Component/S-Video hookup for PS2

Okay, so my new TV is somewhat modern and has all them fancy ass hookups. I'm in the market for getting a new set of cables for my ps2, and I'm stuck at a cross-roads between the S-Video (which I've seen online for like 9 bucks), and Component (which I'm assuming won't be much more expensive.) I've read a bunch of pages/forum discussions and the lot of them were either "there's no major difference" or "component rulez s-vid droolz LOL!11". I've been really leaning towards component cables, but the thing is my TV can only do a 480i picture - it can't handle a progressive scan input. So, with that in mind am I better off with component or S-Video?

Component is better on any TV.

In terms of color quality: RF<Composite<S-Video<Component

If you're not a videophile there's not nessecarily a huge enough difference to really matter (not as much as comparing the two lower ends to those top two because of the immense color bleeding), but I say go for component.

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Originally Posted by cka

my TV can only do a 480i picture - it can't handle a progressive scan input.

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You're using a PS2. It only matters for GGXX and Burnout 2. (Although don't you only own like five games total?)

The only people who insist that S-Video is as good as component are SNK AES fanatics/idiots.

When given a choice, component is always the way to go.

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Originally Posted by MechDeus

In terms of color quality: RF<Composite<S-Video<Component

If you're not a videophile there's not nessecarily a huge enough difference to really matter (not as much as comparing the two lower ends to those top two because of the immense color bleeding), but I say go for component.You're using a PS2. It only matters for GGXX and Burnout 2. (Although don't you only own like five games total?)

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7, and GGX2 happens to be one. :chick:

Yeah, I'll check out the component cables then. If I can't find any, I'll take the S-Vid route. Thanks dudes.

you should be able to find the mad catz brand componet cables for PS2 for liek 10 bucks at a gamestop or similar store

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Originally Posted by Shin Johnpv

you should be able to find the mad catz brand componet cables for PS2 for liek 10 bucks at a gamestop or similar store

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$10 for componet cables? They have to be pretty shitty. The thing about upgrading to S-Video or componet is that you have to get decent quality cables otherwise they are shit. I had one of those multi system svideo cables and it was crap and it eventually lost color.

I also say go with component. It does provide better picture and color. But if you only have 1 component input in your tv and no selector switch, and want to use Xbox or dvd player, you either need to get one of the cheaper switches available, or go S-video route.

I wouldn't worry too much about the quality of the Mad Catz cables since the official Sony ones aren't all that durable either.

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Originally Posted by Hot Like Wasabi

$10 for componet cables? They have to be pretty shitty. The thing about upgrading to S-Video or componet is that you have to get decent quality cables otherwise they are shit. I had one of those multi system svideo cables and it was crap and it eventually lost color.

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Bah, don't kill yourself on the price of cables. As long as you are not running the cables parallel to any power cords it really shouldn't matter. It's just wire after all.

And yes, component without question.

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Originally Posted by Cheebs

Bah, don't kill yourself on the price of cables. As long as you are not running the cables parallel to any power cords it really shouldn't matter. It's just wire after all.

And yes, component without question.

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I very much disagree. Cables are one of the most important parts of any AV setup. A high quality set of component cables are more than worth the extra cash. I reccomend the Monster Cable component cables for the PS2.

If you have the money, Monster Component is certainly the way to go, though Monster S-Vid ain't that bad either. Don't short yourself on quality cables though; the right cable can make all the difference in the game experience, especially in sound.

If you have a great tv and sound system with crap cables, you wasted all your money on your great set-up.

Are Monster PS2 cables gonna run you the $60 they do for DVDs and such? if so, my playing Syphon Filter in Progressive Scan is not worth that price. I have an HDTV and got the HD kit for XBox and have monster cables for my DVD player, but still AV for PS2 and it looks like shit, so I was looking to upgrade as well. I can only find the S-Video in stores though, so I was going to get that to at least help. I cannot seem to find component anywhere actually. Am I right in thinking that only component can do progressive scan?

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Originally Posted by TobalRox

Are Monster PS2 cables gonna run you the $60 they do for DVDs and such? if so, my playing Syphon Filter in Progressive Scan is not worth that price. I have an HDTV and got the HD kit for XBox and have monster cables for my DVD player, but still AV for PS2 and it looks like shit, so I was looking to upgrade as well. I can only find the S-Video in stores though, so I was going to get that to at least help. I cannot seem to find component anywhere actually. Am I right in thinking that only component can do progressive scan?

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Yes, only component can do prog. scan. I got my Monster cables on eBay for ~$30. Get the hookups if you know anyone in retail - the cables are sold at two times cost - an $11 digital optical audio cable sells for like $39. If you really get serious you can go to a CompUSA with a corporate sales department, take a home printed business card for a fake Home Theater Installation company and open a business account. Depening on the location and commercial sales rep they can take the margin down to %20-30 on cables - that's alot of savings.

the Monstercable Cables for home video game systems are fucking rip offs

your throwing money away and not getting anything better for them

I USED to have them for the Xbox untill they stopped working on me, I took them apart and they stopped working cause the solder on the end of one of the cables broke because the wires were fucking thinner than a strand of fucking hair, I opened up the official MS brand ones and they were THICKER than the fucking monster cable brand, which got its name back in the day for being thicker


I use the Official first party stuff now for my systems.

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Originally Posted by TobalRox

Are Monster PS2 cables gonna run you the $60 they do for DVDs and such? if so, my playing Syphon Filter in Progressive Scan is not worth that price. I have an HDTV and got the HD kit for XBox and have monster cables for my DVD player, but still AV for PS2 and it looks like shit, so I was looking to upgrade as well. I can only find the S-Video in stores though, so I was going to get that to at least help. I cannot seem to find component anywhere actually. Am I right in thinking that only component can do progressive scan?

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Ok here's the deal-- cables are important, but Monster is largely considered a rip-off. First party component cables for 25 bucks will look just fine BECAUSE the PS2 looks like complete and utter ass on a HDTV. S-video looks like ass on a HDTV. I'm a bit of a nut about picture and the PS2 blurs all over the place even on component...the only game that looks good is XX and reload in progressive (and I assume other progressive games). See HDTVs have a lot of blurring issues if they can't run a game in HD...and the PS2 has such shitty graphics that you can upgrade to component, which you should, but it ain't gonna look that great...but the best you can get (of course your TV might have filters and other enhancements to control this blurring...mine doesn't cause I got a budget HDTV).

Now for the Box and Cube, they look glorious in HD and thankfully most games are supported. BTW, depending on your HDTV, you can also do progressive through VGA inputs (often mislabeled as RGB). My Cube runs into the VGA port (custom cable by Matt) and I am upgrading to that awesome VGA cable for the Box too...you can even run DVI DVD players via a DVI to VGA converter and the switcher boxes for VGA are much cheaper than component...

So anyway, on an interlaced set, honestly, a good s-video setup will look great for the Genesis, Saturn, PS2, DC, and others -- that's what I had before I went RGB for the other stuff (PS2 looks absolutely gorgeous in RGB)...but if you have component, go for it...and I still prefer it to the HDTV...some systems are not meant to be played on newer technology. If you run a Genesis or other composite ones (or even in s-video), you'll get insane pixelization (N64 Pokemon Puzzle League looks horrendous) and bizzare scrolling effects...you're better off getting a small RGB monitor or interlaced set for older stuff...

One of these days I'm going to get a nice new interlaced set before they stop making them...

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Originally Posted by ssbomberman

Now for the Box and Cube, they look glorious in HD and thankfully most games are supported. BTW, depending on your HDTV, you can also do progressive through VGA inputs (often mislabeled as RGB). My Cube runs into the VGA port (custom cable by Matt)

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Just a bit of a nitpick...That's not a mislabel. VGA is in fact RGB. In the video game world we tend to think of 15 kHz RGB when we say "RGB", but that doesn't mean that 33 kHz RGB isn't also RGB.

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Originally Posted by Cheebs

Just a bit of a nitpick...That's not a mislabel. VGA is in fact RGB. In the video game world we tend to think of 15 kHz RGB when we say "RGB", but that doesn't mean that 33 kHz RGB isn't also RGB.

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Crap...I think you have corrected me in every thread about this type of thing...ok note to self *RGB is VGA and vice versa*... |-)

even if you dont run games in progressive scan(480p), the image/colors would still be better through component. I did a comparison and ran Gran Turismo 3 on the PS2 with S-Video and Component. hands down component was far more superior. it had better quality overall. besides, who knows, you might buy an HDTV in the future, so you will need those :)

beyond good and evil was like night and day when i got my cables.

I have never seen Sony Component cables... any idea where I could find them?

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Originally Posted by TobalRox

I have never seen Sony Component cables... any idea where I could find them?

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Do you have a Sony store in your area? They should have some. Heck you might be able to order them off the Sony website. They aren't too much better than the 3rd party stuff though.

Problem solved... My local Media Play FINALLY got some component cables in, so I picked them up, and boy am I glad. Even non-progressive scan games look great now that they aren't blurry messes. Syphon Filter (which is progressive scan) looks good too, although still 4x3, which is fine. It was worth the money.

Using expensive component cables on a PS2 is kinda like putting expensive tires on a Yugo.

Except the PS2 has games that take advantage of the extra res. Higher quality cables can carry a better picture, as well.

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Originally Posted by M1Savage

Using expensive component cables on a PS2 is kinda like putting expensive tires on a Yugo.

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you're very wrong!

Whatever works for you, fine. Most people who think Monster Cables are the "best cables in the world" are also the same ones who think Bose are the best speakers in the world. Tell ya what....go buy a set of Monster cables and also a less expensive set of "Brand Y" cables, go to yer house, blindfold yourself while you have someone else hook up your PS2. Take off the blindfold and you see if you can tell which cables are hooked up.

I was going to make the same point, but M1Savage beat me to it. I had the official Sony cables (which look like generic crap, btw) and now have the Monster cables for the PS2 (got it for free) and really, there isn't a drastic difference. Certainly nothing at all worth the near $40 difference for motherfucking cables.

Monster cables are overpriced nonsense. My boss got served when he spent $300 on monster cables for his home theater system and did not see/hear a single difference.