This article will show you how to hook up Roku to TV without HDMI. With the advancement in the sophistication of smartphones came the boom of streaming services globally; people could now watch their favorite movies on their mobile devices, on-demand.
With time, our TVs have also gotten more intelligent and can also deliver the same services that were once limited to our phones; there’s no longer a reliance on cable television to stay up-to-date on the best entertainment.
Roku devices are digital media players which offer users access to streaming media content from various online services. As with most new media devices, Roku connects to your TV via HDMI; however, it’s not a hopeless situation if, for one reason or the other, you want to hook up Roku to TV without HDMI.
How To Hook Up Roku To TV Without HDMI
We would look at two ways you can hook up Roky to TV without HDMI– using an HDMI to RCA adapter and through the Roku Express Plus model; let’s dive in!
1. Hook Up Roku To TV Without HDMI Using HDMI to RCA Adapter
Before HDMI became as popular as it is now, people connected most media devices to TVs through RCA cables. These were tri-colored cords plugged between your media device and the TV.
Despite RCA connections waning lately, most new TVs still have RCA ports, and your older TV surely has it.
If you want to connect your Roku to TV without HDMI and want to use an RCA connection, below are the steps to follow:
- You would need to get an RCA to HDMI Adapter; this device converts the audio/visual signals transmitted to your Roku device’s HDMI port and sends it out to the other end through RCA ports.
- Switch on your Roku device and connect an HDMI cable from your Roku to the HDMI end of the adapter. If your Roku device is a Roku Streaming Stick Plus, plug it directly into the adapter.
- You would notice that the other side of the adapter has colors on each port; plug one end of an RCA cable into the adapter, ensuring that you put each cable into the correct port based on color.
- Plug the other end of the RCA cable into any of the A/V ports on your TV. If your TV has multiple A/V ports, take note of which one you plugged your cable.
- With your remote, switch your TV’sTV’s input source to the particular A/V input you plugged the RCA cable into; you should be able to stream the hits you desire on your TV successfully.
2. Using the 2018 Roku Express Plus model
Most media device manufacturers would attest that HDMI is the global connection of choice between devices.
However, a significant number of users who might not have an HDMI-compliant TV or the HDMI port doesn’t work. To cater to this customer base, Roku in 2018 released the Roku Express Plus.
The Roku Express Plus comes with RCA cables used to connect the device to older TVs, along with the HDMI connection that other Roku devices favor. To hook up the Roku Express Plus to your TV, follow the steps below:
- The RCA ports on your Roku Express Plus are at the back of the device; plug the cable into the ports with corresponding colors.
- Plug the other end of the RCA cables into the port on your TV; if your TV has multiple A/V ports, take note of the one into which you’ve just plugged the cable.
- Switch on your TV and Roku device; switch the input source to the A/V input into which you plugged the cables with your TV remote.
Related: 5 Fixes for Roku AirPlay Not Working
If I Hook Up Roku To TV Without HDMI, Would It Affect Display Quality?
One of the most significant advantages of an HDMI connection is the superior visual quality you get by using it; some Roku devices even offer up to 4k viewing quality via HDMI.
However, using RCA as a means of connecting your Roku to TV means there would be a dropoff in the display quality.
The Roku device does not cause this; instead, it’s because RCA cables are not great at transmitting High-Definition video quality; in fact, you’d struggle to find an RCA connection that gives you a solid 720p video quality.
So, yes, there would be a significant drop in picture quality if you hook up Roku to TV without HDMI.
