S-Video Vs Component for Television/DVD setup

S

Swingman

Guest
I'm getting a TV with both S-Video and Component inputs. My
DVD player also has S-Video and Component outputs and I'm
wondering which way I should go? I've read that it's hard
to tell the difference so on what basis does one make the
choice? Cable cost? The convenience of using one cable Vs
three? Image quality is definitely the priority. TIA
 
"Swingman" <sbt@silcom.com> wrote in message
news:%jo4e.29354$hU7.26951@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com...
I'm getting a TV with both S-Video and Component inputs. My
DVD player also has S-Video and Component outputs and I'm
wondering which way I should go? I've read that it's hard
to tell the difference so on what basis does one make the
choice? Cable cost? The convenience of using one cable Vs
three? Image quality is definitely the priority. TIA
Click to expand...
Using quality cables with various sources for both input types, I can
definitely tell the difference on my Sony WEGA. The best judge of what
looks best to you is.. you. If you want to know once and for all which
you'll appreciate more, try them both then decide. Personally, when image
quality is of paramount importance, I go with component input.

Whatever hookup you choose, don't skimp on the cables, but don't be suckered
in by the hype spewed by the high-end cable companies or their minions
(biased reviewers) or commission-motivated salespersons.
You DO need better than cables which would, by association, insult the
piss-poor cheapest-crap-on-earth cables. But, a $100 (each) video cable
with "triple deluxe, hand-fed, quadruple platinum shroud,
holy-water-immersed inner core" is not going to perform better than a name
brand $6 (each) cable with adequate shielding (which nearly any $6+ cable
will have).
 
"Ray L. Volts" <raylvolts@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:DVo4e.2618$1r6.1334@trnddc02...
"Swingman" <sbt@silcom.com> wrote in message
news:%jo4e.29354$hU7.26951@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com...
I'm getting a TV with both S-Video and Component inputs.
My
DVD player also has S-Video and Component outputs and I'm
wondering which way I should go? I've read that it's
hard
to tell the difference so on what basis does one make the
choice? Cable cost? The convenience of using one cable
Vs
three? Image quality is definitely the priority. TIA


Using quality cables with various sources for both input
types, I can
definitely tell the difference on my Sony WEGA. The best
judge of what
looks best to you is.. you. If you want to know once and
for all which
you'll appreciate more, try them both then decide.
Personally, when image
quality is of paramount importance, I go with component
input.

Whatever hookup you choose, don't skimp on the cables, but
don't be suckered
in by the hype spewed by the high-end cable companies or
their minions
(biased reviewers) or commission-motivated salespersons.
You DO need better than cables which would, by
association, insult the
piss-poor cheapest-crap-on-earth cables. But, a $100
(each) video cable
with "triple deluxe, hand-fed, quadruple platinum shroud,
holy-water-immersed inner core" is not going to perform
better than a name
brand $6 (each) cable with adequate shielding (which
nearly any $6+ cable
will have).
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. Is there ever a reason why you
wouldn't go with a component interface?
 
"Swingman" <sbt@silcom.com> wrote in message
news:YkH4e.15342$ZB6.10335@newssvr19.news.prodigy.com...
"Ray L. Volts" <raylvolts@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:DVo4e.2618$1r6.1334@trnddc02...

"Swingman" <sbt@silcom.com> wrote in message
news:%jo4e.29354$hU7.26951@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com...
I'm getting a TV with both S-Video and Component inputs.
My
DVD player also has S-Video and Component outputs and I'm
wondering which way I should go? I've read that it's
hard
to tell the difference so on what basis does one make the
choice? Cable cost? The convenience of using one cable
Vs
three? Image quality is definitely the priority. TIA


Using quality cables with various sources for both input
types, I can
definitely tell the difference on my Sony WEGA. The best
judge of what
looks best to you is.. you. If you want to know once and
for all which
you'll appreciate more, try them both then decide.
Personally, when image
quality is of paramount importance, I go with component
input.

Whatever hookup you choose, don't skimp on the cables, but
don't be suckered
in by the hype spewed by the high-end cable companies or
their minions
(biased reviewers) or commission-motivated salespersons.
You DO need better than cables which would, by
association, insult the
piss-poor cheapest-crap-on-earth cables. But, a $100
(each) video cable
with "triple deluxe, hand-fed, quadruple platinum shroud,
holy-water-immersed inner core" is not going to perform
better than a name
brand $6 (each) cable with adequate shielding (which
nearly any $6+ cable
will have).


Thanks for the reply. Is there ever a reason why you
wouldn't go with a component interface?
Click to expand...
Yes, when the display device doesn't have the connectors. ;)

As you suggested, a set of quality component cables will usually cost more
than a quality S cable. So, when cost is the more important consideration,
the choice is obvious. Also, as you suggested, the user may not wish to
deal with 3 separate cables for whatever reason -- maybe the preferred split
loom won't accomodate them?
 
Whatever hookup you choose, don't skimp on the cables,
but
don't be suckered
in by the hype spewed by the high-end cable companies
or
their minions
(biased reviewers) or commission-motivated
salespersons.
You DO need better than cables which would, by
association, insult the
piss-poor cheapest-crap-on-earth cables. But, a $100
(each) video cable
with "triple deluxe, hand-fed, quadruple platinum
shroud,
holy-water-immersed inner core" is not going to
perform
better than a name
brand $6 (each) cable with adequate shielding (which
nearly any $6+ cable
will have).


Thanks for the reply. Is there ever a reason why you
wouldn't go with a component interface?


Yes, when the display device doesn't have the connectors.
;)

As you suggested, a set of quality component cables will
usually cost more
than a quality S cable. So, when cost is the more
important consideration,
the choice is obvious. Also, as you suggested, the user
may not wish to
deal with 3 separate cables for whatever reason -- maybe
the preferred split
loom won't accomodate them?
Click to expand...
I went to Radio Shack and the salesman started out by
showing me the $130 Monster component cable set - I declined
<g>. Eventually I settled on a three wire set of AV cables
with gold connectors for $20. These cables are marked "red,
white, yellow" instead of "red, green, blue", which suggests
that they might function differently, but it doesn't seem to
matter. The video quality of my DVD's is great. Perhaps
the image would be even better with the Monster cables, but
unfortunately I can't afford to find out.
 
"Swingman" <sbt@silcom.com> writes:

As you suggested, a set of quality component cables will
usually cost more
than a quality S cable. So, when cost is the more
important consideration,
the choice is obvious. Also, as you suggested, the user
may not wish to
deal with 3 separate cables for whatever reason -- maybe
the preferred split
loom won't accomodate them?

I went to Radio Shack and the salesman started out by
showing me the $130 Monster component cable set - I declined
g>. Eventually I settled on a three wire set of AV cables
with gold connectors for $20. These cables are marked "red,
white, yellow" instead of "red, green, blue", which suggests
that they might function differently,
Click to expand...
The cables color coded with
red, white, yellow or red, black, yellow are generally
cables that are designed to carry video plus audio.
In good cables the cable connected to yellow connectors
is 75 ohm coaxial cable (righjt cable for video).
Other cables on the bundle are designed for audio
(impedance for video signals propably quite far away
from 75 ohms).

At short distanced this kind of cable woudl work quite
acceptably I think... For long distances and best performance
good quality cable where all conductors are 75 ohm coaxial
cable is the best choise.

I think the $130 Monster component cable set is highly
overpriced unless it is a very long.
The materials for good quality component cable are not
that expensive. A professional quality 75 ohm vidoe coaxial
cable costs around or less than one dollar per meter.
When we are talking on component cable, we have three of those.
The price of cable material itself would be 3 dollars
per meter. Add here just the connectors that go to the
ends and the work. And on expensive cable the brand extra
cost...

but it doesn't seem to
matter. The video quality of my DVD's is great. Perhaps
the image would be even better with the Monster cables, but
unfortunately I can't afford to find out.
Click to expand...

Here is an older posting I made about component video cables
eariler (May 5, 2004)to Usenet news:

Newsgroups: rec.audio.tech
Subject: Re: Component video really need 75 ohm cable?
References: <wLWdnbcvZfmcVQrdRVn-ig@giganews.com>
"Ethan Winer" <ethanw at ethanwiner dot com> writes:

Hi Folks,

I just upgraded to a new "progressive" DVD player and of course the salesman
tried to sell me a $50 component video cable to connect it. So for now I'm
using a regular three-wire RCA cable meant for composite video and
Left/Right audio, and it works, but I'm wondering if I really would benefit
from better cables.
Click to expand...
Practically all analogue consumer video interfaces are designed top use
75 ohm coaxial cable. This is the right cable to use in all those
applications and gives guaranteed performance. If you use something
else, then the results you cet can vary from good performance to poor
performance depending the cable used, cable length and sometimes
even on equipment used. Usually with showr wires od few meters
the "normal RCA cables" do not cuase problems on normal TV signals.
But when cables get longer or you have higher resolution signal
(progressive video from DVD, HDTV signal, computer VGA signal),
problems are more easily seen.

The cable you used most propably is designed to have two
different types of cables it.
RCA terminated video cable is generally 75ohms.
The audio wires are general purpose shielded audio cable,
that can have considerably different impedance than 75 ohms
and has generally considerable higher attenuation than
video coax cables (bnecause of different insulation material used).
I have also seen video + audio cabls where all three wires
are all the same general purpose audio cable type..

Depending on the distance from the video source to display
device distance, you might or might not benefit from the better
cables. If your cables have length of one meter or so, then
changing cables most propably do not have any noticable effect.
If your cables are 10 meters long, you most propably can
see some difference.


--
Tomi Engdahl (http://www.iki.fi/then/)
Take a look at my electronics web links and documents at
http://www.epanorama.net/
 
"Tomi Holger Engdahl" <then@solarflare.cs.hut.fi> wrote in message
news:lajsm232epg.fsf@solarflare.cs.hut.fi...
"Swingman" <sbt@silcom.com> writes:

As you suggested, a set of quality component cables will
usually cost more
than a quality S cable. So, when cost is the more
important consideration,
the choice is obvious. Also, as you suggested, the user
may not wish to
deal with 3 separate cables for whatever reason -- maybe
the preferred split
loom won't accomodate them?

I went to Radio Shack and the salesman started out by
showing me the $130 Monster component cable set - I declined
g>. Eventually I settled on a three wire set of AV cables
with gold connectors for $20. These cables are marked "red,
white, yellow" instead of "red, green, blue", which suggests
that they might function differently,

The cables color coded with
red, white, yellow or red, black, yellow are generally
cables that are designed to carry video plus audio.
In good cables the cable connected to yellow connectors
is 75 ohm coaxial cable (righjt cable for video).
Other cables on the bundle are designed for audio
(impedance for video signals propably quite far away
from 75 ohms).

At short distanced this kind of cable woudl work quite
acceptably I think... For long distances and best performance
good quality cable where all conductors are 75 ohm coaxial
cable is the best choise.

I think the $130 Monster component cable set is highly
overpriced unless it is a very long.
The materials for good quality component cable are not
that expensive. A professional quality 75 ohm vidoe coaxial
cable costs around or less than one dollar per meter.
When we are talking on component cable, we have three of those.
The price of cable material itself would be 3 dollars
per meter. Add here just the connectors that go to the
ends and the work. And on expensive cable the brand extra
cost...

but it doesn't seem to
matter. The video quality of my DVD's is great. Perhaps
the image would be even better with the Monster cables, but
unfortunately I can't afford to find out.


Here is an older posting I made about component video cables
eariler (May 5, 2004)to Usenet news:

Newsgroups: rec.audio.tech
Subject: Re: Component video really need 75 ohm cable?
References: <wLWdnbcvZfmcVQrdRVn-ig@giganews.com
"Ethan Winer" <ethanw at ethanwiner dot com> writes:

Hi Folks,

I just upgraded to a new "progressive" DVD player and of course the
salesman
tried to sell me a $50 component video cable to connect it. So for now
I'm
using a regular three-wire RCA cable meant for composite video and
Left/Right audio, and it works, but I'm wondering if I really would
benefit
from better cables.

Practically all analogue consumer video interfaces are designed top use
75 ohm coaxial cable. This is the right cable to use in all those
applications and gives guaranteed performance. If you use something
else, then the results you cet can vary from good performance to poor
performance depending the cable used, cable length and sometimes
even on equipment used. Usually with showr wires od few meters
the "normal RCA cables" do not cuase problems on normal TV signals.
But when cables get longer or you have higher resolution signal
(progressive video from DVD, HDTV signal, computer VGA signal),
problems are more easily seen.

The cable you used most propably is designed to have two
different types of cables it.
RCA terminated video cable is generally 75ohms.
The audio wires are general purpose shielded audio cable,
that can have considerably different impedance than 75 ohms
and has generally considerable higher attenuation than
video coax cables (bnecause of different insulation material used).
I have also seen video + audio cabls where all three wires
are all the same general purpose audio cable type..

Depending on the distance from the video source to display
device distance, you might or might not benefit from the better
cables. If your cables have length of one meter or so, then
changing cables most propably do not have any noticable effect.
If your cables are 10 meters long, you most propably can
see some difference.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the detailed response. The A/V cable I'm using is only 3 feet
long so perhaps that explains the good performance? Anyway, cables appear
to be a dramatically overpriced accessory in retail stores. I need to have
a look on EBay <g>.
 
"swingman" <sbt@silcom.com> writes:

"Tomi Holger Engdahl" <then@solarflare.cs.hut.fi> wrote in message
news:lajsm232epg.fsf@solarflare.cs.hut.fi...
g>. Eventually I settled on a three wire set of AV cables
with gold connectors for $20. These cables are marked "red,
white, yellow" instead of "red, green, blue", which suggests
that they might function differently,
The cables color coded with
red, white, yellow or red, black, yellow are generally
cables that are designed to carry video plus audio.
In good cables the cable connected to yellow connectors
is 75 ohm coaxial cable (righjt cable for video).
Other cables on the bundle are designed for audio
(impedance for video signals propably quite far away
from 75 ohms).

At short distanced this kind of cable woudl work quite
acceptably I think... For long distances and best performance
good quality cable where all conductors are 75 ohm coaxial
cable is the best choise.

The A/V cable I'm using is only 3 feet
long so perhaps that explains the good performance?
Click to expand...
Yes.

Anyway, cables appear
to be a dramatically overpriced accessory in retail stores.
Click to expand...
That its seems. Even basic "cheap" cables are dramatically
overpriced accessory in retail stores. They cost easily
several times more than in electronics component shops
and similar. And in addition to that retail stores seem
to stock those highly overprices "hifi brand" cables.


--
Tomi Engdahl (http://www.iki.fi/then/)
Take a look at my electronics web links and documents at
http://www.epanorama.net/
 
"Ray L. Volts" <raylvolts@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:7IO4e.5390$3O2.3138@trnddc01...
"Swingman" <sbt@silcom.com> wrote in message
news:YkH4e.15342$ZB6.10335@newssvr19.news.prodigy.com...

"Ray L. Volts" <raylvolts@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:DVo4e.2618$1r6.1334@trnddc02...

"Swingman" <sbt@silcom.com> wrote in message
news:%jo4e.29354$hU7.26951@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com...
I'm getting a TV with both S-Video and Component inputs.
My
DVD player also has S-Video and Component outputs and I'm
wondering which way I should go? I've read that it's
hard
to tell the difference so on what basis does one make the
choice? Cable cost? The convenience of using one cable
Vs
three? Image quality is definitely the priority. TIA


Using quality cables with various sources for both input
types, I can
definitely tell the difference on my Sony WEGA. The best
judge of what
looks best to you is.. you. If you want to know once and
for all which
you'll appreciate more, try them both then decide.
Personally, when image
quality is of paramount importance, I go with component
input.

Whatever hookup you choose, don't skimp on the cables, but
don't be suckered
in by the hype spewed by the high-end cable companies or
their minions
(biased reviewers) or commission-motivated salespersons.
You DO need better than cables which would, by
association, insult the
piss-poor cheapest-crap-on-earth cables. But, a $100
(each) video cable
with "triple deluxe, hand-fed, quadruple platinum shroud,
holy-water-immersed inner core" is not going to perform
better than a name
brand $6 (each) cable with adequate shielding (which
nearly any $6+ cable
will have).


Thanks for the reply. Is there ever a reason why you
wouldn't go with a component interface?


Yes, when the display device doesn't have the connectors. ;)

As you suggested, a set of quality component cables will usually cost more
than a quality S cable. So, when cost is the more important
consideration,
the choice is obvious. Also, as you suggested, the user may not wish to
deal with 3 separate cables for whatever reason -- maybe the preferred
split
loom won't accomodate them?

Thanks again for the helpful response. I'll be getting some component
Click to expand...
cables this afternoon!
 
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