Red Yellow White Cable To HDMI Converters (RCA to HDMI Converter) – Where To Find One
So you need a red, yellow, white to HDMI cable and you’re wondering what this cable is and where to find one.
Firstly, a red, yellow, white to HDMI cable is an RCA to HDMI cable and they can be obtained rather easily.
However, before you run off to source one, let’s get a bit more familiar with this type of cable and what you can do with it.
What Is This Red Yellow White Cable To HDMI Converter?
Before we look a bit more closely at what a red, yellow, white to HDMI cable is, let’s quickly consider the terms – RCA cable and HDMI cable.
An RCA cable is a 3 in 1 cable where the yellow connector is for transmitting composite-video signals, and the red and white connectors are for transmitting analog audio signals.
Often, the RCA is called composite cable because only a single (the yellow) cable is used to transmit the video signal.
Usually, the video information like brightness, color, and sync is squeezed or composited onto a single cable. HDMI, on the other hand, is an industry standard for connecting high-definition video devices.
It is used to transmit audio and video data between HDMI-complaint devices like a display controllers and digital TV.
While devices like old gaming consoles (e.g. Nintendo 64 and PS2) and DVDs have ports for such a cable, newer TVs and monitors do not. Instead, newer devices have ports for HDMI cables.
As a result, there is a need for a red yellow white to HDMI conversion cables or RCA to HDMI conversion cables. Other devices that don’t use HDMI may require a composite to component converter instead.
The RCA to HDMI conversion cable is simply one used to connect a device that is RCA-compatible to those that are HDMI compatible.
What Is RCA To HDMI Used For?
As can be deduced from our definition above, the RCA to HDMI cable is used to convert analog composite standard inputs to HDMI 720p/1080p 60Hz outputs.
With this cable, you can continue to use your old devices alongside modern high-definition TVs and monitors.
One common use is for playing and enjoying games on old gaming consoles on newer TVs, with no reduction in the image and audio quality.
Another use for the RCA to HDMI converter is for connecting an external audio device with an RCA port to a modern TV or monitor.
The Best RCA To HDMI Converters
In this review, we will cover the best RCA to HDMI converters. These are some of the best RCA to HDMI converters you can find on the market right now.
Here are brief descriptions as well as the pros and cons of each:
1. GANA Mini RCA (Composite, AV, CVBS) to HDMI Converter
The GANA RCA to HDMI converter is arguably one of the best today. With it, you can watch videos on your TV using the HDMI ports comfortably.
It converts composite, AV, and CVBS analog signals to digital signals with a 162MSPS sampling of up to 10 bits.
While converting analog to digital signals, the converter improves color transition, expands the black and white level as well as the dynamic range, and allows for blue stretch.
It also comes with automatic detection and conversion capabilities. No doubt, the 1080p resolution, 60Hz frequency HD output are usually sharper, more realistic, and alive than what is obtainable with most RCA to HDMI converters.
You do not have to install any driver to use a portable and flexible converter. It is, simply, plug and play, and can be used by anyone, even if they are not tech-savvy.
The GANA RCA to HDMI converter provides support for a wide range of standard input formats like PAL, PAL/M, NTSC3.58, SECAM, and more. The audio of the output from the cable is properly synchronized with the video.
Pros
Outputs high video and audio quality
Excellent ease of use
Provides support for major standard input formats
Supports advanced signal processing
Easy and fast setup
Relatively cheap for the value you get
Seamless conversion
Cons
Requires extra USB port for power
Short USB power cable
Not likely to significantly improve resolution and quality
2. ABLEWE Mini RCA (Composite, AV, CVBS) to HDMI Converter
The ABLEWE composite, AV, and CVBS converter is another top-rated converter by users. This converter can convert analog RCA signals to digital HDMI signals, making it possible for you to watch your old videos on newly released TVs that support HDMI ports/cables. That’s not all; it is also compatible with gaming consoles that will enable you to play and enjoy your favorite 90’s games.
The converter comes with a USB power cable for powering it. Also, it comes with a user manual, which guides users on how to set it up.
Usually, the converter supports most standard input formats for TV. Notable among such formats include PAL, PAL/M and PAL/N, NTSC3.58, SECAM, and NTSC4.43. The output of the converter is either in 720p/60Hz or 1080p/60Hz resolution.
Outputs from the ABLEWE RCA to HDMI converter display on TVs and monitors that can take from 720p/60Hz to 1920x1080p/60Hz bandwidth. You can use the cable without the installation of drivers. It is flexible, portable, and plug-and-play.
Pros
Relatively cheap converter with good quality
Outputs image that is not stretched out
No lagging in the output audio
Requires no driver installation
Works with different standard inputs
Requires no technical knowledge for use
Cons
No upscale of quality
TV requirement of an extra USB port for the power cable
It is a one-way converter
3. Amtake RCA (composite, CVBS, AV) to HDMI Converter
If you want a converter that will output good-quality images and sound, the Amtake RCA to HDMI converter is one of your best fits.
The cable accepts most standard input formats, such as PAL, SECAM, NTSC3.58, NTSC4.43, PAL/M, and PAL/N. It can be used to convert red yellow white (RCA composite) analog inputs to HDMI output.
Usually, the converter’s output format is either 720p/60Hz or 1080p/60Hz. Once the converter is powered, you will not need any additional driver installed for it to work perfectly.
You can make use of the USB cable that comes with the converter to power it. It is safe to plug the USB to your TV USB port (i.e. 5V power source). With the use of this converter, you can enjoy playing your old games on modern TVs and monitors.
Its application cuts across various gaming consoles like Nintendo 64, PS2, and Xbox. Other applications include converting the standard composite AV output of WII, VHS, STR, DVD players, VCR, and other similar devices to HDMI output.
The advanced processing capability of the converter makes it possible for you to get a clear image quality with excellent color and sound reproduction. Little wonder it has a high conversion accuracy, evident in the exceptional audio/video synchronization.
Pros
User-friendliness and ease of use
Relatively low price
Easy setup
Outputs good quality
Requires no driver download or installation
Excellent color scheme
Accepts a wide range of standard analog inputs
Cons
No upscale of video quality
Not applicable for HDMI to RCA conversion
USB port requirement for charging the converter
How To Connect RCA To HDMI Cables
As mentioned before, to connect an RCA to an HDMI cable, you need an RCA to HDMI converter.
Take one end of the RCA cable yellow connector and connect it to the CVBS/AV video input port on the converter.
Connect the other two – the red and yellow connectors to the stereo R audio and stereo L audio input on the converter, respectively.
Then, connect the HDMI cable to the other end of the converter. In furtherance, connect the free end of the RCA cable to the RCA port on your input device. Finally, connect the free end of the HDMI cable to the HDMI port on your output device.
How To Connect RCA To HDMI Using Different Audio Devices e.g connecting an old gaming console to your new TV
Peradventure you want to connect an RCA-compatible device to an HDM-compatible device and want to use an external audio device, your connection will be slightly different from the connection explained above.
Here, the HDMI connection remains the same, but not the RCA connection. You will need two RCA cables – a red yellow white cable and a twin RCA audio cable.
Connect one end of the yellow connector to the input device and the other end to the CVBS/AV video input on the RCA to HDMI converter.
Also, connect one end of each of the red and white connectors to the audio RCA port of the input device and the other end to the input RCA port on the external speaker.
Then connect one end of the twin RCA cable to the output RCA port on the external audio device. Finally, connect the other end to the stereo audio input port on the RCA to HDMI converter.
How to Convert AV to HDMI
This can be achieved pretty quickly if you have an AV to HDMI converter. If you do not have one, you may have to purchase one.
How To Convert Old Tv To HDMI
You can connect an older TV by using an HDMI to an RCA converter.
Simply plug one end of the HDMI cable into the device and the other end into the converter then, take the RCA cables from the opposite end of the converter and plug them into your TV.
Can You Convert Analog to HDMI?
Analog signals, also known as VGA signals, can be converted by passing them through a converter. The converter changes the analog video signals and the stereo audio signals into digital signals. The digital signals are then sent and connected via HDMI cables to any monitors with HDMI connections.
Does HDMI to RCA lose quality?
There are no observed changes in quality when converting HDMI signals via RCA cables. You should confirm by checking your TV audio menu to be certain it can be set to output in PCM stereo. Most optical to analog converters are not able to handle 5.1 bitstream output.
Does Composite To HDMI work?
You can convert older composite signals to HDMI by using cheap composite to HDMI converters which enables them to work with HDMI TVs.
A lot of adapters perform extremely well, they are capable of converting component and composite video signals to HDMI, they also boost the resolution to 1080p HD.
If in fact, you have an older TV that has HDMI and component but not composite input, you can actually plug your composite cable into component if you don’t wish to purchase a converter.
Conclusion
So there you have it, full insight into RCA to HDMI converters or as many would say red yellow-white to HDMI converters.
If you need to interface an old analog RCA-enabled device to a newer HDMI-enabled device, using an RCA-to-HDMI converter is inevitable.
There are of course other methods but this is by far the easiest, cheapest and best. Failure to do so may cause a reduction in the overall quality of your media.