HDMI is a digital video and audio connection. HDMI will not necessarily offer better picture quality over a Component Video connection although some components will only offer an upconverted image via HDMI. HDMI allows for a copy-protected signal with both audio and video over a single cable. HDMI has been implemented at various degrees of standardization within the industry making some components incompatible with others.

One of the best connections for video simply takes S-Video one step further and uses 3 separate RCA cables to transmit the different “components” of the video signal. If you need to make an HD or progressive-scan DVD player connection a Component or HDMI connection is required. For standard-definition sources S-Video can provide just as much video quality.

Digital surround requires a digital audio connection to the receiver. One cable handles all your audio needs for music and movies. These cables can carry all 5.1 digital audio channels or 2 channel stereo sound over a single cable.

Speakers require the connection of a positive and negative terminal for each speaker, usually labeled red and black respectively. The 2 most common types of connections are spring clips and binding posts. The goal is to have the most wire in contact with the most metal, creating a solid connection capable of transferring the signal sent from your receiver with ease. Thicker cable usually equates to better sound.

Once used as the common connection for VCRs and TVs, this type of connection is now mainly used for digital cable/satellite connections, and to connect an HD antenna. For an analog connection this is perhaps the worst type of connection since all the information is crammed into single cable.

These connections are among the oldest and still most commonly used for connecting audio gear. They offer separate left and right audio connections for stereo sound playback.  Don’t discount them because they’re analog, you can still get the best stereo sound out of them.  You can also use 6 of these cables to make a 5.1 surround audio format connection if your DVD player and receiver offer the capability.

This is a major upgrade compared to an RCA Composite Video connection. With S-Video the video signal is sent over 3 separate wires within a single cable. No "mingling" of signals is allowed, and the result is a picture free from the artifacts and noise found in lesser connections.

This cable transmits a video signal through one cable leaving the sound to be sent by separate left and right audio cable. This is a dramatic step up from Coaxial Cable as far as sound quality goes, but gives only minor video improvements.

Borrowed from the computer industry, DVI connections allow for a digital video connection. If you have DVI connector you can still use it with an HDMI connection via an HDMI-DVI adapter. DVI has been replaced by HDMI.

Firewire is the digital a/v connection brought over from the computer industry which uses it mainly for digital camcorders and previous generation iPods. Firewire promised many of the features that HDMI does and has generally been replaced by HDMI.