Electrical connector used for analog audio and video
RCA connector
| RCA plugs for composite video (yellow) and stereo audio (white and red) | |||
| Type | RF coaxial connector | ||
| Production history | |||
| Designer | Unknown, but his name is from the Radio Corporation of America | ||
| Designed by | Early 1940s | ||
| Main characteristics | |||
| Diameter | 0.354 in (0.90 cm) (external, typical) | ||
| Cable | Coaxial | ||
| Bandwidth | Typically 0–100 MHz | ||
An RCA connector
Sometimes called
a phono preamp
or (in other languages)
a Cinch connector
, this is a type of electrical connector commonly used to transmit audio and video signals.
The name RCA
comes from the Radio Corporation of America, which introduced by the early 1940s a design for internally connecting the cartridge to the chassis in home radio-phonograph consoles. It was originally an inexpensive, simple design intended only to be plugged in and out when servicing the console. Refinements came with later designs, although they remained compatible.
RCA connectors began to replace the older quarter-inch telephone connectors for many other applications in the world of consumer audio when high fidelity component systems began to become popular in the 1950s. However, quarter-inch telephone jacks are still common in professional audio systems, while miniature telephone jacks (3.5 mm) predominate in personal stereo systems.
The connection plug is called RCA connector
or
phono stage
.
What is line output?
The term “line output” refers to an unbalanced type of audio signal transmission that uses one signal conductor and ground; in automotive electronics, RCA connectors (the so-called “bells”) are used. It also assumes that the signal level corresponds to the standard.
Interesting materials:
How to prevent Wi-Fi from disconnecting on iPhone? How to prevent wifi from turning on automatically? How to prevent Windows 10 from updating? How to block a community on VK? How to block your VKontakte page? How to make green bananas ripen? How can I make the call appear in full screen? How to do Ctrl Alt Del on the on-screen keyboard? How to make decorative sandstone in Minecraft? How to make Deltarune full screen?
RCA input
Most often, the RCA or “Tulip” connection is used in consumer electronic equipment to switch input and output signals. The RCA audio/video input provides the transmission of audio and video signals in accordance with the accepted standard for frequency, current and voltage. The “Tulip” connector is a connector consisting of two elements. On household appliances, the input and output sockets are located on the rear wall of the case and differ in markings and colors. Audio input connectors or RCA audio input are marked “Audio in put” and have the following colors:
- Left channel – white
- Right channel - red
The plug and socket for switching the video signal are always color coded yellow. The “Tulip” input, compared to digital interfaces, does not provide high color accuracy when transmitting a video signal from an external source to a TV. However, all household television receivers are equipped with such sockets.
Pinout diagrams for radio tape recorders from popular manufacturers
Wiring of linear outputs on a standard radio can be done using two RCA connectors. This option is the most common, since power amplifiers have the same sockets. The pinout of connectors for Pioneer car radios contains from 10 to 20 contacts. Their purpose depends on the model of the multimedia device. For example, in the KEH series, the first pin is the antenna control, the second pin is the voltage from the ignition switch, etc. The speakers are connected to pins 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11.
1 – B+
or
BAT
or
K30
or
Bup+
or
B/Up
or
B-UP
or
MEM +12
=
Battery powered.
2 – GND
or
GROUND
or
K31
or simply Indicated minus =
Common wire (Ground).
3 – A+
or
ACC
or
KL 15
or
S-K
or
S-kont
or
SAFE
or
SWA
=
Power is supplied from the ignition switch.
4 – N/C
or
n/c
or
N/A
=
No contact.
(Physically the output is there but not connected anywhere).
5 – ILL
or
LAMP
or
Sun symbol
or
15b
or
Lume
or
iLLUM
or
K1.58b
=
Panel backlight.
+12 volts are supplied to the contact when the side lights are turned on. Some radios have two wires, -iLL+ and iLL-. The negative wire is galvanically isolated from ground.
6 – Ant
or
ANT+
or
AutoAnt
or
P.ANT
+12 volts
are supplied from this contact to control the retractable antenna (Mercedes) or to the active one for others (not always).
7 – MUTE
or
Mut
or
mu
or Picture of a crossed out speaker or
TEL
or
TEL MUTE
=
Input to mute the sound
when receiving a telephone call.
8 – GALA
or
GAL
=
Speed sensor input.
Automatic adjustment of the sound level (increase) as the vehicle speed increases (a more modern sound compression function is used in PIONEER DEH 945R radio tape recorders; the radio tape recorder has a measuring microphone).
Connection via RCA cable
An RCA cable can be used to connect a variety of audio and video devices such as televisions, home theaters, speakers, stereo systems, and video cameras.
Most of the new camcorder models are equipped with all three RCA ports, due to which the incoming and outgoing signals are transmitted through separate channels and are of high quality.
Due to the fact that only non-digital signals are available for transmission, you cannot connect directly to computers and other digital devices.
Connecting tulips to a TV is done using a converter that converts the HDMI signal to RCA. You can also use a similar VGA adapter. In this case, you need to connect the RCA cable to the “Video” connector (on some models it may be labeled “AV”).
In addition, using an RCA cable, you can connect your computer and TV to view photos and videos on the big screen. VGA and D-Sustrong adapters are used for this.
You can connect an audio system via RCA using a standard 3.5 mm mini-Jack cable, which is connected directly to the sound card through the connector indicated by the headphones icon.
AV connectors: types, pinout, brief description
See also reviews and articles:
What is an AV connector? The AV connector has several other names - RCA, RCA jack, or simply “tulip”. It is produced in the shape of a cylinder and has long found its use in audio installations and video devices. In the middle of the cylinder there is a main contact, which is covered by another contact called "ground". The red connector is used to transmit a two-channel signal in stereo for the right channel, and the white connector is used for a mono signal or to transmit a two-channel signal for the left channel. The yellow connector transmits video signals.
RCA connectors began to be used quite a long time ago and their very first use was associated with connecting an amplifier to a phonograph. The phonograph is the first device for recording sounds. One of the large American corporations invented this connector, and when various equipment from other countries, such as video recorders and various audio recording devices, appeared on sale, these connectors became simply irreplaceable. In principle, they are still in demand. By the way, these connectors got their name from the first letters of this company - Radio Corporation of America.
One rather significant disadvantage of such elements is that at the very beginning of the connection, the contact pair of the signal, which is under voltage, merges first, and only then the contacts of the housings. For this reason, various equipment breakdowns may occur during the connection process. This often happens when connecting TVs to TV outputs on video cards.
Types of connectors are divided into “mother” and “father”. The male plug, which is a regular RCA plug, is a metal pin with a diameter of 3.2 millimeters. The part that is inside is closed and is approximately 6 millimeters, and the outside part is 9 millimeters. This pin is surrounded by a so-called rim, the diameter of which can have different values, depending on its thickness.
The female connector is an RCA socket and is a panel connector onto which the bezel is placed. The external diameter is 8 millimeters and the depth is 7.5 millimeters. This suggests that the jaws that crimp the rim should be of a larger diameter. The space between the connector and the body can have completely different fillings - in the cheapest option it can be plastic or polyethylene, a better option is filled with pressed fiberglass or PCB, and the most expensive options use ceramics or Teflon. Of course, the latter option is of higher quality, but its cost is higher than average.
It is recommended to choose not the cheapest option, because the main disadvantage of cheap connectors is insufficient heat resistance. To perform cable soldering work, a high temperature is required, which must be maintained for a certain time. In this case, the plastic begins to quickly melt, which negatively affects the inner conductor, since it fuses with the body itself. Therefore, if you purchase a connector with a material that has good refractoriness, it will be more correct and reliable. The length of the wire should also not be too short, you need to pay attention to this, the connection should be at least possible and, at a maximum, convenient. To make it easier to make a choice, you can study various brands and choose from those that have proven themselves well, but here you can end up with a fake.
Adapters and converters On the modern market there is a huge number and wide selection of not only RCA connectors, but also many different RCA adapters. The most famous of them:
Such an adapter will help connect two devices, one of which is modern, and the other is old with the same old connector.
Connectors of this group were in great demand not so long ago. Thanks to them, it was possible to connect a wide variety of equipment to the TV, for example, a VCR, various acoustic systems, and DVD players. This was an ideal option to transmit audio and video signals. Such connectors, among other things, could be seen in sound cards intended for computers. Using the correct wiring using this connector, it was possible to connect a computer to a TV and thereby use the TV screen as a large monitor.
Today, the relevance of these connectors has slightly decreased. Connectors of a different level have been produced, which are gradually replacing them, as they are improved. An example of such a connector could be, for example, HDMI. If not for numerous adapters and converters, RCA connectors would have left our market long ago. When using adapters, you can connect almost any equipment. Of course, in some modern TVs you can still find an AV connector, but there is no point in using it, because using other connectors, you can enjoy the best quality, and not the highest possible HD or FHD.
Unfortunately, the age of RCA connectors is slowly coming to an end. It is outdated in many respects, so if you have the opportunity to use newer interfaces, then use it, but remember that tulips can still help you transmit audio and video signals.
You can purchase such connectors, including adapters for them, in our online store at:
Source
Origin
The back of a 1940's RCA AM radio with an RCA jack for adding a turntable.
A label around the jack reads: “An inexpensive RCA Victor turntable will earn you a fine. Victrola of this radio. Connect here ". The word phono stage
phono
is short
for phonograph
because this connector was originally created to connect a phonograph turntable to a radio, using the radio as an amplifier. This setup was present in most radios produced in the 1930s by Radio Corporation of America (RCA), which later marketed a special player for 45 rpm Records, Model 9JY.[1]
RCA jacks are often used in phono preamps, a set of input jacks typically located on the back panel of a preamplifier, mixer, or amplifier, especially on early radios, to which a phonograph or turntable is attached.
RCA output (Tulip)
What is RCA audio/video output. “Tulip” type connectors are used in household appliances to connect individual units into a sound complex and to connect speaker systems. The audio output connectors are marked “Audio out put” and have colors similar to the input signals. If the low-frequency amplifier is intended for multi-channel sound reproduction, then the sockets on its body are color coded as follows:
- Front left channel - white
- Front right channel - red
- Central speaker system - green
- LF subwoofer – purple
- Side left channel – blue
- Side right channel – gray
- Rear left channel – brown
- Rear right channel – light brown
Each output is connected to its own speaker system, which provides multi-channel sound. This connection scheme is most often used in home theaters. Some models of household appliances use modern interfaces such as DVI-I and HDMI. Such interfaces are used in personal computers, but televisions may not be equipped with them. In order to connect a laptop to a television receiver, you have to use an adapter - an adapter from HDMI to RCA.
On an RCA cable, four cables with sockets extend from the HDMI connector. White and red are RCA audio outputs corresponding to the left and right audio channels, a video signal is transmitted through a cable with a yellow connector, and the black connector is intended to supply power voltage to the signal converter circuit.
