RCA audio cables are the standard composite audio (and sometimes video) cables used to connect various audio and video components. They carry electrical analog signals between the components and consist of one or more connector plugs at each end.
History
The cables get their name from the RCA (Radio Corporation of America) company, who first developed a mono version of the cables in the early 1940s to connect a record player to an amplifier. The two-prong stereo cables later followed in the 1950s.
Advances
Though the components themselves have improved and advanced over the years, RCA cables themselves have largely remained the same, and still provide a quality audio and video connection.
Variations
RCA cables can be the single-plug (at each end) mono cable, two-prong stereo audio cables with red and white connector plugs, three-prong cables which add a yellow plug for video or a hybrid single plug to three prong-cable, used to connect a device such as a video camera or PC to other components.
Devices
RCA cables are used to connect a wide range of devices including stereo receivers, televisions, VCRs, compact disc players, phonographs, video game systems, speakers, cable and satellite receiver boxes, and DVD players.
Future
Standard RCA cables are being phased out for many new video and audio components, with HDMI cables being the connection of choice for digital and HDTV usage, though the same basic technology is still used with the five-prong component video cables that also enable HD viewing.
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