(IEEE 1394) connectors.
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