Description
This article is from the DVD Formats
FAQ, by jtfrog@usa.net (Jim Taylor) with numerous
contributions by others.
3.2 How do I hook up a DVD player?
It depends on your audio/video system and your DVD player. Most DVD players
have 2 or 3 video hookup options and 3 audio hookup options. Choose the
option with the best quality (indicated below) that is supported by your
video and audio systems.
Video
* Progressive video (very best): A few players have progressive-scan YUV
(Y'Pb'Pr') or RGB (European players only) component video output in
the form of 3 BNC or RCA connectors. Hook decent-quality cables from
the three video outputs of the player to the three video inputs of a
progressive-scan line multiplier or a progressive-scan TV. Toshiba's
version is called ColorStream PRO. This format preserves the
progressive nature of most 24-frame movie discs, providing a
film-like, flicker-free image with higher vertical resolution and
smoother motion. DVD computers also can provide progressive video from
DVD. See 1.40, 2.12, and 4.1 for more information on progressive
video.
* Component video (best): Some U.S. and Japanese players have interlaced
component YUV (Y'Pb'Pr') video output in the form of 3 RCA or BNC
connectors. Connectors may be labeled YUV, color difference, YPbPr, or
Y/B-Y/R-Y, and may be colored green/blue/red. (Some players
incorrectly label the output YCbCr.) Some players have RGB component
video output via a 20-pin SCART connector or 3 RCA or BNC connectors
labeled R/G/B. Hook cables from the three video outputs of the player
to the three video inputs of the display, or a SCART cable from the
player to the display.
Note: There is no standardization on the output interface format
(voltage and setup). Players apparently use SMPTE 253M (286 mV sync,
0% luma setup with 700 mV peak, +/-300 mV color excursion), Betacam
(286 mV sync, 7.5% luma setup with 714 mV peak, +/-350 mV color
excursion), M-II (300 mV sync, 7.5% luma setup with 700 mV peak,
+/-324.5 mV color excursion), or non-standard variations. Note that
outputs with zero setup can provide a wider range of luma values for a
slightly better picture. For equipment with RGB input, a YUV converter
is usually needed. See section 3.1.
* S-video (good): Almost all players have s-video output. S-video looks
much better than composite video, and only slightly inferior to
component video. Hook an s-video cable from the player to the display
(or to an A/V receiver that can switch s-video). The round, 4-pin
connectors may be labelled Y/C, s-video, or S-VHS.
* Composite video (ok): All DVD players have standard RCA (Cinch)
baseband video connectors. Hook a standard video cable from the player
to the display (or to an A/V receiver ). The connectors are usually
yellow and may be labeled video, CVBS, composite, or baseband.
* RF video (worst): A few players have RF video output for televisions
with only an antenna connection. Connect a coax cable from the player
to the TV. A 300 ohm to 75 ohm adapter may be needed. Tune the TV to
channel 3 or 4 and set the switch on the back of the player to match.
Audio is supplied with the RF signal, but it's only mono, even on
stereo TVs. If you have a player without RF output, you can buy an RF
modulator (~$30 at Radio Shack) to hook up to an old TV that only has
RF input. (See warning below about using a VCR as an RF modulator.)
Warning: If you connect your DVD player to a VCR and then to your TV, you
may have problems with discs that enable the player's Macrovision circuit.
See 3.2.1.
Warning: Some video projectors don't recognize the 4.43 NTSC signal from
NTSC discs in PAL players (see 1.19). They see the 60Hz scanning frequency
and switch to NSTC even though the color subcarrier is in PAL format.
Note: Most DVD players support widescreen signalling, which tells a
widescreen display what the aspect ratio is so that it can automatically
adjust. One standard (ITU-R BT.1119, used mostly in Europe) includes
information in a video scanline. Another standard, for Y/C connectors, adds
a 5V DC signal to the chroma line to designate a widescreen signal.
Unfortunately, some switchers and amps throw away the DC component instead
of passing it on to the TV.
Audio
Note: All DVD players have either a built-in Dolby Digital (AC-3) or MPEG
audio decoder, or both. The decoder translates multi-channel audio into PCM
audio. This is fed to the digital output and also converted to analog for
standard audio output. Most players have only a 2-channel-output decoder,
but some provide 6-channel output (details below).
* Digital audio (best): Almost all DVD players have digital audio
outputs. The same output can carry Dolby Digital (AC-3), PCM audio
(including PCM from CDs), DTS, and MPEG-2 audio. For Dolby Digital,
DTS, or MPEG-2, the appropriate decoder is required in the receiver or
as a separate audio processor. For PCM, a digital receiver or an
outboard DAC is required. DTS discs require a player with the "DTS
Digital Out" mark (older players won't recognize DTS tracks), however,
all DVD players can play DTS CDs if a DTS decoder is connected to the
digital (PCM) output. Some DVD players have coax connectors (SP/DIF),
some have fiber-optic connectors (Toslink), and many have both. There
are endless arguments over which of these is better. Coax seems to
have more advocates, since it's inherently simpler. Optical cable is
not affected by electromagnetic interference, but it's more fragile
and can't be bent much. Suffice it to say that since the signal is
digital, a quality cable of either type will provide similar results.
Hook a 75-ohm coax cable or a fiber-optic cable between the player and
the receiver/processor. (You might need a converter, see 3.1.) Some
players provide separate connectors for DD/MPEG and PCM. On others,
you may need to select the desired output format with the player setup
menu or a switch on the back of the player.
Note: Make sure you use a quality cable; a cheap RCA patch cable may
cause the audio to sound poor or not work at all.
Note: Connecting to the AC-3/RF (laserdisc) input will not work unless
your receiver/decoder can autoswitch, since DVD digital audio is not
in RF format (see below).
* Component analog audio (good): Some players provide 6-channel analog
output from the internal Dolby Digital decoder. The digital-to-analog
conversion quality may be better or worse than an external decoder. A
receiver/amplifier with 6 inputs (or more than one amplifier) is
required; this type of unit is often called "Dolby Digital ready" or
"AC-3 ready." Unfortunately, in most cases you will be unable to
adjust the volume of individual channels. Hook 6 audio cables to the
RCA connectors on the player and to the matching connectors on the
receiver/amplifier. Some receivers require an adapter cable with a
DB-25 connector on one end and RCA connectors on the other.
Note: Until there is a digital connection standard, the only way to
get 6-channel PCM output from DVD-Audio players will be with analog
connections. If you plan to get a DVD-Audio player, you'll need a
receiver with multichannel inputs.
* Stereo/surround analog audio (ok): All DVD players include two RCA
connectors for stereo output. Any disc with Dolby Digital or MPEG-2
audio will automatically be decoded and downmixed to Dolby Surround
output for connection to a regular stereo system or a Dolby
Surround/Pro Logic system. Connect two audio cables between the player
and a receiver, amplifier, or TV. Connectors may be labeled audio or
left/right; left is usually white, right is usually red.
* RF digital audio (LD only): Combination LD/DVD players include AC-3 RF
output for digital audio from laserdiscs. Hook a coax cable to the
AC-3 RF input of the receiver/processor. Note: digital audio from DVDs
does not come out of the RF output, it comes out of the optical/coax
outputs. Analog audio from LDs will come out the stereo connectors, so
three separate audio hookups are required to cover all variations.
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