The Teorder RCA to HDMI Converter ($16 during today’s Amazon’s “Lightning” sale, or a still-reasonable $20 once the sale ends) is easy to use: just plug the composite-video cable and RCA audio cables from your VCR into one end of the converter, then plug an HDMI cable from your HDTV into the other end. The result: you’ll be able to play tapes from your VHS collection on your new HDTV, even if it’s a fancy 4K model.

Check out the Teorder RCA to HDMI Converter on Amazon!

More: How to connect your old VCR to a new HDTV

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So, what is “HDMI,” exactly? What does it stand for, and what does it do?

Short for “High-Definition Multimedia Interface,” HDMI is essentially a connector—or, yes, an interface—between video and audio components. What kind of components? Think HDTVs, game consoles (like the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360), Blu-ray disc players, HD DVRs (like the one you rent from your cable carrier), streaming-video boxes (like Apple TV or Roku), and home theater receivers (like those used to power surround speaker systems).

A pair of standard HDMI ports lurking in the back of an HDTV (mine, in this case).

Unlike the analog coaxial, composite-video, and S-Video connections on yesterday’s TVs, HDMI connections are all-digital, and they’re capable of transmitting both high-definition video and lustrous surround sound through a single cable.

HDMI cables aren’t the only kinds that handle HD video, mind you. So-called “component-video” cables, which boast a trio of plugs on each end, can transmit full-on HD video, as well. But component video is an analog, video-only connection—and besides, when it comes to the latest HDTVs, game consoles, and streaming TV set-top boxes, HDMI is the current standard.

Besides handling both digital video and audio signals, HDMI interfaces also support a copy-protection system known as High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection, or “HDCP” for short—something you’ll probably never need to worry about, unless you’re trying to record HD movies off your cable box.

Want to see what an HDMI port looks like? Just take a gander at the back of almost any HDTV set, and you’ll see one—or two, or three, or even more. They look like little rectangles, about a half-inch wide and a couple tenths of an inch high, with a “v” shape at the bottom corners.

An HDMI port on the back panel of a PlayStation 3.

A standard HDMI cable, meanwhile, will have twin “male” plugs on either end, with each plug a little less than half an inch long.

This type “A” HDMI connector is probably the only one you’ll ever have to worry about, although there are also smaller, “mini-HDMI” (or type “C”) plugs that you’ll find on certain high-end smartphones (like this one) capable of “mirroring” their displays on an HDTV set.

Making the HDMI connection between, say, a Blu-ray player and your HDTV is a snap. Just plug an HDMI cable into the HDMI port of the Blu-ray deck, plug the other end into an open HDMI port on your TV, and you’re set—both in terms of sound and picture.

Some newer, high-end smartphones boast “mini” HDMI ports, like this one.

Another possibility is to plug your Blu-ray player, game console, Apple TV, and other HDMI-equipped devices into the HDMI ports of a home-theater receiver, and then connect a single HDMI cable from the receiver to your HDTV. That way, your receiver will be able to send video from a selected source (like the Blu-ray player, or your Xbox) to your TV, while piping out Dolby or DTS surround sound through a set of home-theater speakers.

So, what kind of HDMI cables do you need? Nothing all that fancy. Unless you’re a home-theater professional laying down yards and yards of line, a standard HDMI 1.3 cable should do—and you shouldn’t have to pay more than about $10 for a six-foot cable.

Have more questions about HDMI, or home theater in general? Let me know!

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Roku ($49 to $99)

One of the best buys you’ll find in home video, period, the compact Roku TV set-top box delivers everything from streaming Netflix videos to TV shows from Hulu, professional hoops from the NBA, and even games like Angry Birds (if you get the $99 XS model). All you need is an HDMI-enabled TV and an Internet connection.

Apple TV ($99)

Yes, it’s twice as expensive as the cheapest Roku box, but the $99 Apple TV offers up some pretty compelling features for iPhone and iPad users—particularly the ability to wirelessly stream music and video from your handheld to a TV via the Apple TV’s “AirPlay” feature. Even better, the Apple TV will wirelessly “mirror” whatever is on your iPhone 4S’s or iPad 2’s screen (including the web browser, games, and the photo gallery) on your big-screen HDTV. You’ll also be able to rent movies from iTunes, stream your iCloud music collection, and watch streaming Netflix videos.

Related: Is Apple TV worth it?

Apple Digital AV Adapter ($39)

Here’s a stocking stuffer-priced alternative to Apple TV. Just plug the Digital AV Adapter into an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, connect the adapter to your HDTV via an HDMI cable, a presto—you can instantly stream videos, music, and music from your iDevice to your big-screen TV, or even “mirror” your iPhone 4S or iPad 2 display.

Optoma PK301 pocket projector ($399)

Small enough to fit in the palm, the battery-powered PK301 pocket projector connects to smartphones (including the iPhone and Android phones), tablets, laptops, and Blu-ray players, and it’s capable of displaying a 10-foot widescreen image onto a nearby screen or wall—perfect for turning your backyard into a drive-in. Pricey but eye-popping.

Harmony One universal remote ($199)

It’s been out on the market for a few years now, yet the Harmony One remains my favorite universal remote. Just launch the setup software on your PC or Mac, enter the makes and models of your various home theater devices (like your HDTV, Blu-ray player, game console, and streaming set-top box), sync the Harmony One remote with your system via the included USB cable, and you’re ready to go. Last step: gather up all your old remote controls and hide them in a drawer somewhere.

Disney WOW: World of Wonder Blu-ray calibration disc ($39)

Have someone on your list who just got a new HDTV and Blu-ray player? Help them get the best picture possible with this Blu-ray calibration set from Disney, which features step-by-step instructions for tweaking the settings on their big-screen TV, as well as a color filter for making sure blue skies aren’t too blue, grassy fields aren’t too green, and golden sunsets aren’t too golden.

Bargain HDMI cables ($10 or less)

You don’t have to spend $100 or even $50 on a standard HDMI cable, no matter what the clerks at your local big-box retailer say. Click here for tips and buying advice if you’re planning on tucking an HDMI cable or two under the tree.

Bonus: HDTV and Blu-ray player shopping
So, want to surprise a special someone on your list with an HDTV or Blu-ray player this year? Unfortunately, there are too many HDTVs and Blu-ray decks on the market for me to make specific recommendations; that said, check out my cheat sheet for first-time HDTV buyers, as well as some of my recent notes on Blu-ray.

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Andrea writes: I’m about to buy my first big flat-screen TV (finally) and a Blu-ray player, but I have a question about the HDMI cable that connects the Blu-ray to the TV set. How much do I need to spend on it? The guy at the store keeps trying to sell me a $100 HDMI cable with gold plugs, but that sounds awfully expensive to me. Help!

Hi Andrea, thanks for reading! And yes, you’re right: there’s no need to spend a hundred bucks on an HDMI cable that’s all of six feet long.

Now, don’t get me wrong; there are scenarios where an HDMI cable with quadruple shielding and gold-plated connectors will come in handy. But they typically involve distances greater than 15 or 20 feet, where factors like signal loss and interference may start to creep in.

You'll find one or more HDMI inputs on the back of your TV, or even on the side, as in this case.

In your case, though, I’m guessing your Blu-ray player will be sitting right next to your HDTV—and unless you’re a seriously obsessive videophile intent on scouring the picture with a microscope, just about any six-foot, garden-variety HDMI cable will do. (The video experts at Gizmodo ran a series of HDMI tests a few years back and came to pretty much the same conclusion.)

How much should you pay? Well, let me put it this way: I’ve never spent more than $10 on an HDMI cable, and I’m very happy with the picture quality on my 46-inch HDTV.

And where can you buy a cheap HDMI cable? Unfortunately, it’s very possible that your big-box store won’t stock bargain cables, probably because they’d rather sell you the expensive kind.

Instead, try an online retailer like Amazon (which sells six-foot HDMI cables for as little as $2 or $3), Monoprice (which specializes in home video equipment) and Blue Jeans Cable (ditto).

Confused about what kind of HDMI cable to get? For your typical HDTV sets, Blu-ray players, and streaming-video boxes (like Apple TV and Roku), you’ll need an HDMI cable with male-to-male Type A (that is, standard) connectors.

HDMI cables also come labeled with specification numbers, the most common being 1.3. An HDMI 1.3 cable will handle pretty much anything your Blu-ray player or streaming-video box can throw at it, including high-quality “lossless” audio formats (like Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio—and if you don’t know what lossless audio is, well … don’t worry about it for now) and even 3D video.

Have more questions about HDMI, or home video in general? Let me know!

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