Which Cable for My TV?
The sockets on the back of a TV tell you which cables you need. This guide goes through each socket you are likely to find, what plugs into it, and the cables for the most common jobs, from connecting a TV box or games console to adding a soundbar, getting online or wall mounting the TV.
The sockets on your TV and the cables they take
| Socket | What it looks like | Cable you need |
|---|---|---|
| HDMI | Flat socket with one long side wider than the other, usually several on the side or back | An HDMI cable for TV boxes, consoles, streaming sticks, laptops and soundbars. See our HDMI cable guide |
| Aerial (RF or ANT IN) | Round push-on socket | A TV aerial lead from the wall socket. See our TV aerial cable guide |
| Satellite (SAT or LNB) | Small threaded socket for a screw-on F plug | A satellite cable from the dish, for TVs with a built-in satellite tuner. See our satellite cable guide |
| Power | Figure 8, cloverleaf or kettle style socket | A mains lead with the matching connector. See our TV power cable guide |
| Digital audio out (optical) | Small square socket, often with a dust flap, which may glow red when in use | A Toslink optical cable, 1m to 10m, to a soundbar or AV receiver |
| Headphone or audio out | Round 3.5mm socket | Headphones, or a 3.5mm to phono cable to a hi-fi or powered speakers |
| LAN or Ethernet | Square socket with a clip, like a router port | An Ethernet cable to your router for a steadier internet connection than Wi-Fi |
| USB | Small flat rectangular socket | Memory sticks for photos and videos, or power for a streaming stick. A USB extension cable helps when the socket is hard to reach |
| Scart or AV in | Large 21 pin socket, or a small AV IN socket on some newer TVs | A Scart lead for older recorders and consoles; a small AV IN socket usually needs the adapter supplied with the TV |
Cables for common jobs
| I want to connect | What you need |
|---|---|
| A Sky, Virgin Media, Freeview or Freesat box | An HDMI cable from the box to the TV, plus the aerial or satellite cable into the box. A Premium High Speed HDMI cable suits 4K boxes |
| A PS5, Xbox Series X or gaming PC | An Ultra High Speed HDMI cable into an HDMI 2.1 socket on the TV, for 4K at 120Hz |
| A streaming stick | It plugs straight into an HDMI socket. If the sockets are crowded or face the wall, a short HDMI extension lead gives it room. Some sticks need their own power supply rather than the TV's USB socket |
| A laptop | An HDMI cable, or a USB C to HDMI cable if the laptop has USB C video. See laptops and older screens |
| A box or console in another room | A long HDMI cable, fibre optic HDMI cable or HDMI extender over network cable |
| The internet | An Ethernet cable from the router, such as our CAT5e cables up to 50m, or a flat network cable to run under carpets |
Soundbars, hi-fis and speakers
- HDMI ARC or eARC: the best choice when both the TV and soundbar have it. One HDMI cable carries the sound, and the TV remote can control the volume. Use the TV socket marked ARC or eARC.
- Optical: a Toslink cable carries stereo and 5.1 surround sound to soundbars and AV receivers without HDMI ARC. We stock lengths from 0.5m to 20m.
- Older hi-fi or speakers with phono inputs: use the TV's headphone or audio out socket with a 3.5mm to phono cable, or an optical to phono converter on the optical output.
Older TVs and equipment
- Both have Scart: a fully wired Scart lead, 0.5m to 20m. See our Scart lead guide.
- A modern HDMI box on an older TV with no HDMI: an HDMI to composite converter, which feeds the TV's AV input, or its Scart socket with a Scart to phono adapter. The picture is standard definition.
- Camcorders and media players with a 3.5mm AV output: a 3.5mm to 3 phono cable. Makers wire these sockets differently, so check your device first.
Wall mounted TVs
- Hiding the cables: an HDMI wall plate gives a neat socket behind the TV and another by the TV unit, and a brush plate lets several cables pass through the wall tidily.
- Sockets facing the wall: angled and swivel HDMI cables, angled aerial plugs and angled power leads keep the TV close to the wall. See the guides below for each.
- Any mains cable inside a wall must be installed by a qualified electrician; low voltage cables such as HDMI and aerial can run through a wall plate.
Our cable guides
- HDMI cable guide: which HDMI cable, long HDMI, adapters, splitters and switches
- TV aerial cable guide: aerial leads, plugs and sockets, splitters and fitting your own
- Satellite cable guide: Sky, Freesat and Virgin Media cables, extensions and F plugs
- TV power cable guide: figure 8, cloverleaf and kettle leads
- Audio cable guide: phono, jack and optical leads, speaker cables and converters
- USB cable guide: mini, micro and USB C cables, extensions and hubs
- Scart lead guide: Scart leads, adapters, splitters and older TVs
Not sure which cable your TV needs? Call us on 0207 100 4874 or contact us and we will help.