How to Connect a Wii to an LCD TV

When you bring your Wii home or it arrives at your door, all you want to do is plug it in and play. Like most modern video game consoles, the Wii is pleasantly simple to connect to most TV sets. If you are connecting the Wii to an LCD TV, you probably have some options as to how to connect it.

Once you have unpacked all of the components included with your Wii console, the first thing you should do is find a location for the game console itself. The Wii can stand vertically or horizontally, and includes a console stand for vertical placement. If you wish to place the Wii in a horizontal position, simply place it on a level surface. Make sure it is in a location that will be close enough to connect to the LCD TV. It should also be easy to access, so that you can insert and remove game discs and reach the Wii console buttons without difficulty.

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The next step is to connect the Wii to the LCD TV. You will notice that the Wii comes standard with an AV cable. If you wish to connect the Wii to the LCD TV using this cable, the steps are very straightforward. Simply insert the multi-out plug, which is the flat end with a single connector, into the "AV Multi Out" port on the Wii game console. The other end of the AV cable has three plugs: a yellow video connector; a white left audio connector; and a red right audio connector. Most LCD TVs offer several AV ports, on the back, side or front of the television. Find three AV ports and plug the yellow connector into the yellow port, the white connector into the white port and the red plug into the red port.

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However, you might only have one set of AV ports on your LCD TV. Perhaps this is already in use by a different game console or another device, such as your DVD player. If you want to leave the existing device connected to the LCD TV but would like to also connect the Wii console, you have a couple of different options. One is to purchase an AV composite video splitter, sometimes called AV distribution amps. This adapter may allow you to connect the Wii along with other devices, even if there is only one set of AV jacks on your LCD TV.

LCD TVs typically have HDMI ports, which are used to connect other high definition devices to the television. While Wii games are not yet high definition, you may be able to use this port to connect the Wii to the LCD TV. This connection would require the use of an HDMI to AV adapter, such as a Component AV to HDMI converter. This device allows you to connect AV sources, such as the Wii to HDMI displays, such as an LCD TV. There are a couple of caveats to consider regarding this solution, though. First, it is important to note that Nintendo does not support this type of connection. While some users have successfully used this type of connection, you might experience poor quality audio or video, or it might not work at all. Second, you should consider the cost. This type of converter sells for around $200.

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Fortunately, there is finally an affordable, effective option that you can use. The Wii2HDMI converter, available from Neoya, costs about $40 and enables you to connect your Wii to any HDMI AV receiver or HDTV. This plug and play converter outputs both audio and video in full digital HDMI format. It supports all Wii display modes, as well. It is important to remember that the Wii's max output is only a 480p resolution, no matter what type of connection you use.

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Did you know you could connect your Wii to the web? An Internet connection will allow you to play against friends, download games and more. Find out more in the Bright Hub tutorial How to Connect Wii to the Internet to Play Wii Online.