Setup a Nintendo Wii on an HDTV

The Nintendo Wii does not support high definition resolutions (1080p, 1080i, 720p). It comes standard with composite cables (yellow for video, red and white for audio) that only support 480i standard definition resolution. However, with the use of component cables (red, green, and blue for video; red and white for audio) the Wii can output 480p enhanced definition resolution (EDTV). This typically results in a smoother, cleaner, brighter, more vivid picture. For people with a Wii hooked up to an HDTV, component cables should provide a noticeable improvement in image quality.

Setup

Connect the component cable from the Wii to your HDTV’s component input. The input may be marked with “Y Pb Pr” or “Y Cb Cr” on your HDTV. Once the Wii is connected, power it on and enter the Wii’s system settings.

Go into the Screen Menu and set the Widescreen Settings to “Widescreen (16:9).” Click the Confirm button to save the setting. Then set the TV Resolution to “EDTV or HDTV (480p)” and confirm that setting as well.

The last step is to ensure that your HDTV’s component input is set to the correct picture/zoom mode. The proper mode is usually called “Full” or “16:9.” When set properly, the image on the HDTV screen should not be stretched or distorted in any way, nor should any of the image be cropped.

Surround Sound

To many people, video is only half of the experience. Fortunately the Wii also supports surround sound via Dolby Prologic II technology. If you have a surround sound receiver, you should set the Wii’s Sound Settings to “Surround” to utilize the Wii’s Dolby Prologic II capabilities. Note that you will also have to set your receiver’s input to Dolby Prologic II.