The HDMI standard is the most used to provide multimedia content from devices such as TV Box, Chromecast and Fire T V, but also decoders, Blu-Ray players and other digital entertainment devices (consoles, home theater etc.). For TVs and PC monitors released before 2006 it is difficult to find this port among the connection methods available, thus relegating these display devices to the cellar or attic waiting to be disposed of. If we have an old cathode ray tube TV, one of the first plasma TVs or an old first generation LCD monitor, let's not throw them away, but give them new life! In this guide we will show you the HDMI adapters to be used to connect a TV Box or an HDMI device to an old TV or dated PC monitor spending very little money (much less than buying a new monitor or a new TV, where we must estimate at least 150-200 € of expenditure).
READ ALSO -> Connect PC or laptop to TV to watch videos and movies
1) HDMI to SCART adapters
If we have an HDMI device that we want to connect to an old cathode ray tube TV or one of the first flat televisions with plasma technology, one of the fastest and most practical methods to make the connection is to use an HDMI-SCART converter, which transmits the digital signal in the analog signal normally manageable via SCART cable. The advantage of this type of connection is that along with the video the audio will also pass on the SCART cable, so that you do not have to use other connections or cables to manage the sound part.
The best device we recommend trying to connect is ESYNiC HDMI to SCART Converter, available here -> ESYNiC HDMI to SCART Converter (€ 23).
The HDMI cable of the device we want to connect is inserted in the INPUT port (TV Box, modern console, SKY decoder etc.) while in the OUTPUT port we have to insert the SCART cable to be used on the television.
Select the right video signal (in our case the signal is PAL, then move the small sliding button if necessary) and connect the USB power cable included in the converter package to be able to immediately supply energy and obtain the video and audio signal for a good quality (we are not on the levels manageable with native HDMI but the quality defends itself very well on the TVs which at the time were of excellent quality). In order to properly exploit this converter we will have to use a SCART cable and a USB charger for mobile phones (if our HDMI device does not have usable USB ports, otherwise those included are fine), plus possibly an HDMI cable if we do not have one available.
The cables and the charger needed for the adapter can be seen below:
- HAMA Scart M / Scart M cable, 1.5 meters, 21 poles (€ 4)
- Aukru 5v 2000mA USB Wall Charger (6 €)
- AmazonBasics - High speed HDMI 2.0 cable (€ 6)
2) HDMI to Composite (AV) adapters
Do we have an even older TV or monitor that only has Composite AV inputs, i.e. the classic colored RCA plugs?
In this case we will have to use the converter GHB Adapter from HDMI to AV signal, available here -> Adapter from HDMI to AV signal (12 €).
With this small device we will be able to transform the HDMI signal (the cable of the same name must be connected to the INPUT port) into a composite AV signal, available on the pins on the OUTPUT panel; with this device we will get both audio and video by connecting the plugs of the right color.
The device is powered by a USB cable that we can connect to a wall charger or directly to the HDMI device, if it has free USB ports.
We select PAL as video signal and connect all the plugs necessary to enjoy the content transmitted via HDMI even on old TVs ( the quality with this type of connection is not exceptional but to arrange is more than good ). Also in this case we need cables and a power supply for the device, which we can find in the list below.
- Bolongking RCA cable with 3 connectors (5 €)
- Aukru 5v 2000mA USB Wall Charger (6 €)
- AmazonBasics - High speed HDMI 2.0 cable (€ 6)
3) HDMI to VGA adapters
If instead we have an old CRT monitor or one of the first LCD monitors released on the market, we will find VGA as the gateway.
In order to be able to use it with HDMI devices too, we will need to get the Musou HDMI to VGA adapter converter, available here -> Musou HDMI to VGA adapter (€ 9).
The procedure for connecting it is completely similar to that seen with the other adapters: the HDMI cable is connected to the INPUT port and the VGA cable is connected to the OUTPUT port, so as to obtain a good video signal that can be managed without problems by the old monitors ; the VGA port does not transmit the audio (which is instead present in the HDMI source), but the audio can be transmitted via Jack cable from the AUDIO port on the OUTPUT panel.
The device is powered by a USB cable, which we can connect to a wall charger or to a free USB port on the PC.
The cables and the charger that we can possibly purchase to take full advantage of this device can be found in the following list.
- AmazonBasics - VGA to VGA connector adapter cable (8 €)
- AmazonBasics - Male to Male 3.5mm Stereo Audio Cable (€ 6)
- Aukru 5v 2000mA USB Wall Charger (6 €)
- AmazonBasics - High speed HDMI 2.0 cable (€ 6)
READ ALSO: Differences between HDMI and VGA cable, and between DVI and DisplayPort sockets
4) HDMI to DVI adapters
If we have a newer monitor or TV without HDMI ports but with a DVI connector, we can take advantage of this type of port without the need to buy a converter, since the signal is digital on both technologies!
In this case it is sufficient to use a bi-directional HDMI-DVI cable such as the one available here -> Rankie HDMI cable on DVI (24 + 1 Dual Link), CL3, Bi-Directional (6 €).
Just connect the HDMI socket of the cable to the multimedia device and the DVI socket to the monitor or TV to immediately start viewing the content at the highest quality (on the paper there is no loss, so the signal is at the same quality as the source).
In this case, however, it is not possible to pass the audio as the DVI standard does not support it ; if audio is essential for you and we cannot transmit it in any other way, we can use the HDMI to DVI-I converter with separate audio, such as the one available here -> CableDeconn Multiport 4-in-1 HDMI (€ 18).
We connect the HDMI cable supplied with this device to our HDMI source (a TV Box, a decoder etc.), then we connect the DVI cable to the homonymous port and a 3.5 mm Jack cable in the specific port to convey the audio.
The device also allows you to connect a VGA cable or another HDMI output cable if we wanted to separate the video stream on several different sources with different connections; finally this converter is powered by a USB cable to be placed on a wall charger or on a free USB port.
The cables and the charger that we can possibly purchase to take full advantage of the converter are below.
- AmazonBasics - Male to Male 3.5mm Stereo Audio Cable (€ 6)
- Aukru 5v 2000mA USB Wall Charger (6 €)
- AmazonBasics DVI to DVI cable 2 m (8 €)
If we want to read a complete guide on how to make any television Smart (even these older models) we can read the guide available below.
READ ALSO -> Watch videos and movies on TV streaming from PC with Chromecast
