are COMPONENT cables the same as 3 RCA/composite cables ?

[rh71]

I just did a direct comparison between RCA/composite and component video. The picture using a single DVD looked EXACTLY the same. This obviously leads me to believe my component cable setup is wrong. I checked all settings on the DVD player and TV and it's set for PROGRESSIVE mode on both, but the DVD images looked exactly the same with a very slight INTERLACE line, even when the PROGRESSIVE light on the DVD player was lit. Is that faint alternating line supposed to be there at all ?

My question now is this... can composite CABLES act as component CABLES? In other words, can 2 audio+1 video RCA cable act as 3 component video cables? Someone on here (I believe Amused) said yes. TV is a 57" Sony WS HDTV monitor) and DVD player is a Sony DVP NS715P so those can't be at fault.

 

[Viper GTS]

If you can't tell a difference between component and composite, then either:

1) You're blind
2) Your TV sucks (or is severely mis-calibrated)
3) Your DVD player sucks
4) You're using crap cables

And to answer your question, NO.

Component cables are the same as the yellow video cable in a composite cable setup - 75 ohm coax. The R/L audio are not the same.

Buy some proper component cables, you spent good money on the DVD player & TV, don't use crap cables.

Viper GTS

 

[yellowperil]

Yeah the audio RCA cables are not 75 ohm so you should see degradation in quality as compared to 3 75 ohm cables.

 

[Mutilator]

In some cases the composite cables can look almost as good as the component cables depending on your DVD player and TV. Some TVs do progressive scan if you use composite cables with a non progressive scan dvd player. Yes there was a big thread that said composite cables are the same as component... sure they're the same size plugs but you can't tell me the cable shielding isn't different.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: Mutilator
In some cases the composite cables can look almost as good as the component cables depending on your DVD player and TV. Some TVs do progressive scan if you use composite cables with a non progressive scan dvd player. Yes there was a big thread that said composite cables are the same as component... sure they're the same size plugs but you can't tell me the cable shielding isn't different.

Good point, some TV's will turn interlaced input into progressive display.

Viper GTS

 

[BigSmooth]

It's possible you wouldn't see the difference if the DVD is mastered very poorly. Also, make sure your DVD and TV are set properly, my prog-scan DVD player only outputs interlaced video by default.

You should see a difference, though. You can use regular RCA cables for your component connection, but, as others have said, you shouldn't.

 

[rh71]

The DVD is XMEN. I don't think it would be a bad master.

I checked all settings on DVD and TV... set to progressive... but I still see an Interlace line very faintly, but it's alternately there. (IS IT SUPPOSED TO BE AT ALL?)

I wish someone would've spoken up when Amused said he "couldn't notice a difference, could you?" using composite cables as component in my older thread.

The TV/DVD player are pretty damn expensive/reputable Sony models... but I doubt they're making the image that much better for me in composite mode. Otherwise I'd just be wasting my time/money attempting the component thing in the first place. I wish there was a way for me to see a difference, but I doubt screenshots would exemplify it.

 

[Viper GTS]

The one other possibility would be that your TV has an exceptional comb filter...

But still, ESPECIALLY on a TV that large, the difference should be night and day.

Viper GTS

 

[rh71]

Stupid question time: Is there a restocking fee or anything like that if I buy component cables from somewhere like Best Buy (I'll find a cheaper retail store though) and return them opened? Been a while since I returned anything at a retail store.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: rh71
Stupid question time: Is there a restocking fee or anything like that if I buy component cables from somewhere like Best Buy (I'll find a cheaper retail store though) and return them opened? Been a while since I returned anything at a retail store.

Given how much you paid for the TV, are you really that concerned about the $20 for a 1/2 way decent set of component cables?

If you are...

Do you have three sets of composite cables?

Viper GTS

 

[Double Trouble]

I can't see much of a difference either, on my 50" Toshiba HDTV, with a progressive scan DVD player. All the "night and day" difference talk is a bunch of hooey to me. With my own TV, and lots of others of friends, I've yet to see any real noticable difference, it's sort of like going from paying a game at 60 frames per second to 70 fps -- yeah, it's better, but not much.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: tagej
I can't see much of a difference either, on my 50" Toshiba HDTV, with a progressive scan DVD player. All the "night and day" difference talk is a bunch of hooey to me. With my own TV, and lots of others of friends, I've yet to see any real noticable difference, it's sort of like going from paying a game at 60 frames per second to 70 fps -- yeah, it's better, but not much.

Most new HD capable TVs have built in line doublers and upconvert the video to 480P anyhow. So a progressive scan DVD player on a newer HD capable TV isn't going to be a HUGE difference. However, most DVD players have better line doublers than the TVs have so there will be a difference, but it's not like the days when TVs didn't have any line doublers at all.

 

[Amused]

His problem is not in the cables. Bad cables wouldn't be causing the picture to not be sent in 480P, or the TV to not use it's own line doubler.

And I've used standard Radio Shack el-cheapo AV cables as component cables and $40 AR Component cables as component cables side by side with identical TVs and DVD players. I saw no difference in picture quality. Much of what you hear about cables is simply marketing hype. Don't fall for the Monster Cable hype, folks.

 

[Double Trouble]

And I've used standard Radio Shack el-cheapo AV cables as component cables and $40 AR Component cables as component cables side by side with identical TVs and DVD players. I saw no difference in picture quality. Much of what you hear about cables is simply marketing hype. Don't fall for the Monster Cable hype, folks.

Same here, I've used the expensive component cables and the el-cheapo stuff, and I didn't see that much of a difference, if any at all. I know the better cables have better shielding and such, but I don't think it makes a lot of difference in most cases, unless you're extremely picky.

 

[Tallgeese]

MONSTER CABLE = BOSE

Both are textbook cases of overpriced crap, but many people refuse to admit the truth about them.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: Tallgeese
MONSTER CABLE = BOSE

Both are textbook cases of overpriced crap, but many people refuse to admit the truth about them.

I wouldn't call Monster Cable "crap," but there are certainly much better alternatives at far cheaper prices.

I have a set of Monster component cables. I paid $20 for them, they retail for $60.

I'm quite happy with them, but would have never paid retail (or anywhere near).

Viper GTS

 

[vtqanh]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: Tallgeese
MONSTER CABLE = BOSE

Both are textbook cases of overpriced crap, but many people refuse to admit the truth about them.

I wouldn't call Monster Cable "crap," but there are certainly much better alternatives at far cheaper prices.

I have a set of Monster component cables. I paid $20 for them, they retail for $60.

I'm quite happy with them, but would have never paid retail (or anywhere near).

Viper GTS

If you're talking about prices, then there are better alternatives. if you are talking about quality, it's not easy to find a better quality one at far cheaper prices

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: tagej
I can't see much of a difference either, on my 50" Toshiba HDTV, with a progressive scan DVD player. All the "night and day" difference talk is a bunch of hooey to me. With my own TV, and lots of others of friends, I've yet to see any real noticable difference, it's sort of like going from paying a game at 60 frames per second to 70 fps -- yeah, it's better, but not much.

Most new HD capable TVs have built in line doublers and upconvert the video to 480P anyhow. So a progressive scan DVD player on a newer HD capable TV isn't going to be a HUGE difference. However, most DVD players have better line doublers than the TVs have so there will be a difference, but it's not like the days when TVs didn't have any line doublers at all.

Ok, so I shouldn't purchase new component cables and just use what I have now seeing that my newer TV does the compromising for me anyway?

It's not that I mind spending another $40 or so on (2 sets of) new cables, but if it's not going to be night-and-day difference, I'm not going to do so, and waste the composite cables I already have. These aren't exactly el-cheapo either. I've seen those. These are nicely shielded and have gold contacts. I can understand the 75ohm standard/difference, but will it really help me - is the problem at hand.

 

[Mani]

Originally posted by: Tallgeese
MONSTER CABLE = BOSE

Both are textbook cases of overpriced crap, but many people refuse to admit the truth about them.

I've said it before, but I've always found it amusing when people who complain about Bose being overpriced happen to own Monster cables.

 

[MrCodeDude]

I have Acoustic Research Component Cables, those are good quality cables, correct? I paid $30 for them at BestBuy.
-- mrcodedude

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: tagej
I can't see much of a difference either, on my 50" Toshiba HDTV, with a progressive scan DVD player. All the "night and day" difference talk is a bunch of hooey to me. With my own TV, and lots of others of friends, I've yet to see any real noticable difference, it's sort of like going from paying a game at 60 frames per second to 70 fps -- yeah, it's better, but not much.

Most new HD capable TVs have built in line doublers and upconvert the video to 480P anyhow. So a progressive scan DVD player on a newer HD capable TV isn't going to be a HUGE difference. However, most DVD players have better line doublers than the TVs have so there will be a difference, but it's not like the days when TVs didn't have any line doublers at all.

Ok, so I shouldn't purchase new component cables and just use what I have now seeing that my newer TV does the compromising for me anyway?

It's not that I mind spending another $40 or so on (2 sets of) new cables, but if it's not going to be night-and-day difference, I'm not going to do so, and waste the composite cables I already have. These aren't exactly el-cheapo either. I've seen those. These are nicely shielded and have gold contacts. I can understand the 75ohm standard/difference, but will it really help me - is the problem at hand.

I'm not going to tell you what to do. If you'd like to see what better cables can do, by all means try it. But get lower priced, good quality cables. Don't fall for Monster marketing hype. AR makes some reasonably priced cables and you can get them at Best Buy. Try those if you're curious, and come back here and tell us if you see any difference.

 

[rh71]

Fair enough. I will purchase a set of component cables in a couple hours and let you guys know if I see a difference.

As a new test, just a few minutes ago, I set up my Apex 1500 DVD player (also supposedly progressive) using RCA/composite cables (different, flimsy/cheap ones that came with the player) and watched the same DVD.

Summary:
Sony DVD (progressive) using COMPONENT video
Apex DVD (progressive) using RCA/COMPOSITE video (doesn't have component outputs)
both played on same Sony TV


Result:
Image quality looked almost the same. The quality was MAYBE slightly better on the Sony. A strong part of me wants there to be a huge night/day difference, but there simply isn't. Will report back in a few hours with component cables.

I also read up on this page about component video.

 

[rh71]

Tested with Acoustic Research Component Cables just bought from BB, with same DVD. No difference. None whatsoever. Faint interlace lines are still there (is that line doubling?).

The only difference in picture quality I do see is the slight difference mentioned in my last post... Apex Composite vs. Sony Component. The difference was that the Apex' image had slightly rastered spots in the outlines of objects. That was it. Going from Sony Composite (1 video cable) to Sony Component (with AR component cables) = ZERO difference.

Technically, component video is better than composite video, but my exhaustive efforts prove otherwise in a real-world scenario using the hardware I've described above.

This is where I just shrug my shoulders and wonder... Don't get me wrong. The picture looks great now, but how can it also look just as great using composite cables when component was supposed to be "so much better"?

 

[Mrburns2007]

Don't expext a huge difference between Composite and Component, it may only show up under certain conditions. Also keep in mind that if you are using progressive input versus interlace then that will show a much larger difference.

 

[rh71]

Oops forgot to test XBOX for composite vs. component... results for that coming soon. In the meantime...

^