Pall Spera Company Realtors-Stowe, VT
Pall Spera Company Realtors-Stowe, VT
Teresa Merelman, Broker, Pall Spera Company Realtors-Stowe, VTPhone: (802) 793-5171
Email: [email protected]

Your guide to video cables: Types & styles to know

by Teresa Merelman, Broker 06/26/2024

Setting up your own home theater requires basic knowledge of video cables. Types of cables for video, audio and a combination of both are necessary to a functional home theater system. However, the amount of different cables can seem confusing. How do you know which video cables you need?

Luckily, there are only four basic types of cables you need to know when setting up the digital video elements in your home theater. Here is a quick guide to help you learn more:

RCA & composite video cables

RCA and composite video cables are the most basic and common type of cable used to connect audio and video devices. They have round pins and often come with three different plugs: white, yellow and red. Composite video cables are virtually the same, but use only a single head.

While these cables have been around since the 1930s, you’re not likely to need them when connecting most modern high definition devices. However, they are still valuable to have in a home theater for connecting a VCR or older game console.

HDMI cables

HDMI cables are the current industry standard for connecting digital video devices. They have a flat rectangular head with multiple tiny pins inside. An HDMI cable can carry both audio and video signals to connect media players to televisions.

DVI cables

DVI cables are more often found in a home office, as they are used for computer monitors. However, DVI cables can be helpful in a home theater if you ever need to connect to an LCD computer monitor rather than a TV with an HDMI connection.

Coaxial cables

Coaxial cables are the round, stiff cables you’ll find sticking out of walls or floors to indicate a connection to a TV broadcast. Also called coax cables, these connectors transfer both video and audio signals between a cable box or satellite dish to your television.

Other cables, such as those specifically for internet connections and audio systems, may also be necessary depending on the specifics of your home theater setup. However, knowing these types of video cables will help you install and use your media devices to the best of their potential.

About the Author
Author

Teresa Merelman, Broker

 Teresa's beginnings were at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. She was child #5 of 8 and born into an Air Force family that moved all over the United States but usually ended up back in the Washington, D.C. area. Teresa attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and received her bachelor's degree in business from George Mason University, in Fairfax, Virginia. Some of her prior careers include: computer buyer in Fairfax, Virginia; Deputy Clerk at the U.S. District Court in Denver, Colorado; Police Officer in Steamboat Springs, Colorado; and Bed & Breakfast owner in Stowe, Vermont. Teresa obtained her license as a Realtor® in 1998. She has been through many ups and downs in this profession and continues to learn every day. She very much enjoys the real estate profession and the wonderful people she has met and assisted along the way. In order to serve her clients and customers, Teresa continually attends classes and seminars. Some of her Designations and Certifications include: 

  • ABR - Accredited Buyer Representative (2003)
  • CBR - Certified Buyer Representative (2000)
  • e-PRO - Internet Certified Professional (2001)
  • CNHS - Certified New Home Specialist (2005)
  • CRS - Certified Residential Specialist (2005)
  • AHS - Accredited Home-Stager Specialist (2008)
  • TRC - Transaction Referral Certification (2009)
  • RSPS - Resort and Second Home Specialist (2009)
  • GREEN - NAR's Green Designation (2009) 
  • SFR - Short Sales & Foreclosures Certification (2009) 
  • SRES - Senior Real Estate Specialist Designation (2012)
  • AHWD - At Home With Diversity (2021)
  • SRS - Seller Representative Specialist (2021)

Teresa has also served and continues to serve on several boards:

  • Lamoille Area Board of Realtors - President and Board of Directors
  • Vermont Association of Realtors - Board of Directors
  • NEREN (MLS) - Board of Directors and Shareholder 
  • Vermont Real Estate Commission - as a member of VAR's Liaison Committee
  • Stowe Vibrancy - Board of Directors - this is a volunteer group that promotes activities in the Village of Stowe

In 2007, Teresa was named Vermont Realtor of the Year.Teresa and her husband, a local attorney, moved to Stowe in 1987. They had two sons and Stowe has been their home for the past 36 years. She still feels the Stowe area is a wonderful place to raise a family, there's always something going on. Teresa can often be found behind the lens of her camera documenting the beauty of the area and its many events.As an update, Teresa's older son is now a Doctor/resident at the University of New Mexico's Emergency Management Program. Her younger son graduated from James Mason University and currently resides in Chicago, IL as a supervisor for OKTA.