Best Video Converters

There are a lot of different types of video signals nowadays. Whereas some devices just require the proper cable to view video, there are also a number of converters nowadays that go from one format to another. You can find a converter that 1) takes a VGA signal from your computer and sends it to a HDMI (=High-density multimedia interface) device. There are also converters for going from 2) Analog Video (=AV) (from the familiar three YPbPr cables, as in the old video cassette recorders, or S/PDIF Digital Coax Audio) + audio to HDMI. (This will be called an AV to HDMI converter.) There are also 3) MHL (= Mobile High Definition Link) to HDMI converters, for connecting mobile phones and tablets to high-definition televisions (HDTVs) and audio receivers. There are also 4) converters that go from a TOSLINK optical audio to a coaxial connector. And finally, 5) there are converters for going from RCA S-video (a round outlet) to HDMI.

We've put together this guide to help you select the best video converter that answers to your needs. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of video converter,

• See useful tips about that type of video converter,    

• Read reviews of different brands of video converter, and what customers are saying,

• Select the right brand of video converter, and

• Compare prices and find the best deals.

There are several types of video converters, with different inputs and outputs:

• VGA + audio to HDMI Converter: VGA is the familiar video output from a computer, or to the older computer monitors. (Many computers use a DVI output now.) This is good for a Playstation, DVD, PC, Laptop, XBox, or a projector.

• Component Video (YPbPr) + audio to HDMI Converter: This will help you convert from an old video cassette recorder to an HDMI device. Component video is reputed to have better color resolution than other analog video alternatives.

• S/PDIF Digital Coax Audio to HDMI Converter:  There are converters that take TOSLINK audio and encode it onto a S/PDIF digital coax video signal, and then converts it to HDMI. You can use this to connect an XBOX360 to a HDMI receiver. The C&E Component & S/PDIF Digital Coax Audio to HDMI Converter is such a converter.

• MHL to YPbPr or to Analog Video Converter: This converts from MHL (= Mobile High Definition Link) to HDMI.This is for connecting mobile phones and tablets to high-definition televisions (HDTVs) and audio receivers.

• Digital Fiber Optical TOSLINK to digital coaxial (S/PDIF): This is for connecting the trapezoidal TOSLINK jack to a coaxial S/PDIF jack.  YOu’ll see this in the CableWholesale’s 10TR-08300 Digital Fiber Optical to Coaxial Converter.

• RCA Composite/S-Video + R/L audio to HDMI: This takes a round, 4-pin DIN connector, and converts it to HDMI. S-video has better image quality than composite video.

Based on all the consumers' reviews we've scanned, these are the top things they mentioned about their new stuff:

• Better resolution: One customer said that they needed the C&E CNE50145 Component Video-YPbPr /VGA to HDMI Converter when they decided to go from satellite TV to connecting their PC to a 42” TV screen. The converter was necessary to improve the picture resolution. The sound connection goes from the computer headphone/speaker jack to the converter, which the HDMI cable takes to the TV set.

• Make sure you get the right type of converter: Some converters are NOT bidirectional. One purchaser of the CableWholesale 10TR-08300 Cable Wholesale's Digital Fiber Optical to Coaxial Converter noted that it converts a digital HDMI input and goes to an optical TOSLINK output. If you need the other way around, from a TOSLINK input to an HDMI output, you should get the C&E Component & S/PDIF Digital Coax Audio to HDMI Converter, which also converts YPbPr and TOSLINK to HDMI.

• Why would I need a video converter: Let’s say that you want to give a presentation in a conference room, or in a classroom, or I want to give a video tutorial. I might need to convert the signal from my computer to a different format of screen or TV. A video converter will help me with just that.

• Length of cable: The converters will usually come with all the appropriate cables to connect between devices. You should look at the length of your cable, so as to see what losses there are as the distance increases.

• Resolution that the converter can convert: You’ll see a whole list of resolutions that the converter can accept, as well as the output resolutions. For example, the C&E CNE47929 MHL to Component Plus R/L Mini Converter will convert from 480p, 576p, 720p, 1080i, and  1080p(50Hz/60Hz).

• Auto upscale: You will see that video converters will feature “auto upscale”. Upscaling means taking a low-resolution video and making it higher definition. It thus stretches the image across the available screen, when you’re going from an older format to a wider screen, as in HDTV.

Cable Wholesale-- was founded in 1996, and offers over 3,600 computer, home theater, and mobile phone products available via their website or by telephone. They offer computer cables, network cables and hubs, Cat 5 and Cat 6 Ethernet cables, HDMI cables, SVGA cables, DVI cables, USB cables, FireWire cables, security cables, fire alarm cables, audio cables, digital video cables, computer cables, adapters, switch boxes, converters and other specialized products.

C & E--are wholesalers of electronics, computers and computer accessories. They have a wide selection of cables, converters, wire strippers, digital to analog converters, monitors, chargers, and much more.