View Full Version : S-Video and DBS
Karl Foster
07-21-02, 12:43 AM
I finally put a crowbar in the wallet and bought a Toshiba 20" flat-screen tv for my small Family Room. I have never had a tv with S-Video and I can't believe what a huge difference in the clarity of the picture. I had my system hooked up through the RG-6 coax on my old Zenith. It finally died and I was "forced" to buy a new tv. I chose a smaller flat-screen rather than a larger curved screen for the same money and I think I made a wise decision. It looks incredible compared to what I had. Even my wife, who couldn't care less as long as there is a semi-clear picture commented on how clear it looks. The tv also has composite inputs for my dvd. I can't believe I didn't buy it sooner! Now I just need to save a few bucks and get a HDTV - but not until there is a HD PVR. :)
James_F
07-21-02, 12:57 AM
Yea, you don't know how bad you have it till you see the new stuff. Let me tell you, HDTV rocks! Having DirecTV, most of the time, I watch Arena Football, but the quality is just amazing....
"The tv also has composite inputs for my dvd"
Your DVD should have SVideo output, and it looks a LOT better than composite. The diff is even more obvious than with the satellite. I think it probably also has component inputs (most Toshiba's do) in which case those would be the absolute best for DVD.
The S-Video connection does make a difference but I bet it's not as much as the overall better performance of your new 20" flat screen compared to your old set.
Must be a very small room if a 20" set is all you need, tho. Would going for a 27" have been too overwhelming for you?
:eek:
I've got the same little 20" Toshiba. I think karl meant it has component inputs for DVD, which mine does.
It's a great little unit, perfect for a small room or office.
Karl Foster
07-21-02, 10:12 PM
Originally posted by HTguy
The S-Video connection does make a difference but I bet it's not as much as the overall better performance of your new 20" flat screen compared to your old set.
Must be a very small room if a 20" set is all you need, tho. Would going for a 27" have been too overwhelming for you?
:eek:
I wish I could have gone for the 27" flat screen, but I had to drop $1100 on my Honda for a new head gasket and misc. other repairs. I guess getting to work every day was more important than the new tv.:)
Karl Foster
07-21-02, 10:19 PM
Originally posted by Mark
"The tv also has composite inputs for my dvd"
Your DVD should have SVideo output, and it looks a LOT better than composite. The diff is even more obvious than with the satellite. I think it probably also has component inputs (most Toshiba's do) in which case those would be the absolute best for DVD.
My DVD does have S-video, but since I don't watch DVD's often and I watch satellite most of the time, I chose to use the S-Video input for the satellite. Trust me, anything looks better than what I had, so I am a happy camper. :)
I'm suprised you don't have component (red, green, blue) - which is even better than SVideo - for the DVD. Oh well, you should by an SVideo switcher. The diff between composite (yellow) and SVideo (old Apple ADB keyboard connector) is far more obvious with DVD.
James_F
07-21-02, 10:40 PM
Composite is a waste of time on non HDTV sets (flame away). S-Video is good enough.
Karl Foster
07-21-02, 10:57 PM
Originally posted by Mark
I'm suprised you don't have component (red, green, blue) - which is even better than SVideo - for the DVD. Oh well, you should by an SVideo switcher. The diff between composite (yellow) and SVideo (old Apple ADB keyboard connector) is far more obvious with DVD.
I do have the red, green, and blue on both the tv and the dvd, I just don't have the cables to go with it. I have the dvd hooked up to the red, white, and yellow jacks and it looks fine for now. I really am impressed by the flat-screen. It almost completely gets rid of the glare and makes it easy to see from my large comfy chair which sits at an angle. Now if I can get my daughter away from the UTV, I would be able to watch my shows instead of hers, but that's another subject for another day.
"I do have the red, green, and blue on both the tv and the dvd, I just don't have the cables to go with it. I have the dvd hooked up to the red, white, and yellow jacks and it looks fine for now."
You don't need special cables. A standard stereo A/V cable (with yellow white and red) works fine. Their a couple dollars at wal-mart. You still need to have the red and white connected (audio) so you'll need another one.
scooper
07-22-02, 08:03 AM
Originally posted by James_F
Composite is a waste of time on non HDTV sets (flame away). S-Video is good enough.
Uh, James - don't you mean COMPONENT (not composite) is a waste of time on non-HDTV sets ?
By my standards (worst to best)
RF
composite
S-video
Component
Progressive Scan Component
Mark Lamutt
07-22-02, 08:39 AM
Originally posted by Mark
"I do have the red, green, and blue on both the tv and the dvd, I just don't have the cables to go with it. I have the dvd hooked up to the red, white, and yellow jacks and it looks fine for now."
You don't need special cables. A standard stereo A/V cable (with yellow white and red) works fine. Their a couple dollars at wal-mart. You still need to have the red and white connected (audio) so you'll need another one.
Karl - don't listen to Mark on this one. He's wrong. If you decide to go the component video route, definitely get a component video cable. You need the heavier gauge cable to pass the signal. Stereo gauge cable cannot pass the bandwidth necessary. You can get a decent (and cheap) set of component cables at Best Buy or Walmart or Target for about $20. The color saturation will look better through component as compared to the composite that you are hooked up with now.
MarkL, HE'S USING COMPOSITE. A short stero A/V cable for component will make a HUGE difference. The bandwidth in each channel is the same as composite video. That said, I agree you should use proper 75ohm video cable (special component cables are a waste - just as are digital coax audio cables), but a stereo A/V cable on the components would be a huge improvement over composite, and even somthing of an improvement over S-Video.
Mark Lamutt
07-22-02, 01:09 PM
Mark - reread the message you just posted. You agree with me, and then contradict yourself.
Component video requires a 75 ohm cable for each of the 3 colors (red, green, blue) to pass the bandwidth. Stereo A/V cables (even the short ones) have 1 video cable that is 75 ohm and 2 stereo cables that are significantly less than 75 ohm. It may work on a 3 foot run, but you'd be a LOT better off with a true component cable.
Neil Derryberry
07-22-02, 01:15 PM
Karl.... I have a unused component video cable if you need it... just PM me with where to send it.
"Component video requires a 75 ohm cable for each of the 3 colors (red, green, blue) to pass the bandwidth. Stereo A/V cables (even the short ones) have 1 video cable that is 75 ohm and 2 stereo cables that are significantly less than 75 ohm. It may work on a 3 foot run, but you'd be a LOT better off with a true component cable."
You would be - I NEVER denied that, I just said that a stereo A/V cable would be better than composite video. Oh, and BTW, most cheap stereo A/V patch cables use three identical cables, none of which are 75 ohm or meant for video.
Scott Greczkowski
07-22-02, 03:28 PM
Something I am seeing at the stores lately is there are a few models of cheap televisions that have Component inputs on them, but what makes them unique is they upgrade the signal to 480p instead of 480i which makes for a better picture!
Its not HD but it not bad. :D
James_F
07-22-02, 08:06 PM
So what are we arguing about here? :D
Mark Lamutt
07-22-02, 09:50 PM
We're arguing? :D
Karl Foster
08-03-02, 09:59 PM
Update. My wife said the 20" Toshiba was waaaay toooo small, so she authorized me enough money to purchase a larger one. I returned the 20" to BB (thank goodness for their 30-day return policy) and bought a 24" Toshiba flat-screen tv. It is sooo much better. I would have gone bigger, but the 27" wouldn't fit in the cabinet. If my grandpa hadn't built the cabinet for me before he died in 1986, I'd have gotten a bigger cabinet too, but I'm just a sentimental softie. What a huge difference those 4" make. I am just so impressed by the S-Video that I keep switching from Video 1 (S-Video) to channel 3 to see how much better it looks. Drives my wife crazy. :)
Oh, even an inch is sooo much nicer. Because you're adding a LOT to the total area. I'm glad your TV is doing good:) Have you got a component connection for your DVD player setup yet?
I think some of the improvement from the 20 inch to the 24 inch is the fact that the 24 is flat screen. Flat screens make a difference.
His 20 was a flat screen also:) Read the first post:)
Originally posted by Mark Lamutt
Component video requires a 75 ohm cable for each of the 3 colors (red, green, blue) to pass the bandwidth. Stereo A/V cables (even the short ones) have 1 video cable that is 75 ohm and 2 stereo cables that are significantly less than 75 ohm. It may work on a 3 foot run, but you'd be a LOT better off with a true component cable.
FWIW, any shielded cable for audio or video should be 75ohm. But there is no such thing as a 75 ohm RCA ("phono") plug or jack. The plugs and jacks are 50ohm. So there is always an impedence mismatch.
Years ago McCormick developed a connector for digital coax cables that "funneled" the impedence down from the cable to the RCA jack to prevent reflections. It would work great for analog audio & video, too, but at $200-300 per cable wouldn't be economically practical.
J. Allen Head
08-24-02, 12:08 PM
Just Cut three identical length pieces of Quad shield RG-6 add connectors and F to RCA connectors or purchase crimp-able RCA connectors that fit RG-6 ( just can't use Quad Shield coax with these )
Easy And Cheap and it has better picture than most of the expensive cables if you assemble them correctly with no stray braids touching center conductor.
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