How to Connect a DVD Player to a TV

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Close up of input cable jacks
Image Credit: Maria Gritsai/Hemera/Getty Images

How to Connect a DVD Player to a TV. There are three ways you can connect a DVD player to a TV. Component video gives the best picture quality, but requires 3 cables for the video signal alone. S-video needs only 1 cable but it isn't as good as component video. Composite video is the easiest connection to make, but gives the lowest picture quality.

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Component Video Connection

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Step 1

Get a component video cable. This cable has 3 sets of connectors, one each for the red, blue and green color signals.

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Step 2

Match the connectors to the appropriate video output jacks on the DVD player. Component video outputs will normally be labeled Cr/Cb/Cy. The Cy output jack is matched to green, Cr to red and Cb to blue.

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Step 3

Run the cable from DVD player to the TV. Most TV connections are made from the back panel, but this may vary.

Step 4

Match the connectors to the appropriate video input jacks on the TV.

S-Video Connection

Step 1

Get an S-video cable. This cable has a single round connector with 4 pins.

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Step 2

Attach one end of the S-video cable to the S-video output jack on the DVD player.

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Step 3

Attach the other end to the S-video input jack on the TV.

Composite Video Connection

Step 1

Get a composite video cable. These types of cables are frequently bundled with two-channel audio cables. Composite video cables are tipped with yellow plugs.

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Step 2

Plug one end of the composite video cable into the composite video output jack on your DVD player.

Step 3

Plug the other end into the composite video input jack on your TV.

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