Nowadays DVDs have become the standard format for the home video market, and buying a DVD player is cheaper than a dinner in a good restaurant. Once you connect your new player to your television, you will have access to an infinite number of video and audio content with which to delight yourself and spend carefree hours in the company of family and friends. Most modern TVs and DVD players make the installation procedure really quick and easy.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Install a DVD Player
Step 1. Plug the DVD player into a power outlet and make sure it turns on
Before connecting the player to the TV, make sure it is plugged into the mains and that it turns on properly after pressing the "Power" button. Normally there will be a small light to indicate that the player is working properly. In other cases you will be greeted by a short welcome message.
Step 2. Determine which type of connecting cable you need
There are three commonly used methods of connecting a DVD player to a TV, each of which requires a different connection cable. The DVD player you purchased should come with all the cables you need to connect, but you will still need to check the type of input connections your TV offers. To do this, read the user manual or check the back of the appliance directly. Also look at the back of the DVD player to check which connection standards it has.
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HDMI:
this is the most modern audio-video connection standard. The HDMI cable resembles the USB one, although it is longer and thinner than the latter. The HDMI connectors are of high quality and the audio and video signals are carried using a single cable.
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RCA cable (three connectors):
it is the most commonly used connection standard for connecting DVD players to televisions or home-theater systems. This cable has three connectors at each end, characterized by the colors red, white and yellow. Each of the colored connectors must be inserted into the corresponding female jack, located on the back of the TV and on the back of the DVD player.
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Component cable:
this type of connection provides a higher quality than the RCA cable, but lower than the HDMI cable. It features five colored connectors for each of the two ends. Each of the connectors will be connected to the corresponding input port (indicated with the same color), located on the back of the TV and DVD player.
Step 3. Find the connection cable you need
Once you have identified the connection standards used by your TV and DVD player, you can choose which cable to use. Make sure the cable you choose is not damaged or frayed. If you need to buy a new connection cable, take a picture of the input connectors on the back of the TV and go to an electronics store to proceed with the purchase.
If possible, use the HDMI connection standard - this is the easiest connection to install and guarantees the highest video quality
Step 4. Place the DVD player in its slot next to the TV
Once you have found the type of connection cable you need, make sure you place the DVD player as close to the TV as possible so that you can connect effortlessly.
Do not stack multiple electronic devices on top of each other. Each device needs a generous constant flow of air to avoid overheating during use. Otherwise it could be irreparably damaged
Step 5. Turn off your DVD player and TV before connecting
In this way you will avoid the triggering of possible electrical discharges that could damage the devices.
Step 6. Note that the same procedure can be used for connecting a video projector
Most of these devices have the same input ports available on televisions. So don't be intimidated by connecting your DVD player to a projector instead of a TV.
Some projectors use the "DVI" connection, rather than one of the three standards seen in the previous steps. If this is the case for you, follow the same procedure as described here for connecting with an HDMI cable, but use a DVI cable instead
Method 2 of 5: Connecting Using an HDMI Cable
Step 1. Plug one connector of the HDMI cable into its port on the DVD player
Look for "HDMI" or "HDMI Out" on the back of the device, then insert the HDMI connector firmly into the socket.
This is the highest quality audio-video connection standard and is normally only adopted by the most modern DVD players
Step 2. Plug the second connector of the cable into the HDMI port on the TV
Just like in the case of DVD players, only the most modern televisions are equipped with an HDMI port. There may be multiple HDMI ports, each labeled "HDMI" or "HDMI In" followed by any identification number.
If the connection port is identified by a number, for example "HDMI 1", write it down, you will need it later. It is in fact the video source that you will have to select on the TV in order to view the contents played by the DVD player
Step 3. Make sure both HDMI connectors are firmly seated in their respective slots
The HDMI connection standard requires the use of a single cable to carry both audio and video signals. Be careful though, because if the cable is too tight or one of the connectors is not properly inserted into the respective port, the signal quality may be poor.
A wide variety of HDMI cables are available for purchase, but unless you're a perfection freak, any cable that's long enough to connect will do just fine
Step 4. Turn on the DVD player and TV
Insert a DVD into the player in order to test the video and audio quality.
Step 5. Using your TV remote, select the correct video source by pressing the "Source" button, or in some cases, "Input"
This button on the remote control allows you to select the input port to which a particular device is connected to receive related audio and video information. The selected source must match the input port you connected the DVD player to.
If the input port is not marked with any wording, or if you do not know the source used, turn on the DVD player and select all the available sources one by one for a time of 5-10 seconds, checking for the presence of a signal. incoming video in order to identify the correct one
Method 3 of 5: Connect With RCA Cable (3 Connectors)
Step 1. Connect the connectors on one end of the RCA cable to their respective output terminals on the back of the DVD player
The connection jacks are characterized by the same colors used for the cable connectors (red, white and yellow). On the back of the DVD player, locate the group of connectors labeled "Output" or "Out". The red and white connectors (dedicated to the audio signal) may be in a separate position from the yellow connector (dedicated to the video signal).
Jacks dedicated to the RCA connection are normally grouped with each other by a distinctive line or groove indicating which ones are to be used
Step 2. Connect the colored connectors to their respective input jacks on the TV
As in the case of the DVD player, the input jacks related to the RCA connection are also grouped together on the TV. Look for "Input" or "In". Normally the audio-video inputs of the TV are numbered in order to show which source to select to view the relevant signal.
- Normally the jacks dedicated to the RCA connection are grouped with each other by a distinctive line or groove indicating which ones are to be used.
- The red and white connectors (dedicated to the audio signal) may be in a separate position from the yellow one (dedicated to the video signal). In any case, there should be a label indicating which jacks to use for each of the available input connections.
Step 3. Make sure you connect the connectors firmly respecting the color coding
Check that the color of each of the connectors on the connecting cable matches the color of the respective output and input jacks on the DVD player and TV.
The cable related to the video signal, identified with the yellow color, could be separated from the audio cable characterized by the red and white colors
Step 4. Turn on the DVD player and TV
Insert a DVD into the player in order to test the video and audio quality.
Step 5. Using your TV remote, select the correct video source by pressing the "Source" button, or in some cases, "Input"
This key on the remote control allows you to select the input port to which a particular device is connected to receive related audio and video information. The selected source must match the relevant input port you connected the DVD player to.
If the input port is not marked with any wording or if you do not know the source used, turn on the DVD player and select one by one all the available sources for a time of 5-10 seconds, in order to check for the presence of an incoming video signal and identify the correct one
Step 6. Make sure the RCA cable is connected properly
If only the images are played, if you can only hear the audio signal, or if neither signal is reaching the television correctly, you may have made a mistake in making the connection. Make sure that all connectors are firmly connected to their respective jacks and that their colors match.
- If the video signal does not play on your TV, make sure the yellow connector is properly connected to the TV's input jack and the DVD player's output jack.
- If the audio signal is not reaching your TV, make sure that the red and white connectors are properly connected to the respective input jacks on the TV and the respective output jacks on the DVD player.
Method 4 of 5: Connect Using Component Cable (5 Connectors)
Step 1. Connect the connectors on one end of the connecting cable to their respective output jacks on the DVD player
The connection jacks are colored to match the green, blue, red, white and red connectors on the component cable. Normally the output jacks are grouped together and labeled "Output" or "Out". Look at the rear panel of the DVD player to find the correct group. Sometimes the green, blue and red output jacks (dedicated to the video signal) are separated from the red and white ones (dedicated to the audio signal). So make sure that all five connectors of the component cable are connected properly.
- As you may have already noticed, the component cable has two red connectors, which could be a bit confusing. To properly identify each connector, place the cable on a flat surface so that the connectors line up naturally, without tangling each other. The order of colors should be as follows: green, blue, red (video signal), white and red (audio signal).
- Some component cables have only the green, blue, and red connectors for the video signal. To carry the audio signal, you will need to use a second cable with white and red connectors, as could happen in the case of an RCA cable seen in the previous method.
Step 2. Connect the connectors on the other end of the cable to the TV's input jacks
As in the case of the DVD player, the input jacks relating to the connection via component cable are grouped together and characterized by a distinctive color on the television. Look for "Input" or "In". Normally the audio-video inputs of the TV are numbered in order to show which source to select to view the relevant signal.
Step 3. Make sure you connect the connectors firmly in the order of the colors
Make sure that the color that characterizes each of the connectors of the connecting cable matches the color that characterizes the respective output and input jacks on the DVD player and on the TV.
Step 4. Turn on the DVD player and TV
Insert a DVD into the player to be able to test the video and audio quality.
Step 5. Using your TV remote, select the correct video source by pressing the "Source" button, or in some cases, "Input"
This button on the remote control allows you to select the input port to which a particular device is connected to receive related audio and video information. The selected source must match the input port you connected the DVD player to.
If the input port is not marked with any wording or if you do not know the source used, turn on the DVD player and select one by one all the available sources for a time of 5-10 seconds, in order to check for the presence of a signal. incoming video and identify the correct one
Step 6. Make sure the component cable is connected properly
If only pictures are played back, if you can only hear the audio signal, or if neither signal is reaching your television correctly, you may have made a mistake in making the connection.
- If the video signal is not output from your TV, make sure the green, blue, and red color connectors are properly connected to their respective TV input jacks and DVD player output jacks.
- If the audio signal does not reach your TV, make sure that the red and white connectors are properly connected to the respective input jacks on the TV and the respective output jacks on the DVD player.
- Check carefully that the red connectors are properly connected to their respective jacks. If not, neither the video nor the audio signal will be reproduced correctly.
Method 5 of 5: Troubleshooting
Step 1. Make sure the DVD player is plugged into a working power outlet
In order to function properly, DVD players must be connected to a power outlet. So if you have any problems, first check that the device is powered properly.
Step 2. Check all input sources or Aux / AV channels your TV has
Contents played by a DVD player will be displayed by one of these channels, unlike contents played by old VCRs connected by RF cable that used one of the TV channels (usually those between 32 and 40).
On some TVs, the inputs are labeled according to the standard used, such as "HDMI", "AV" and "COMPONENT". Refer to the first method of this guide if you are unsure which type of link to use
Step 3. Try using a different link
In some cases the old connecting cables may be damaged or the connectors may no longer be able to guarantee a firm and perfect contact. The consequence could be a poor quality or even no connection. Try using a new connecting cable and find out if the problem is solved.
