Are "component video" cables the same thing as "RCA cables"?

Question

Most stereo components are connected using 1/4" RCA cables. The jacks on the back of my DVD player labelled "component video" look to be for the same type of cable. Is that correct? Can I use the RCA cables I've already got to plug my DVD player's "component video outs" into my TV?

Answer 1

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1) component like the it's name says sends each component (red, green blue) of the image on different cables.

composite, like it's name says, sends a composite of all the information one cable

you did not ask, but s-video uses the normal NTSC and sends on one cable a B&W (grey) image and on the other the colours.

2) any good cable is the same, so if you buy three RCA cables called component or three cables called composit it does not matter on the other hand there many cheap component and cheaper composite that that are not the same quality

3) if you look at cables that tend to come with equipment or that you buy at the store that have three cables attached (usually yellow, red and white)and one is composite and the other two are audio, then yes you can use them, but either all three cables are cheap or the two audio cables are cheap and no they will not be as good as component cables at any length because the audio cables cannot support the bandwidth needed for video

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Thanks!

Answer 2

The cables are the same, but the ports are very different. RCA's have a yellow for video and a red and white for audio. The compent shares the exact same ports for audio, but split video into 3 pieces.

Answer 3

NO. Component cables are a 3 prong video cable dsigned to separate the colors for maximum resolution quality. RCA cable is a 3 prong cable with 2 for audio and 1 for video. Completely different design and use.

Answer 4

If you can use component use them they make dvd's look awesome. Your tv needs component plugs too.

Answer 5

The cables are the same type (Companies rip you off by selling component cables as different cables), but the format is different. If your audio equipment is yellow/red/white, don't use it. BUT, If it has Component (Red/Green/Blue) and DIGITAL AUDIO IN, use those for higher quality

Answer 6

Don't confuse 1/4" Phone plugs with RCA jack type plugs. The component video cables (RCA Plugs)
are color coded yellow for video, red and white for audio. You can find them at any store that sells electronics. These are the same type of cables used for years in the audio industry to attach a cd player, tuner, etc. to an amplifier or receiver.
1/4" inch phone plugs are used by higher end audio users such as bands to plug guitars into amps and dj's who use higher powered equipment and want a larger cable connector.

Source(s):

I've been a pro dj for over 25 years in the wedding industry.

Answer 7

RCA Cables can be used to carry either COMPONENT (Red, Blue, Green plugs) or COMPOSITE video (Yellow, Red, White plugs). They are identical wires except in color of the plug.

That is to say that a standard 3 plug RCA cable can be used for either.

Source(s):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Component_v…

Answer 8

RCA cables denote the jack type and nothing more.

Yes, you can use generic RCA cables for mono audio, stereo audio, composite video, and component video.

There are "specialized" cables -- for example stereo cables with red and white connectors, video+audio cables with red and white connectors plus a yellow connector for composite video -- but the primary specialization of the cables is the coloring of the cable connector to make it easier to make the correct connections.

I wouldn't use el cheapo cables and I wouldn't use top of the line audiophile and videophile cables. Middling cables will do just nicely.

You might want to use some tape and a sharpie marker to label which cable connects to which component color (red, green, blue) just to make the cabling easier.

Answer 9

No they are not. Component video cables separate into 3 inputs red, green, yellow this leads to an enhanced picture that can be transmiited and outputted to your monitor. In a nutshell, it's a crisper image you are suppose to be viewing.

RCA cables come with two audio inputs (left, right channnels) and one video so it wouldn't work.

Answer 10

SOMETIMES. For short cable lengths (e.g., 3 feet), you should be ok to substitue 3 decent RCA cables for an expensive 3 cable RGB Component Video cable set. Over longer cable lengths, picture quality can decline somewhat. Just make sure you get red-red, blue-blue, green-green connections right.

Source(s):

I'm an EE

Answer 11

Read Jeff L's answer again. it is right on. Use quality cables but you don't have to go overboard and get $10/ft high end cables. Definitely do not use RCA audio cables (red/white) for video, especially HD. But you can certainly use separate video cables for each component (be sure to mark them with colored tape if they aren't coded already).

Answer 12

No, they look the same but perform different functions.
Component carry video signals only,
while RCA cables usually carry audio signals,

Answer 13

The cables are NOT the same, although they will work in each other's place. Video cable use a single solid core 75 ohm connection, audio cables use a two conductor wire for positive and negative. For optimal picture and sound quality use the correct cables..