Audio Video Cables - What Are They and How Do They Work? Chances are that in your home resides an inquisitive person.  The person referred to can be known as ‘Mr. or Miss Twenty Questions’.  Whatever the name, it is probably in reference to the amount of questions asked on a daily basis.  Or, perhaps it’s you that has the inquisitive mind.  Either way, the questions never seem to stop due to you or your child’s sense of wonder and amazement.  Now, you’re faced with answering the question about the cables that run from your stereo components, or video gaming system to your television or speaker system.  These items that are individually colored red, yellow, and white:  otherwise known as audio video cables.    

Sure you know ‘what’ audio video cables are and that they carry a signal (transmission) from one source to another.  Sure you know that in order for this to happen they have to be properly connected at the source.  Sure you know that if you connect the wrong cable to the wrong junction you get that awful buzzing noise.  Maybe you just want to impress your little one with your vast array of knowledge.  The purpose of this article is to give you that little bit of information that may help you in your pursuit:  the pursuit of knowledge. 

For starters, what flows through the audio video cable is an electric pulse.  This electric pulse carries audio or video data that is unscrambled by your device; be it a television or a speaker.  The result is the sound (audio) and or picture (video). 

Audio video cables are designed to operate at a higher frequency and a lower voltage than traditional electrical wiring.  Further, if you were to look inside the audio video cable there‘s more.  You would note a singular copper wire centered by plastic spacers within a copper tube.  These plastic spacers do not conduct electricity and allow for travel space for the ’signal’ or transmission between the copper conductors.  The arrangement of these spacers allows for higher frequency transmission.

Now, prepare yourself for the next question about the fastest animal in the world.