What Is an RCA Cable? Types, Uses & What You Need in 2026

RCA cables have been connecting audio and video equipment for over 80 years — and despite the rise of HDMI and Bluetooth, they're still found in millions of homes, studios, and entertainment setups across the UK. Whether you're connecting a turntable to an amplifier, hooking up a games console from the 90s, or bridging older AV equipment to a modern TV, there's a good chance you'll need an RCA cable at some point.

This guide explains exactly what an RCA cable is, what the different colour connectors mean, which type you need for your setup, and how to buy the right one without wasting money.

An RCA cable is an analogue cable used to carry audio and video signals between devices. The "RCA" stands for Radio Corporation of America — the company that introduced the connector in the 1940s as a way to connect record players (phonographs) to amplifiers. That's also why RCA cables are sometimes called phono cables: short for phonograph.

Each RCA cable has a round, push-and-click connector at either end — one male plug and one female socket. The plug has a central pin (which carries the signal) surrounded by a metal collar (the ground). They're designed to be simple: push them in until they click, and pull them out to disconnect.

Today, RCA cables are widely used in home cinema systems, hi-fi amplifiers, turntables, subwoofers, mixing desks, older games consoles, and a range of AV equipment.

The most recognisable thing about RCA cables is their colour coding. Rather than one universal cable, a typical RCA set uses multiple plugs, each carrying a different signal, with colours to tell them apart.

Here's what each colour means:

Colour Signal type Used for

The red and white combination is the most common pairing you'll come across — it carries a standard stereo audio signal. Add a yellow cable alongside them and you have the classic three-cable composite AV setup used on everything from VCRs to early DVD players and older games consoles.

Not all RCA cables are the same. The type you need depends entirely on what you're connecting and what signal it carries.

The most widely used type. A standard stereo RCA cable carries two channels of audio: right (red) and left (white). You'll find this setup on amplifiers, hi-fi receivers, CD players, turntables, subwoofers, and many modern TVs and soundbars.

Use Maplin's Twin RCA Phono to Twin RCA Phono Cable to connect audio source to amplifier, or the 3m extension cable when you need extra reach.

Adding a yellow cable to the red and white pair gives you a composite AV setup — the standard for older televisions, VHS players, DVD players, camcorders, and retro games consoles (think PlayStation 2, Nintendo 64, SEGA Mega Drive). The yellow connector carries an analogue video signal; the red and white carry the accompanying stereo audio.

Maplin's Triple RCA Phono to Triple RCA Phono Cable covers this setup in a single cable.

Component video splits the video signal across three cables (red, green, and blue) to carry higher-quality, higher-resolution video than composite. You'll encounter this on DVD players, Blu-ray players, and games consoles from the mid-2000s (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii) that predated widespread HDMI adoption. Component video can carry up to 1080i HD resolution — significantly better than composite.

Note: component video cables carry video only — you'll still need a separate red and white stereo audio pair alongside them.

Subwoofers connect to AV receivers using a single RCA cable — this is a mono connection carrying only the low-frequency effects (LFE) channel, also known as the ".1" in a 5.1 surround sound system. It looks identical to other RCA cables but carries just the one signal.

A digital coaxial cable looks like an RCA cable but carries a digital audio signal rather than an analogue one. Often colour-coded orange, it's used to connect devices like CD players, set-top boxes, and game consoles to amplifiers, DACs, and soundbars that have a coaxial digital input. It can carry Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound — something standard analogue RCA cannot do.

The connector is physically identical to a standard RCA plug, but the cable is built to a higher specification (75-ohm impedance) to handle the digital signal accurately. In a pinch, a regular RCA cable will work, but for the best results use a dedicated digital coaxial cable.

This is one of the most common modern uses for RCA cables. Nearly all turntables — from entry-level to audiophile — connect to an amplifier or phono preamp via a pair of RCA (phono) cables. The term "phono input" on an amplifier refers specifically to this connection, which carries a lower-level signal than standard line-level sources and requires specific amplification.

Older AV receivers and home cinema setups use RCA cables extensively — for connecting CD players, DVD players, and even some Blu-ray players. Subwoofers in almost all surround sound systems connect via a single RCA cable regardless of how new the equipment is.

RCA cables are essential for connecting retro consoles to modern TVs. Most classic gaming systems — from the Atari 2600 right through to the PlayStation 2 and original Xbox — used composite or component RCA outputs. Maplin's Retro Gaming Converter Kit is designed exactly for this, converting RCA/composite signals to HDMI so you can play on a modern screen.

Many camcorders from the 1990s and 2000s use composite RCA connections. If you want to digitise old home videos or connect a camcorder to a TV for playback, you'll need a composite RCA cable.

Professional and semi-professional audio equipment often uses RCA connections alongside balanced XLR connections. Our XLR Female to RCA Phono Cable bridges the gap between professional balanced equipment and consumer RCA gear.

Many soundbars and TVs retain RCA connections (often the red and white 3.5mm-to-RCA combo) as a fallback audio input. If you want to connect a device without HDMI ARC or optical audio, RCA is a reliable option.

RCA HDMI

When to choose RCA: Your device is older and doesn't have HDMI; you're connecting a turntable; you need a subwoofer connection; you're working with analogue audio equipment.

When to choose HDMI: Your devices support it and you want the best audio/video quality in a single cable. For more on HDMI, read our complete guide to HDMI.

If you want to connect an older RCA device to a modern HDMI TV — or vice versa — you'll need a converter box, not just an adapter cable (because you're converting between analogue and digital signals, which requires active processing).

RCA to HDMI: Connect an older games console, DVD player, or camcorder to a modern TV. Maplin's RCA to HDMI Converter upscales composite video to 1080p @ 60Hz.

HDMI to RCA: Connect a modern streaming device or Blu-ray player to an older TV with only RCA inputs. Our HDMI to RCA Converter handles this in the opposite direction.

Want to modernise an entire older AV setup in one go? The Maplin AV Modernisation Kit bundles everything you need.

1. Identify the outputs on your source device (e.g. DVD player, turntable, games console). These will be female RCA sockets, usually colour-coded red and white for audio, yellow for video.

2. Identify the inputs on your destination device (e.g. amplifier, TV, projector). Match the same colour coding — red to red, white to white, yellow to yellow.

3. Push each RCA plug firmly into the matching socket until you feel slight resistance and the connector is snug. RCA connectors don't lock, so a secure fit is important.

4. Switch your TV or amplifier to the correct input — usually labelled AV, AUX, VIDEO, or the specific input number (e.g. "AV1").

5. Test the connection. You should have picture and sound immediately. If not, double-check each connection is fully seated and you've selected the correct input on your display or amplifier.

For help if things don't work first time, see our guide to diagnosing and replacing faulty cables.

Before anything else, know which signal you're carrying — stereo audio (2-cable), composite AV (3-cable), component video (5-cable), or digital coaxial. Buying the wrong type will mean no signal regardless of cable quality.

RCA is an analogue signal, and like all analogue signals it can degrade over very long runs. For home use, cables up to 5–10m will generally perform well. Beyond that, you may notice interference or signal loss. Buy a length that reaches comfortably without excessive slack — unnecessary length adds potential for interference and tangling.

A well-shielded cable resists electromagnetic interference (EMI) — the hum or buzz you sometimes hear in audio setups. Look for cables with braided or foil shielding, especially if your cables will run near power cables or other electrical equipment. Maplin's Pro Braided 3.5mm to Twin RCA Cable uses braided sheathing for exactly this reason.

Gold-plated connectors resist oxidation and corrosion over time, maintaining a clean signal. They're worth the marginal cost difference, particularly in permanent or semi-permanent installations.

Sometimes you don't need a standard RCA-to-RCA cable — you need a conversion cable to bridge different connector types. Common combinations include:

• 3.5mm (headphone jack) to twin RCA — for connecting a phone, laptop, or tablet to an amplifier: Maplin 3.5mm to Twin RCA Cable
• 6.35mm (¼" jack) to twin RCA — for connecting musical instruments or professional audio equipment: Maplin 6.35mm to Twin RCA Cable
• USB-C to twin RCA — for connecting a modern laptop or phone to an older amp: Maplin USB-C to Twin RCA Cable
• Digital optical/coaxial to analogue RCA — for converting a digital audio output to analogue RCA inputs: Maplin Digital Optical Coax to RCA Converter

For a broader look at audio cable types and jack plug sizes, see our guide to jack plugs and cables.

• Check each plug is fully inserted — RCA connectors can feel seated when they're not
• Confirm you've selected the correct input on your TV or amplifier
• Try swapping cables to rule out a faulty individual cable
• Check for bent or dirty connector pins

A low-frequency hum in audio equipment is almost always a ground loop — caused by two connected devices sharing different electrical ground paths. Solutions include:

• Keeping cable runs short and away from mains power cables
• Using a ground loop isolator
• Ensuring all connected devices share the same mains socket or extension lead

• Confirm you're using a composite cable (red/white/yellow), not a stereo-only cable for the video connection
• Check the yellow connector is plugged into the video-out on the source and video-in on the display
• Try a replacement cable — composite video is particularly susceptible to signal degradation in lower-quality cables

• Worn or oxidised connectors can cause cutting in and out. Clean the connectors with a dry cotton cloth or specialist contact cleaner
• If the connector collar is loose, the cable may need replacing

Browse the full range of RCA phono cables and adapters at Maplin, including:

• Twin RCA Phono to Twin RCA Phono Cable — stereo audio connections
• Triple RCA to Triple RCA Cable, 3m — composite AV (red/white/yellow)
• 3.5mm to Twin RCA Cable — phone/laptop to amplifier
• RCA to HDMI Converter — older devices to modern TV
• HDMI to RCA Converter — modern devices to older TV
• Retro Gaming Converter Kit — classic consoles on your modern screen
• AV Modernisation Kit — complete solution for older AV equipment

Not sure which cable type is right for you? Our cable types overview covers all the common connectors in plain English. For guidance on setting up active or passive speakers alongside your RCA equipment, see our guide to active vs passive speakers.