How to Connect a Sony Bravia LCD HDTV to a High Def Cable Box
By Anthony Oster
Getting the most out of your high-definition Sony Bravia requires that you connect the TV to a high-definition signal, such as from an HD cable box or a Blu-ray disc player. The quality of your connection will depend on the resolution of your TV, the output resolution of your cable box and the type of cable you use to connect the TV to the cable box. The best picture and sound quality can be achieved by connecting your Bravia to the cable box using an HDMI cable. Although this option is more costly, HDMI cables can display video in 1080i and 1080p resolutions; component video cables are cheaper than HDMI cables and display video up to a 720p resolution. Connecting the Sony Bravia to a high-definition cable box using a coaxial or composite video cable will result in poor video quality and will not utilize your TV's high-definition capabilities.
HDMI Cable
Step 1
Locate the "HDMI Out" slot on the back of your high-definition cable box.
Step 2
Locate the "HDMI In" slot on the back or side of the Sony Bravia TV. Depending on the size and model of your TV, you may find multiple "HDMI In" slots. The slots are numbered so you can easily locate them in the TV menu.
Step 3
Connect one end of the HDMI cable to the "HDMI Out" slot on your cable box, and connect the other end to the "HDMI In" slot on your Sony Bravia.
Step 4
Press "Input" on your TV remote to select the HDMI channel to which the cable box is connected. You switch between the cable box and other HDMI-enabled devices, such as Blu-ray disc players and video game systems, by pressing "Input" on the remote to cycle between input sources.
Component Video Cable
Step 1
Locate the red, blue and green "Component Video Out" connectors on the back of your high-definition cable box; these connectors may be identified as "YPbPr." You'll find red and white "Audio Out" connectors near the component video connectors.
Step 2
Locate the red, blue and green "Component Video In" or "YPbPr In" connectors on the back or side of your Sony Bravia TV. The red and white "Audio In" connectors are located nearby.
Step 3
Connect the green component cable to the green "Component Video Out" port on the back of the cable box and the "Component Video In" port on the back of your TV. Connect the blue and red component video cables in the same manner.
Step 4
Plug the red and white audio cables into the "Audio Out" port on your cable box and the corresponding "Audio In" ports on the back or side of the TV. If you hear a loud, buzzing noise, you may have inserted a video cable into an audio connector or vice versa.
Step 5
Press the "Input" button on your Bravia remote to toggle between the "Component Video" connection and other devices connected to the TV.
References
Tips
- More isn't always better. Use the shortest length of cable that can reach between the cable box and your Sony Bravia. Longer cables may result in loss of video or audio quality.
Writer Bio
Anthony Oster is a licensed professional counselor who earned his Master of Science in counseling psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi. He has served as a writer and lead video editor for a small, South Louisiana-based video production company since 2007. Oster is the co-owner of a professional photography business and advises the owner on hardware and software acquisitions for the company.