How to Connect a DVD Player to a Smart TV With No AV Inputs

You bring home a new smart TV, unpack your DVD player, and discover something annoying: the television has only HDMI ports. The yellow, white, and red cables from your old player have nowhere to go. Do not panic — there are several clean ways to connect a DVD player to an HDMI-only TV, and most of them cost very little. This guide explains each option so you can keep watching your disc collection.

Option 1: Use a DVD Player With HDMI Output

The simplest solution is also the best for picture quality. If your DVD player has an HDMI port, you only need a single HDMI cable. Connect one end to the player’s HDMI output and the other to any HDMI input on the TV, select the matching input, and you are done. This carries both video and audio as a clean digital signal and supports upscaling if the player offers it.

Option 2: RCA to HDMI Converter

If your player only has the yellow-white-red RCA outputs, buy an RCA-to-HDMI converter. These small boxes take the analog signal and convert it to digital HDMI. Plug the RCA cables into the converter, run an HDMI cable from the converter to the TV, and power the converter with the included USB adapter. This is an inexpensive fix, but the picture will be limited by the player’s analog output and will not be as sharp as a native HDMI connection.

Option 3: Component to HDMI Converter

Some DVD players have component outputs (green, blue, red for video plus red and white for audio), which produce a better analog picture than composite. A component-to-HDMI converter preserves that quality while adapting the signal for your TV. It costs a little more than a composite converter but delivers a noticeably cleaner image.

What to Avoid

• Cheaper cable adapters. A cable that simply rewires RCA to HDMI cannot work, because the signals are fundamentally different. You need an active converter with electronics inside.
• Connecting through a VCR or older device. It adds another analog conversion step and degrades the picture unnecessarily.
• Forgetting power. Most converters need a USB power cable; plug it into the TV’s USB port or a wall adapter.

Audio Setup After Connection

HDMI carries audio, so once the picture is on screen, sound usually follows automatically. If you hear no audio, check the TV’s input settings and make sure the player is outputting audio over HDMI rather than only through the RCA jacks. If you use a soundbar or receiver, run the HDMI cable through it or connect the player’s audio output directly to it.

Setting Up Step by Step

1. Choose the right connection method for your player (HDMI, RCA converter, or component converter).
2. Turn off the TV and the DVD player before connecting cables.
3. Plug the cables into the matching colored jacks or ports.
4. Power on both devices and select the correct HDMI input on the TV.
5. Play a disc and adjust the player’s video output settings to match your TV.

Upgrading to an HDMI Player

If you use a converter and the picture still looks soft, consider a new DVD player with native HDMI output. Modern models are inexpensive, support 1080p upscaling, and remove the analog conversion step that softens the image. Many also support HDMI-CEC, which lets you control the player with your TV remote over the same HDMI cable, reducing the number of remotes on the coffee table. For most people, the upgrade is worth the modest cost.

Need a DVD player that connects directly to any smart TV? Browse our range of DVD players with HDMI output, and explore the DVD player collection to find a model that fits your setup.