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Here's the deal:
I have my Ps2, Xbox, GC, and DC hooked up through S-video. My TV, A 27' sony WEGA, has component inputs as well.
Is the difference in image quality between S-video and component enough to warrant the purchase of those $30 cables? S-video is the bee's knees, but I'm curious about component hook ups.
Any help will be greatly appreciated. :)
component is better. from that i hear its like going from rf to composite, whereas going from composite to s-video isnt that noticible.
Is it worth 30$ more? Well, yes and no. Component video is better looking then S-video, but most time the difference is hardly noticeable. The difference between Svideo and Composent is really signifigant, but between svideo and Component there is not as large a jump. So it really comes down to the individual person. Find somebody who has component inputs, see if you think it looks better. If you do think it is considerably better then it might be worth it to you. Personally, I would rather pay 30 less for the slightly worse cable. But there are people that only want the best.
Did I help at all?
Get the component cables... you will thank me later.
You = insane.Quote:
Originally posted by Dragonmaster Dyne
component is better. from that i hear its like going from rf to composite, whereas going from composite to s-video isnt that noticible.
Composite to S-video is huge. Bigger than RF to compostie if you ask me. Dot crawl runs rampant in composite. S-video kills it nicely.
Dot crawl = Son of Dracula.... or something equally evil
S-video to interlaced component looks like kind of a small step if you ask me. It is noticable, but not huge. It's enough of an improvement for $30 tho'. Once you get into progressive scan composite on the other hand, then you venture back into earth-shattering picture upgrade territory again. I love progressive scan. :)
I agree. I had my PS2 conneted through composites and borowed my friends S-video cable and barely noticed the difference. So I went off to Funcoland and bought me the Component cable for $8.00 new (I think it's Madcats or something.) The diference from composite to component is big. I could only imagine if I had a HDTV.Quote:
Originally posted by 88mph
Get the component cables... you will thank me later.
VF4 has jaggies like everyone knows but it never bothered me up untill I played it with the component cable...oh my.:eek:
Anyway I highly recomemd you get component.
Let's see.... $30 for one cable... For one system...
Commodore monitor: $50-$60 shipped
Custom RGB rig: $10 per system hookup (via Matt)
Bonus: TATE!
Get a sexy Commodore instead for a few extra dollars (but in the long run, not really.)
when switching between s-vid and component on the ps2 i noticed the biggest differences being more vivid color and less bleeding (most noticable with the reds)
Quote:
Originally posted by Click_Stick
Let\'s see.... $30 for one cable... For one system...
Commodore monitor: $50-$60 shipped
Custom RGB rig: $10 per system hookup (via Matt)
Bonus: TATE!
Get a sexy Commodore instead for a few extra dollars (but in the long run, not really.)
can somebody please take a minute to explain this whole commodore monitor thing to me? i see people always posting about them...what is the deal? is it a cheap alternative? do they have some magical power or something?
Yeah I noticed that too. Most noticeable in Onimushua 1 & 2.Quote:
Originally posted by Videodrone
when switching between s-vid and component on the ps2 i noticed the biggest differences being more vivid color and less bleeding (most noticable with the reds)
What he said.Quote:
Originally posted by Chibi Nappa
You = insane.
Composite to S-video is huge. Bigger than RF to compostie if you ask me. Dot crawl runs rampant in composite. S-video kills it nicely.
Dot crawl = Son of Dracula.... or something equally evil
S-video to interlaced component looks like kind of a small step if you ask me. It is noticable, but not huge. It's enough of an improvement for $30 tho'.
Once you get into progressive scan composite on the other hand, then you venture back into earth-shattering picture upgrade territory again. I love progressive scan.
RF to composite: Big difference.
Composite to S-video: Huge difference.
S-video to component on a non-HDTV: meh.
http://www.the-nextlevel.com/board/s...ight=commodoreQuote:
Originally posted by Videodrone
can somebody please take a minute to explain this whole commodore monitor thing to me? i see people always posting about them...what is the deal? is it a cheap alternative? do they have some magical power or something?
Bingo.Quote:
Originally posted by Videodrone
is it a cheap alternative?
Well, it looks like component is shaping up to be the low end consumer video answer to VGA. Also, YUV or YCbCr (Component) is the natural color-space of MPEG 2 video for DVD and therefore has the upper hand on RGB when it comes to HDTV because it doesn't require that the color space of the source be converted to that of the destination.
A great book to read on this subject is called Video Demystified by Keith Jack. It is an invaluable source of info on video formats and connections. It does get engineering intensive at times.
seen
thx for the help guys...now if i could only stop play mail order monster for my c64 we would be rgbin'
That's exactly what I was looking for. So, according to what SoK and Chibi said, going from my current S-video (non HDTV) to component is justifiable, considering the costs, but not essential, since the difference in image quality isn't all that much.Quote:
Originally posted by Saint of Killers
What he said.
RF to composite: Big difference.
Composite to S-video: Huge difference.
S-video to component on a non-HDTV: meh.
Since my TV does have that nice component input, however, I'd like to connect at least the PS2 and Xbox. I can get the GC cable from Nintendo's site later on(I haven't seen it in stores). I'd need a component switch box though. Can these be bought at retail or do they have to be special ordered or bought online?
Thanks for all the input everyone! :)
The cheapest place I've ever seen a component switchbox is Here:
http://www.etronics.com/search1.ASP?...11&image1.y=14
Although apparently you can do it cheaper by using two normal composite switchboxes. Just run the video through the first and the audio through the second. I'm a bit wary about going that route, because I figure the signal has to degrade more the more connections you put it through.
Interestingly enough, I took the same route as you. I have my PS2 and Xbox hooked up through component and my Cube is through S-video. I had a Monster PS2 S-Video cable before I got the Sony brand component cables. For less than half the price, the component cables do give slightly better picture quality. I just bought the Microsoft brand component cable when I got the Xbox though, because it's the same price as the S-video cable. I just couldn't be bothered to order the Nintendo component cables when my off-brand S-video cable works perfectly fine and works with my SNES and N64 to boot.
Yes, Get that JVC Component Switch Melf. It works great, and I have my PS2, Xbox and Cube running Component through it, and they all look great. Plus it also have 2 S-video inputs for any other console or DVD player. Definately was worth the money.
Much cheaper alternative is to get two composite switch boxes. Run the 3 video signals through one, and the 2 audio channels through the other. Thats what I do w/ my 2 PS2's and XBox and it works perfectly.
Fun shopping tip: If you buy things (cables, switchers, etc.) labeled "component" you will pay about twice as much. Radio Shack sells gold-plated component video-only cables for $50 and gold-plated stereo A/V cables of the same length for $25. Those cables are *identical* save for the color bands around the plugs. There's no reason video quality will degrade more through a two-composite-box setup, since the video and audio are only going through one box each.Quote:
Originally posted by Saint of Killers
The cheapest place I've ever seen a component switchbox is Here:
http://www.etronics.com/search1.ASP?...11&image1.y=14
Although apparently you can do it cheaper by using two normal composite switchboxes. Just run the video through the first and the audio through the second. I'm a bit wary about going that route, because I figure the signal has to degrade more the more connections you put it through.
Interestingly enough, I took the same route as you. I have my PS2 and Xbox hooked up through component and my Cube is through S-video. I had a Monster PS2 S-Video cable before I got the Sony brand component cables. For less than half the price, the component cables do give slightly better picture quality. I just bought the Microsoft brand component cable when I got the Xbox though, because it's the same price as the S-video cable. I just couldn't be bothered to order the Nintendo component cables when my off-brand S-video cable works perfectly fine and works with my SNES and N64 to boot.
The difference between component and S-video for the Cube is noticeable but not huge.
Also realize you can find cheap cables on eBay, but I can't vouch for their quality.
Good point. I guess two composite switchers is the way to go.Quote:
Originally posted by burgundy
There's no reason video quality will degrade more through a two-composite-box setup, since the video and audio are only going through one box each.
You only need one composite switchbox if you hook your audio cables directly to you receiver. If I wanted to, I could use me 4-input Sony s-video/composite switchbox (they used to sell them at Best Buy) to switch between 4 s-video sources and 4 component video sources.
If you have old switchboxes you were using for component, use those. If not, and for your S-video and composite hookups, I'd get a Pelican 5-input switcher that does both. Only $20, and you can find them at Best Buy and game shops.
I have a switchbox with both s-video/RCA plugs so there's at least six systems hooked up in there, while all my sound is connected direct to my stero setup. It's also pretty nice that the wega tv has 4 seperate hookups so I get to spare a spot for my vcr (older wrestling videos are still cool :p )