Scart Lead Guide
Scart is the large 21 pin connector found on older TVs, video recorders, DVD players, set top boxes and retro games consoles. This guide explains what a Scart lead carries, which lead or adapter you need, how to connect several devices to one Scart socket, and how to connect Scart equipment to a modern TV.
What a Scart lead carries
- Picture and sound in one lead: a Scart lead carries stereo sound as well as the picture, in either direction, so one lead can play from a recorder and also record from a TV box.
- Picture types: composite video, the basic picture; RGB, a sharper and more colourful picture used by most DVD players and set top boxes; and on some equipment, S-Video. All are standard definition.
- Fully wired leads have all 21 pins connected. They carry RGB and work in both directions, so they suit every use. Some cheaper leads leave pins out and may only give a basic picture.
- For the sharpest picture, use a fully wired lead and set the player or box to RGB output, if your TV's Scart socket supports it.
Which Scart lead do I need?
| Job | What you need |
|---|---|
| DVD player, recorder, set top box or console to a TV, both with Scart | A fully wired Scart to Scart lead, such as our 21 pin Scart cable, 0.5m to 20m, or our gold plated mini coax lead, 1.5m to 5m |
| Equipment on the other side of the room | A longer lead, such as our 10m fully wired lead or the Scart cable up to 20m |
| Scart picture to the TV, sound to a hi-fi | A Scart to Scart lead with two extra phono plugs that carry the left and right sound to the hi-fi |
| Camcorder, console or player with yellow, red and white phono plugs to a Scart TV | A Scart to 3 phono cable, 1.5m or 5m, or the switchable version, which can also take the picture out of the Scart socket to a recorder |
| Camcorder or media player with a 3.5mm AV socket | A camcorder AV cable to phono, then a Scart to phono adapter |
Scart adapters: check the direction
A Scart to phono adapter plugs into a Scart socket and gives yellow (video), red and white (sound) phono sockets. The signal only goes one way through most adapters, so choose the right one:
| Adapter | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Input (phono to Scart) | Playing a phono device, such as a camcorder or console, on a Scart TV: our 3 phono to Scart adapter |
| Output (Scart to phono) | Taking the picture and sound out of a Scart device, such as a set top box, to a phono input: our Scart to 3 phono adapter |
| Switchable | Either direction, set by a small switch: our switchable 3 phono adapter, the switchable S-Video adapter, and our Scart adapter with phono and S-Video sockets |
If you get no picture through an adapter, the direction is the first thing to check; on a switchable adapter, try the other switch position.
Several devices on one Scart socket
- Splitter boxes let 2, 3 or 5 devices share one Scart socket on the TV, such as our black and silver splitter boxes. Use one device at a time, with the others switched off or on standby.
- Switch boxes choose between two devices with a switch, so both can stay on, such as our 2 way switch box and 2 way switch.
- A splitter lead sends one source to two Scart devices, such as a TV box to a TV and a recorder: our 2m Scart splitter cable.
Scart and modern TVs
- Old Scart equipment to a new TV with no Scart: Scart is analogue and HDMI is digital, so a plain Scart to HDMI cable will not work. You need a powered Scart to HDMI converter. Some newer TVs have a small AV IN socket instead, which takes the adapter supplied with the TV and a Scart to phono adapter.
- A modern HDMI box or console on an older Scart TV: an HDMI to composite converter, then a phono to Scart adapter into the TV. The picture is standard definition.
- For the cables a modern TV uses, see our guides which cable for my TV? and the HDMI cable guide.
S-Video, composite and component
| Connection | What it is | Cable |
|---|---|---|
| Composite (3 phono) | Yellow phono for the picture, red and white for the sound | A 3 phono to 3 phono cable, 1m to 10m, or 25m |
| S-Video | Small round 4 pin plug; a sharper picture than composite, but no sound | An S-Video cable, 3m to 20m, or extension. To a Scart TV, a Scart to S-Video and audio cable, if the TV supports S-Video through Scart; not all do |
| Component | Red, green and blue phono plugs for the picture, up to HD; sound needs a separate lead | A component video cable |
Not sure which Scart lead you need? Call us on 0207 100 4874 or contact us and we will help.