What Is AV Input on TV? | The Analog Connection Explained

AV input on a TV is an analog audio/video connection that receives standard-definition signals from older devices like DVD players and VCRs.

When you see a cluster of three round jacks in yellow, white, and red on a television, you’re looking at the AV input — a port type that has connected external players to screens for decades. “AV” stands for Audio/Visual or Audio-Video in this context. While HDMI has replaced it on modern sets, the composite AV connection still appears on many TVs and remains the only way to hook up older gear. Here’s what it does, how to use it, and why it still matters.

The AV Input, Explained in Plain Terms

The AV input is a composite video connection with separate stereo audio channels. It uses three color-coded RCA jacks: yellow carries the video signal, white carries the left audio channel, and red carries the right audio channel. Plugging all three into a TV delivers standard-definition picture with two-channel sound.

Some TV brands label this input differently. Guides and on-screen menus may call it Composite, Video, EXT, or AV1 — all refer to the same type of connection. The physical ports look identical regardless of the label.

The standard supports up to 480p resolution and two-channel audio, which made it the go-to connection for televisions before HDMI took over.

What Devices Use the AV Input?

The AV input primarily serves older analog equipment that predates HDMI. Common source devices include:

• DVD players and VCRs
• Camcorders from the 1990s and 2000s
• Older gaming consoles like the Nintendo 64, GameCube, and original Xbox
• Set-top boxes and cable boxes with analog outputs

Any of these devices sends its picture and sound through the AV cables into the TV, which then displays the signal. The concept is purely hardware and connector-based, so no region, operating system, or subscription plan factors into how it works.

How to Connect a Device to the TV’s AV Input

Using the AV input takes about a minute and requires matching colors. Follow these steps:

1. Locate the AV input cluster on the TV, usually on the back or side panel.
2. Insert the yellow cable plug into the yellow video jack on the TV.
3. Insert the white plug into the white (left audio) jack.
4. Insert the red plug into the red (right audio) jack.
5. Press the Source or Input button on the TV remote.
6. Select the matching input label — AV, Composite, Video, or AV1.

When the connection works, the device’s picture appears on screen with sound. The most common mistake is mismatching the color jacks, which produces no picture or no sound at all.

Some newer TVs skip the three RCA jacks entirely and use a single yellow 3.5 mm composite input instead. In that case, an adapter cable with a 3.5 mm plug on one end and the three RCA jacks on the other is required. If your TV has neither jack type, a composite-to-HDMI converter serves as the bridge between old devices and modern screens.

AV Input vs. HDMI: What’s the Difference?

HDMI is a fully digital connection that carries high-definition video and audio through a single cable. AV input is an analog standard limited to standard definition, topping out at 480p. The difference matters for picture quality: AV cannot transmit HD signals, so content appears softer and lower-resolution than it would over HDMI.

Another key difference lies in the cables themselves. HDMI uses one slim connector carrying everything, while AV requires three separate RCA cables — one for video and two for audio. Fewer cables makes HDMI simpler to set up, but the older gear in your closet may only offer AV outputs, leaving composite as the only option.

For connecting modern devices or any high-definition source, HDMI is the better choice. The AV input exists mainly for backward compatibility with legacy equipment.

If your TV lacks AV inputs entirely but you need to connect legacy devices, a converter box translates the analog signal to HDMI. If you’re juggling multiple older sources at once, you could add an AV input selector that switches between several devices without swapping cables —