AV Cable

Description

Compatible with all units using the PlayStation “AV MULTI OUT”, that became the standard connection from the SCPH-5500 series original PlayStation (the earliest models had direct AV outputs) it remained compatible until the final versions of the PlayStation 3. The PS4, like the competing Xbox One dropped legacy analogue connections in favour for all-digital HDMI that offers encryption. The AV cable for the original PlayStation had model number SCPH-1140.

This cable provides a ‘standard’ composite video output alongside stereo audio across three analogue signals. Composite video was a major improvement over earlier RF cables, which provided video over an antenna connection that could be ‘tuned’ into. However, even in the 1980s, composite provided relatively low picture quality with alternatives such as RGB and s-video (Y/C) existing. In reality, most of the market did not care, with a near totality of users going with this default option. However for a few, high quality RGB or similar cabling was a must. With the eventual ubiquitous nature of HDMI, the average user became more expecting of perfect image quality, which has resulted in a retrospective interest in higher quality analogue connections.