Quick answer: An AV to HDMI adaptor takes the three RCA plugs from a set top box, DVD player or older console and outputs 1080p over HDMI, one way. Budget AU$30 to AU$65 with a 5 V mains supply included. Confirm PAL 576i support, a 4:3 to 16:9 switch and stereo audio embedding, because the average AU$18 unit handles NTSC only and turns PAL colour into black and white. Older consoles output 576i at 50 Hz, which is why a 60 Hz only unit jitters.
The three plug AV lead that came with a Wii, a PlayStation 2 or a 2010 Fetch box was designed for a CRT television. On a modern panel there is no yellow socket at all. An adaptor solves that, but only if it handles the 625 line 50 Hz standard used in Australia and lets you choose how a 4:3 picture sits on a 16:9 screen.
AV to HDMI for Set Top Boxes and Consoles
What the AV lead actually carries
A standard AV lead has three phono plugs: yellow composite video at 1 V peak to peak into 75 ohm, and white and red line audio at 2 V root mean square. Some consoles add a fourth plug for S-Video or use a multi-pin connector that breaks out to the same three signals. The adaptor only needs those three inputs to produce a usable HDMI stream.
Which sources benefit
Older Fetch and Foxtel boxes with no HDMI output, DVD players, a Wii, a PlayStation 2, a GameCube and VHS recorders all benefit. Anything that already has HDMI should stay on HDMI, since converting down and back up adds softness, delay and a power supply that fails in two years.
Composite, Component and the Yellow Socket
One yellow plug or three
Composite merges colour and brightness, which costs about 1.5 MHz of real detail and produces cross colour artefacts on fine patterns such as check shirts and scoreboards. Component keeps the three signals apart and holds detail up to 1080i, so a console with component output should use a component to HDMI box rather than a composite one.
Check the input sockets before buying. A composite only adaptor will not accept green, blue and red, and a component only box shows nothing from a yellow plug. Combination units cost about AU$15 more and are worth it where a household has both a Wii and a DVD player on the same shelf.
Scaling, Aspect Ratio and Latency
The adaptor deinterlaces 576i to 576p and scales to a fixed HDMI mode, usually 720p60 or 1080p60. A 4:3 picture stretched to 16:9 makes everyone wide, so use the aspect switch or the television setting, not the zoom button on the remote
Latency comes from the frame buffer and runs 16 to 50 ms. That is invisible for a news bulletin and noticeable in a racing game, where a 30 ms delay shifts braking points. Keep game consoles on the lowest latency mode the adaptor offers, even if that means 720p output.
| Source | Native output | Adaptor output | Latency (ms) | Price band (AUD) |
|---|
| DVD player | 576i composite | 1080p60 | 20 to 40 | AU$30 to AU$45 |
| Fetch box | 576i composite | 1080p60 | 20 to 45 | AU$35 to AU$55 |
| Wii | 576i composite | 720p60 | 16 to 35 | AU$30 to AU$50 |
| PlayStation 2 | 576i component | 1080p60 | 20 to 40 | AU$40 to AU$65 |
| VHS recorder | 576i composite | 720p60 | 25 to 50 | AU$30 to AU$50 |
Power, Mounting and Cable Choice
Supply and heat
Most units draw 5 V at 1 A through a micro USB socket and include a mains adaptor. A television USB port may not supply enough current, which shows as flicker on bright scenes. Mount the box where air can move around it, since the converter chip runs warm and a closed cabinet shortens its life.
Where the display sits far from the source, convert at the source and extend the digital side. An hdmi cable extender over Cat6 carries 1080p60 to 40 m for less than a long Premium certified lead, . If one adaptor must feed two screens, a powered hdmi splitter versus switch with EDID management prevents the source from dropping to 576p when one screen sleeps.
Pick the HDMI lead to suit the mode you settled on: 1080p60 needs 4.95 Gbit/s, which High Speed covers, and the hdmi cable rating categories guide explains the higher tiers for 4K displays. Send the source model and display details to zongcarrie@zh-zong.com or call +86 13543026126 for a matched adaptor quote in AUD.
Practical scenarios
- Situation: A Parramatta apartment keeps a Wii for family nights on a 55 inch OLED. What to do: Buy a composite AV to HDMI box with a 4:3 switch and set output to 720p60.
- Situation: A Cairns hotel needs six legacy set top boxes feeding a distribution amplifier. What to do: Convert each box at the rack, then split the HDMI outputs rather than the AV leads.
- Situation: A Brisbane townhouse has a DVD player and a soundbar with one HDMI input. What to do: Use an adaptor with audio embedding and feed the soundbar first, then the television.
- Situation: A Perth op shop tests donated consoles before sale. What to do: Keep one 1080p60 adaptor on the bench with a 5 V supply and a short certified HDMI lead.
FAQ
Will an AV to HDMI adapter work with a Foxtel box?
It works when the box has composite outputs enabled in its setup menu, which older Foxtel hardware does. Set the box to 576i and 4:3 or 16:9 to match the television, then let the adaptor scale. Newer boxes with HDMI should connect directly and skip the adaptor.
Why is the picture stretched?
The adaptor is scaling a 4:3 source to a 16:9 output without letterboxing. Either move the aspect switch on the adaptor to 4:3 or set the television to 4:3 or Just Scan rather than 16:9. Stretching cannot be reversed in the television once the adaptor has already filled the frame.
Does the adapter need a power supply?
Yes, every AV to HDMI adaptor contains an active converter chip and needs 5 V. Most ship with a mains adaptor or a USB lead, and a few draw power from the HDMI source, which is unreliable because HDMI supplies only 50 mA. Use the supplied supply.
