Component video cables causing "flickering"... Coaxial cables seems to be to blame...

[brigden]

I recently purchased a Sony 24" Trinitron Wega flatscreen TV (KV24FS100) and a Sony DVD player (DVPNS325S), connected via standard RCA audio/video.

I purchased a set of Monster Standard Component Video 1 cables. I hooked up the cables correctly and, as expected, the image resolution is
higher, quite clear, and the colours are greatly improved. However, I am experiencing what I would describe as intermittent flickering. It's visible both during playback and during pause. It is definitely noticable, and only occurs with the component cables connected.

Here is the response from Monster:

Hello Jeremy,

This sounds like it is an issue with the Component Video outputs of your DVD player. If you were to exchange the Monster Cables with a new set, which you can definitely do, I think you will still experience the same problem. I have had a lot of experience with Sony DVD players and they have all been prone to odd glitches just like this.

Monsterously,

Tim Pryde
Customer Service
Head of Technical Support
Internal Training Monster

Now, to isolate the issue I've taken an identical model Sony DVD player and tested it using the Monster cables. Exact same result. Next, I tested both Sony DVD players with a different set of component cables, manufactured by Acoustic Research. Same result. I tried a Toshiba DVD player with the Monster Cables and the flicking was nowhere to be seen.

Thus, I'm 99% certain the Sony DVD player is at fault.

I called Sony. The individual I spoke with was completely useless. It sounded to me as if he had no clue. A total moron. His solution was to buy Sony component video cables as their DVD players have a low tolerance for poor quality cables. Rubbish.

Is it possible there's some electronic interference where my TV/DVD player is set up? I thought component video cables were less susceptible to electronic interference? My roommate has a mini-fridge directly on the otherside of the wall, where my TV/DVD player reside; could the fridge cause interference?

UPDATE:

I think I may have isolated the issue. It isn't the DVD player, as first suspected, but after farting about with the surge protector, wall outlet, and coaxial cable it seems that the coaxial cable is to blame. With the cable unconnected the flickering disappears, but once it is reconnected the flickering reappears.

OK, so it's the cable, but why does the component video not like the coaxial cable?

I know the cable signal is weak as it is split with a crummy RCA 4-way splitter and the legnth of the cable is quite long; fifty feet, I believe. So, would a better quality coaxial cable make a difference?

 

[Snuffaluffaguss]

Well, make sure the cables are seated properly and that they aren't all snagged up. You should see a big differance, also try using a different dvd.

 

[pulse8]

If you hooked up the cables correctly, but left the RCA video composite cable in there, are you sure you're looking at the right video input on the TV?

 

[Viper GTS]

Component should be night & day above composite, are you sure the cables are 1) connected right and 2) seated properly?

Do you have any other cables you can try? They don't specifically have to be component interconnects, any 75 ohm RCA terminated cable will do.

Viper GTS

 

[BigSmooth]

No, that's not typical. Although you shouldn't expect huge improvements on a 24" TV, you should certainly not see any softening of the picture or flickering. There is a problem somewhere.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
No, that's not typical. Although you shouldn't expect huge improvements on a 24" TV, you should certainly not see any softening of the picture or flickering. There is a problem somewhere.

The biggest differences he should see are in color gradients & overall color quality.

Viper GTS

 

[MustISO]

Follow all the advice above and get something like AVIA or Video Essentials to calibrate your TV.

It's also entirely possible that the component output from the DVD player is messed up. Try a different player with the same cables and disc to see if that changes anything.

 

[rh71]

I had quite a lengthy thread about not seeing a difference between RCA and Component quite a few months back.

Good luck with it... cause if you hooked it up correctly and still don't see a difference, you're not going crazy. Maybe it's something with the Sony's... I have a 57" WS that made little-to-no difference with component cables going from RCA. And I know the components are hooked up right since I'm able to see the difference with HD programming.

Going from coax to component is where you should see the biggest difference (and I did).

 

[CFster]

You should see a difference between component cables and RCA.

But there's no difference between component and S-Video. None that I can see at 500+ lines of resolution on my WEGA anyway. What a ripoff - those component cables are expensive.

 

[brigden]

OK, I've been mucking about with the connections, switching back and forth between the two. Now, my first impressions of the picture quality were wrong. I can see, after extended viewing, that the image resolution is higher, and quite clear. And, as mentioned by Viper, the colours are greatly improved. However, I am still experiencing what I would describe as intermittent flickering. It's visible during playback and during pause. It is definitely noticable, and only occurs with the component cables connected.

Yes, the cables are properly connected.

 

[amnesiac]

First, IMO it's a waste of money buying component cables for anything less than a 32" TV.

Second, I really hope you either a) got the cables for free or b) got them for a ridiculous discount.

If you paid full retail for those monster cables I'm going to gather a crowd so we can all point and laugh at you for being such a buffoon and a consumer whore.

Hey everyone, let's point and laugh at the consumer whore!! Bwahahahahahahah!!!!

 

[Savij]

Originally posted by: brigden
OK, I've been mucking about with the connections, switching back and forth between the two. Now, my first impressions of the picture quality were wrong. I can see, after extended viewing, that the image resolution is higher, and quite clear. And, as mentioned by Viper, the colours are greatly improved. However, I am still experiencing what I would describe as intermittent flickering. It's visible during playback and during pause. It is definitely noticable, and only occurs with the component cables connected.

Yes, the cables are properly connected.

Component input is VERY sensitive to interference. I found that rerouting my cables got rid of the flickering/verticle bars.

 

[brigden]

Originally posted by: amnesiac
First, IMO it's a waste of money buying component cables for anything less than a 32" TV.

Second, I really hope you either a) got the cables for free or b) got them for a ridiculous discount.

If you paid full retail for those monster cables I'm going to gather a crowd so we can all point and laugh at you for being such a buffoon and a consumer whore.

Hey everyone, let's point and laugh at the consumer whore!! Bwahahahahahahah!!!!

Yeah, the $20 they set me back is such an extravagance.

 

[brigden]

Anyone else care to offer advice?

 

[amnesiac]

Originally posted by: brigden

Yeah, the $20 they set me back is such an extravagance.

That's significantly lower than retail, and just slightly about what you'd pay for Radio shack premium cables.

Retail for standard Monster A/V component cables is something like $50-80.

 

[brigden]

Originally posted by: amnesiac

Originally posted by: brigden

Yeah, the $20 they set me back is such an extravagance.

That's significantly lower than retail, and just slightly about what you'd pay for Radio shack premium cables.

Retail for standard Monster A/V component cables is something like $50-80.

I never pay retail.

 

[eelw]

Did you enable progressive scan support on your DVD player?

 

[brigden]

Neither the TV or DVD player are progressive scan.

 

[brigden]

Here is the response from Monster:

Hello Jeremy,

This sounds like it is an issue with the Component Video outputs of your DVD player. If you were to exchange the Monster Cables with a new set, which you can definitely do, I think you will still experience the same problem. I have had a lot of experience with Sony DVD players and they have all been prone to odd glitches just like this.

Monsterously,

Tim Pryde
Customer Service
Head of Technical Support
Internal Training Monster

Now, to isolate the issue I've taken an identical model Sony DVD player and tested it using the Monster cables. Exact same result. Next, I tested both Sony DVD players with a different set of component cables, manufactured by Acoustic Research. Same result. I tried a Toshiba DVD player with the Monster Cables and the flicking was nowhere to be seen.

Thus, I'm 99% certain the Sony DVD player is at fault.

I called Sony. The individual I spoke with was completely useless. It sounded to me as if he had no clue. A total moron. His solution was to buy Sony component video cables as their DVD players have a low tolerance for poor quality cables. Rubbish.

Is it possible there's some electronic interference where my TV/DVD player is set up? I thought component video cables were less susceptible to electronic interference?

 

[radioouman]

Thus, I'm 99% certain the Sony DVD player is at fault.

This sounds about right. My cheapo Apex AD-600A looks fantastic with component. I notice less flicker with component than composite.

 

[DrPizza]

Wow, I'm surprised no one has suggested this yet:

On your DVD player, go to settings, and choose Component Out.
The 2 dvd players I have don't automatically output to each of the types of output... you have to specify which output to use in the setup. (It helps to read the manual too)

 

[brigden]

There is no option like that in the setup.

 

[faZZter]

"I never pay retail."

Cool, tell me where you buy gas at ok? I wanna save too...!

 

[brigden]

My roommate has a mini-fridge directly on the otherside of the wall, where my TV/DVD player reside; could the fridge cause interference?

 

[RayH]

Originally posted by: brigden
Neither the TV or DVD player are progressive scan.

Without progressive scan, you will notice hardly any better picture using component over s-video but it definitely should not be worse.