EIAJ-8: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 05:59, 2 February 2026

EIAJ-8 (also known as the Honda connector, RGB8, or 8-pin square connector / 8ピン角型端子) is a rectangular 8-pin connector standardized by the Electronic Industries Association of Japan (EIAJ). It was commonly used on Japanese monitors, televisions, and VTRs from the 1970s through the 1990s for carrying video and audio signals.

Overview

The EIAJ-8 connector features a distinctive rectangular housing with 8 pins arranged in two rows of four. Unlike round DIN connectors, the rectangular shape provides a more secure connection and prevents accidental disconnection.

The connector was originally developed by Honda Electric for use in video equipment, hence the alternative name "Honda connector." It was later adopted as an EIAJ standard and became common on:

Professional and consumer monitors (Sony, NEC, Sharp, Sanyo, Victor, Toshiba, Hitachi)
Video tape recorders (VTRs)
Computers with TTL-level digital RGB output (Fujitsu, General, NEC, Pioneer, Sharp)

Signal Types

The EIAJ-8 connector can carry different signal types depending on the application:

TTL RGB - TTL-level RGB with separate H-sync and V-sync (8 or 16 colors)
Analog video - Composite video with stereo audio (on VTR equipment)

Common Pinouts

TTL RGB (Monitor Input)

As used on monitors like the Sony Profeel Pro series (confirmed from Sony KV-1311CR manual):

Pin	Signal	Description
1	I (C CONT.)	Brightness/Intensity control (only 8 colors if N.C.)
2	R	Red input (TTL)
3	G	Green input (TTL)
4	B	Blue input (TTL)
5	GND	Ground
6	N.C. / GND	Not connected or Ground
7	HSync	Horizontal sync (TTL, active low)
8	VSync	Vertical sync (TTL, active low)

Compatible Equipment

Monitors with EIAJ-8 Digital RGB Input

Sanyo CMT-145F, CMT-A14F1
Sharp CU-14F1, CU-14P1
Sony CPD-14CD1, KV-1311CR, KV-14CP1, KV-14MD1, KX-13CD1, KX-14CP1, KX-14HD1, KX-21HV1, KX-27HGB1, KX-27HV1
Toei FTC-1201, FTC-1208, FTC-1401
Toshiba 14V20F, 21K692
Victor AV-M150, AV-M210, AV-M280, AV-M370, AV-MT21
And many others (NEC, Hitachi, National, Mitsubishi, Logitec)

Computers with EIAJ-8 Digital RGB Output

Fujitsu FM-X (uses round 6-pin variant)
General PCT-55
Pioneer PX-7, PX-7(HB), PX-V7

Sourcing

Original EIAJ-8 connectors are difficult to find. Sony part numbers include:

1-506-161-00 - Male 8-pin plug
1-509-113-00 - Female 8-pin socket

Hirose 1300/1600 series connectors may be compatible, though pin sizes can vary.

References

Honda Video Connectors - Technical reference
Digital RGB connector - MSX Wiki

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''EIAJ-8''' (also known as the '''Honda connector''' or '''8-pin rectangular video connector''') is a rectangular 8-pin connector standardized by the Electronic Industries Association of Japan (EIAJ). It was commonly used on Japanese monitors, televisions, and VTRs from the 1970s through the 1990s for carrying video and audio signals.
+'''EIAJ-8''' (also known as the '''Honda connector''', '''RGB8''', or '''8-pin square connector''' / '''8ピン角型端子''') is a rectangular 8-pin connector standardized by the Electronic Industries Association of Japan (EIAJ). It was commonly used on Japanese monitors, televisions, and VTRs from the 1970s through the 1990s for carrying video and audio signals.
 == Overview ==
@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 The connector was originally developed by Honda Electric for use in video equipment, hence the alternative name "Honda connector." It was later adopted as an EIAJ standard and became common on:
-* Professional and consumer monitors (Sony, NEC, Sharp)
+* Professional and consumer monitors (Sony, NEC, Sharp, Sanyo, Victor, Toshiba, Hitachi)
 * Video tape recorders (VTRs)
-* Computers with TTL-level digital RGB output
+* Computers with TTL-level digital RGB output (Fujitsu, General, NEC, Pioneer, Sharp)
 == Signal Types ==
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 The EIAJ-8 connector can carry different signal types depending on the application:
-* '''Digital RGB''' - TTL-level RGB with separate H-sync and V-sync (8 or 16 colors)
+* '''[[TTL RGB]]''' - TTL-level RGB with separate H-sync and V-sync (8 or 16 colors)
 * '''Analog video''' - Composite video with stereo audio (on VTR equipment)
 == Common Pinouts ==
-=== Digital RGB (Monitor Input) ===
+=== TTL RGB (Monitor Input) ===
-As used on monitors like the Sony Profeel Pro series:
+As used on monitors like the Sony Profeel Pro series (confirmed from Sony KV-1311CR manual):
 {| class="wikitable"
-! Pin !! Signal
+! Pin !! Signal !! Description
 |-
-| 1 || Not connected
+| 1 || I (C CONT.) || Brightness/Intensity control (only 8 colors if N.C.)
 |-
-| 2 || Red input (TTL)
+| 2 || R || Red input (TTL)
 |-
-| 3 || Green input (TTL)
+| 3 || G || Green input (TTL)
 |-
-| 4 || Blue input (TTL)
+| 4 || B || Blue input (TTL)
 |-
-| 5 || Ground
+| 5 || GND || Ground
 |-
-| 6 || Ground
+| 6 || N.C. / GND || Not connected or Ground
 |-
-| 7 || H-sync input (TTL, active low)
+| 7 || HSync || Horizontal sync (TTL, active low)
 |-
-| 8 || V-sync input (TTL, active low)
+| 8 || VSync || Vertical sync (TTL, active low)
 |}
+== Compatible Equipment ==
+=== Monitors with EIAJ-8 Digital RGB Input ===
+* Sanyo CMT-145F, CMT-A14F1
+* Sharp CU-14F1, CU-14P1
+* Sony CPD-14CD1, KV-1311CR, KV-14CP1, KV-14MD1, KX-13CD1, KX-14CP1, KX-14HD1, [[Sony KX-21HV1|KX-21HV1]], KX-27HGB1, [[Sony KX-27HV1|KX-27HV1]]
+* Toei FTC-1201, FTC-1208, FTC-1401
+* Toshiba 14V20F, 21K692
+* Victor AV-M150, AV-M210, AV-M280, AV-M370, AV-MT21
+* And many others (NEC, Hitachi, National, Mitsubishi, Logitec)
+=== Computers with EIAJ-8 Digital RGB Output ===
+* Fujitsu FM-X (uses round 6-pin variant)
+* General PCT-55
+* Pioneer PX-7, PX-7(HB), PX-V7
 == Sourcing ==
@@ Line 54: / Line 72: @@
 == See Also ==
-* [[DIN-8]] - Round 8-pin DIN connector (different physical form)
+* [[8-pin DIN 45326]] - Round 8-pin DIN connector (different physical form, used for analog RGB)
-* [[Digital RGB]] - TTL-level digital RGB signal format
+* [[TTL RGB]] - TTL-level digital RGB signal format
 * [[JP21]] - Japanese 21-pin analog RGB connector