RCA connectors are a type of audiovisual or A/V connector. A/V stands for audio/video. They are sometimes called audio jacks or phono connectors (as in phonograph), as they are typically associated with analogue audio cables. In practice, though, they can be used to transmit several types of signals. These include:
- Analogue audio
- Digital audio
- Component analogue video
- Composite analogue video
The name RCA is an acronym for the Radio Corporation of America, which originally designed the system in the 1930s. The term RCA connector can refer either to the plug on the end of an RCA cable (A/V audio cables) or to the socket you insert these into on a device. In other words, they can be male or female. Most people use the terms jack and plug to help differentiate.
There are various sorts of RCA connectors for sale in the UK, with each type having its own specific uses. They are most often chosen for applications where analogue stereo A/V signals need to be sent separately between devices at the same time.
An RCA cable may therefore have either two or three plugs on it - two for left and right audio, and sometimes a third for video. These are typically colour-coded as follows:
- White for audio left
- Red for audio right
- Yellow for video