RCA cables?

Question

If video and audio RCA cables are interchangable, why are they color coded, etc.?

Answer 1

So people will match them between components correctly. If they did not have color coding you would have to trace back from on compent to the next that you have the audio plug in the audio jack in both components. I know where you are coming from ,but you have to realize the intellegence of the general public is much lower than you would think. I used to work at an electronic store and you would not believe the questions that I would get.

Hope this helped!

Answer 2

They're color coded just so you can plug the usually 3 in a set (video, audio left, audio right) into the output of a VCR, for example, and then know just from the color where they plug into the TV set. Just for convenience, nothing more.
There is no difference at all between video and audio RCA cables, they're identical. Use red for video if you want to -- just keep track of where you put them :)

Answer 3

although it doesn't matter which cable you insert for audio/video, you need to match it up on the other end. Therefore, the video cable should go into the video connection in your system. they color code it so you can match them up easier. also if you have external speakers, if you flip the audio inputs, sounds that are suppose to come out of the left speaker will come out of the right, thereby screwing up the audio experience.

Answer 4

yellow is composite video signal

Red is Right channel audio

White is left channel audio


Now, get out a switch box for a gaming console/VCR/DVD player and place it in the darkened furniture slot beneath the TV set. You pull it out to plug in another accessory and it is good to see where each cable goes.

Color coding is great, in telephone or complex equipment cabling. But, up to 40% of all men are colorblind!

Answer 5

For ease of installation...so that you don't have to follow the cable up the whole way to make sure you plug it into the correct jack.