Filters
Search

Secure Checkout
No Sales Tax collected On Orders Shipping Outside NY State.
FREE SHIPPING FOR MOST ORDERS OVER $99
Same Day Shipping! For many in stock items if order received by 2PM EST.
No Sales Tax collected On Orders Shipping Outside NY State.
Search

What is CART ID?
Search
Your Shopping Cart Is Empty


Secure Checkout

Cables Blog

Shop Cables for Sale - Fiber Optic Cables, Network Cables, Outdoor Cables, Bulk Ethernet Cables, Cat6 Cables, Cat5 Cables, Cat5e Cables, Crypto Cables and Data Center Cables.



Does DVI support audio?

If you're trying to connect a computer to a monitor, TV or other display device with built-in speakers via a DVI cable, you might be wondering if DVI supports audio. Different interfaces have different technical specifications. Some transmit audio and video, whereas others only transmit video. So, does DVI support audio?

by Vikas Dayal • August 30, 2017

Audio/Video Cables


If you're trying to connect a computer to a monitor, TV or other display device with built-in speakers via a DVI cable, you might be wondering if DVI supports audio. Different interfaces have different technical specifications. Some transmit audio and video, whereas others only transmit video. So, does DVI support audio?

Overview of DVI

Designed by the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG) in April 1999, Digital Visual Interface (DVI) is a digital interface that's used to transmit video data from a computer to a display device.

Prior to its invention, video transmission was typically performed using VGA ports. The advent of the DVI interface, however, helped to standardize computer installations while also allowing for higher quality video. Furthermore, DVI cables are often longer than traditional VGA cables. You can use a 15-foot cable while still preserving a 1920 x 1200 resolution. Longer DVI cables can also be used, though a signal repeater is typically recommended to minimize signal degradation. For these reasons, DVI became the unofficial successor to VGA.

There are three different types of DVI cables:

  • DVI-I: reads both analog and digital signals.
  • DVI-D: the most common type, DVI-I reads only digital signals.
  • DVI-A: only reads analog signals.

Whether it's DVI-I, DVI-D or DVI-A, however, no standard DVI cable will transmit audio -- not without a little tweaking at least.

How to Transfer Audio Over DVI

If you want to transmit audio over DVI, you'll need to use a special DVI-to-HDMI cable. Assuming your computer's video card supports HDMI audio via DVI, this cable will allow you to transmit both video and audio using a single cable. The good news is that most modern video cards support this feature. If you have an older video card, however, you may have to upgrade it.

Unlike its DVI counterpart, the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) supports both video and audio. HDMI uses EIA/CEA-861 standards to define formats, compression rates and auxiliary data. Technical jargon aside, it's become the preferred interface because of its ability to transmit video and audio over a single cable.

A DVI-to-HDMI cable lives up to its namesake by taking DVI signals and transmitting them to an HDMI port. If the video card supports HDMI audio via DVI, however, it will transmit audio and video to the HDMI port. So, if you want to transmit audio over DVI, first check to see if this feature is supported by your computer's video card (you may need to install the latest driver). If it's supported, pick up a DVI-to-HDMI cable and connect your two devices.

Aside from a DVI-to-HDMI cable or similar adapter, you'll have to use two cables to transmit audio and video when using DVI. For instance, you can use a traditional DVI cable to transmit video and an analog audio cable to transmit audio. Of course, HDMI is the ideal interface for video and audio transmission. Being that not all devices feature HDMI ports, however, a DVI-to-HDMI cable may be your best option.


Are You Forgetting Something When You Toss Your Electronics?
How to connect two tvs with an HDMI cable

Recent Cables.com Posts

Why Buy Cat6A Ethernet Cables?
Watertight Cables for Extreme Weather
Why Buy Plenum Cat6 Cables?
Shopping Custom Cables at Cables.com
The Ins and Outs of Hospital-Grade Power Cords
What Do Fiber Optic Cable Colors Mean?
USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 Data Cables at Cables.com
HDMI Cables and Accessories at Cables.com
What Are the Best Outdoor Ethernet Cables?
Buy the Best Category6 Ethernet Cables at Cables.com

Categories

> A/V Cables
> Adapters
> AI
> Apple Products
> Artificial Intelligence
> Audio/Video Cables
> Bulk Cable Company
> Cable Company
> Cable Experts Online
> Cable Suppliers
> Cable Vendors
> Cable Warehouse
> Cable Wholesalers
> Cables on Demand
> Cables.com
> Cables.com News and Information
> Cat5e / Cat6 Cables
> Category 7 Ethernet Cables
> Cell Phone Cables
> Custom Cables
> Custom Fiber Optic Cables
> Data Center
> Datacomm Cables
> Fiber Optic Cables
> HDMI Cables
> Integrator
> Internet of Things (loT)
> Keystone Jacks
> Market Reports
> MIT Technology Review
> Network Patch Cables
> Network Patch Cords
> Network Topology
> New York Cable Company
> NY Cable Company
> Online Learning
> Outdoor Cables
> Patch Finder
> Patch Panels
> Power Cables
> Power Cords
> RapidRun
> Reseller
> Shielded Ethernet Cable
> Signal Conversion
> Solution Provider
> Supply Chain
> USB 3.0 Cables
> VAR
> Wholesale Cable
> Wholesale Cable Supplier
all

Audio/Video Cables

When Should You Buy a Coaxial Cable?
When Do You Need a Cable Splitter?
What is an SVGA Cable, and When Do You Need One?
Audio and Video Converters
What A/V Cable Do You Need?
Cable Adapters for Every Occasion
What is a DisplayPort Cable?
Why Do You Need an HDMI Cable?
Why Do You Need an SVGA Cable?
What Are Coaxial Cables?

Archives

February, 2024
January, 2024
December, 2023
November, 2023
October, 2023
September, 2023
August, 2023
July, 2023
June, 2023 more archive dates
archive article list

RSS


Easy Product Returns within 30 Days and Secure Shopping for your safety.