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

[rh71]

*Sigh*... no difference with XBOX composite cables vs. High Definition Pack (AR component cables) either. Double-checked XBOX' settings for widescreen/HD resolutions as well as TV settings for "Progressive" and related.

This morning, using the AR component cables, I played a DVD back while in PROGRESSIVE Mode (Progressive LED was on, in the face of the player), then while playing, switched to INTERLACE Mode (Progressive LED turned off). No difference.

This pisses me off to not know if I've already got the best image quality possible or not. Know what I mean ?

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: rh71
*Sigh*... no difference with XBOX composite cables vs. High Definition Pack (AR component cables) either. Double-checked XBOX' settings for widescreen/HD resolutions as well as TV settings for "Progressive" and related.

This morning, using the AR component cables, I played a DVD back while in PROGRESSIVE Mode (Progressive LED was on, in the face of the player), then while playing, switched to INTERLACE Mode (Progressive LED turned off). No difference.

This pisses me off to not know if I've already got the best image quality possible or not. Know what I mean ?

Are you sure you're using the correct terms here?

Coax = One cable for both audio and video
Composite = One yellow cable for video, plus whatever audio connection you're using
S-video = One cable (with PS/2 like connectors) for video, plus whatever audio connection you're using
Component = Three cables for video, plus whatever audio connection you're using

The difference between composite and s-video should be night and day, the difference between s-video and component is much more subtle but still there.

If you can't see any difference between composite and component something is SERIOUSLY wrong.

Viper GTS

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: rh71
*Sigh*... no difference with XBOX composite cables vs. High Definition Pack (AR component cables) either. Double-checked XBOX' settings for widescreen/HD resolutions as well as TV settings for "Progressive" and related.

This morning, using the AR component cables, I played a DVD back while in PROGRESSIVE Mode (Progressive LED was on, in the face of the player), then while playing, switched to INTERLACE Mode (Progressive LED turned off). No difference.

This pisses me off to not know if I've already got the best image quality possible or not. Know what I mean ?

I agree with viper. Something is amiss here. Can you tell us what model TV you have? And if you can, could you scan a diagram or find one online of the back panel of the TV?

Like I said before, this isn't a cable issue. BTW, the difference between composite and component on a TV with a line doubler will not be resolution, but color accuracy and smearing.

Edit: Does your TV's back panel look like this?

 

[rh71]

Thanks guys, for your patience.

I'm positive I'm using the correct terms. All my audio is thru TOSlink so forget about that for the purposes of this discussion (man what a difference Dolby Digital is, BTW). Video-wise... when I say COMPOSITE, it's 1 yellow jack, and when I say COMPONENT, it's 3 cables for video (now AR brand component cables).

Crutchfield.com (and links) is apparently down right now, so I can't get to your link. The TV is this one. Click on BACK VIEW and you'll see the connectors. I'm using Component In (VIDEO 6 --> green, blue, red connectors) on the TV and Component Out on the DVD player. Video 5 were the same results.

From my previous post, even switching from INTERLACE <-> PROGRESSIVE on the back of the player does nothing to change picture quality. The screen does flash for a second, signifying it's switching modes though. I wish there was a way to screenie what I'm seeing. Digicam pictures are useless. Like you say, the difference between s-video and component is subtle, but still there... I'm even skipping that step (s-video) and still don't see even a subtle difference.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: rh71
Thanks guys, for your patience.

I'm positive I'm using the correct terms. All my audio is thru TOSlink so forget about that for the purposes of this discussion (man what a difference Dolby Digital is, BTW). Video-wise... when I say COMPOSITE, it's 1 yellow jack, and when I say COMPONENT, it's 3 cables for video (now AR brand component cables).

Crutchfield.com (and links) is apparently down right now, so I can't get to your link. The TV is this one. Click on BACK VIEW and you'll see the connectors. I'm using Component In (VIDEO 6, green, blue, red connectors) on the TV and Component Out on the DVD player.

From my previous post, even switching from INTERLACE <-> PROGRESSIVE on the back of the player does nothing to change picture quality. The screen does flash for a second, signifying it's switching modes though.

Yeah, that's because the TV has it's own line doubler. So you wont see a difference in resolution. But where you should see a difference is in color accuracy and smearing. Composite video in should have less accurate colors, and suffer from color smears. S-video will clear most of this up, and Component will clear it up marginally more than S-video.

BTW, I use my DVI in for my HDTV receiver and it gives a great picture

 

[Viper GTS]

Is it possible that a severely mis-calibrated TV could eliminate the color accuracy differences between composite & component?

Viper GTS

 

[PricklyPete]

NO

 

[RayH]

Digital Reality Creation circuit upgrades standard 480i signals to 480p or 960i; CineMotion reverse 3-2 pulldown for smooth playback from film-based sources; auto 16:9 Enhanced Mode maximizes resolution with letterboxed content

If you can disable this on the tv then run the dvd player in non-progressive, you should see the difference.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: RayH

Digital Reality Creation circuit upgrades standard 480i signals to 480p or 960i; CineMotion reverse 3-2 pulldown for smooth playback from film-based sources; auto 16:9 Enhanced Mode maximizes resolution with letterboxed content

If you can disable this on the tv then run the dvd player in non-progressive, you should see the difference.

On my Sony TV, DRC has 3 settings: Progressive / Cinemotion / Enhanced (?). On my Sony DVD player, I could set it to Interlace or Progressive (on-screen menus and on the rear of the box).

Using AR Component cables:

TV DRC: Cinemotion/Enhanced
DVD: Interlace
(scenario 1)

vs.

TV DRC: Progressive
DVD: Progressive
(scenario 2)

Switching back and forth from both scenarios, I did notice scenario 2 being slightly less "grainy". I emphasize "slightly". Color tones were unchanged. Line doublers (faint interlace lines) present in both scenarios.

Conclusion: [At least true for Sony] This test coupled with my composite vs. component test means: don't waste extra money on a component setup unless you must have the best on the block. It isn't worth the time/money/effort nor satisfaction in terms of what you see on-screen.

Optical audio is a must though.

 

[yellowperil]

I'm kind of befuddled why there's not a difference between composite & component in your case. Even on my plain Jane Panasonic 27" (no special modes) the difference is night and day.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: yellowperil
I'm kind of befuddled why there's not a difference between composite & component in your case. Even on my plain Jane Panasonic 27" (no special modes) the difference is night and day.

I don't know if it's a good or bad thing that I'm seeing almost the same picture in both cases. Either Sony made it real good for us, or they compromised for those who could only do composite (but still get good pic quality). I don't have another TV with component-in to test composite vs. component with. I could test on separate TVs, but that doesn't tell me anything about how much better component is, with all things equal besides the cable connection type.