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Does "quality" of s-video cables for console systems really make a difference?

B

bovinda

Senior member
Is there really any difference in terms of video display between one kind of s-video cable and another for game consoles? For example, you can get a 9.99 s-vid AV cable for a PS2 or you can get one for like 30 bucks that claims to be very superior for some reason or another at BestBuy. But does it really make a difference?

I need to invest in some s-video cables for all three consoles, which is why I ask. If it's worth the money to get the "better" cables, let me know, b/c picture quality is important to me. The output will be on a standard 32" TV with s-video input.

Any feedback is welcome! :beer:


Uhh...should this have been in OT? It is kind of a general hardware question, isn't it?
 
GH, OT, peripherals, video... whatever.

For the most part a cable is a cable. Beyond the utter crap budget stuff, what you're paying for higher up is more build quality in the cables.

The much bigger difference is the type of cable (composite, s-video, component, etc.)

Dayton makes some very nice quality cables for the money.
 
Monster cables are HUGE ripoffs. Go to Walmart and get the cheapest cable they have. Expensive cables are covered in junk science and marketing to people paying huge amounts of money for electronics, so "what's another $60?" It also helps the pitch of the BB employees who are like "you wouldn't want to hook up that $5000 TV with a cheapo cable, would you?" When I was shopping for TVs there, the kid was trying to sell me cables, and he said "Well, *I* use Monster Cables." to which I had to reply "Man, you're an idiot."

And if you're looking for general cables as opposed to console adapters..... monoprice.com.

The only thing you should be concerned about is whether they come apart due to extremely shoddy build quality or not, like the MS XBox HDTV adapter (which is damn expensive anyway).
 
I like Acoustic Research cables. Very decent quality, half the cost of Monster. Hanging right next to Monster at BB.

Personally, I can't tolerate cheap, crappy cables. What comes in the box is about equal to using a coat hanger
 
Thanks everyone. So YOyoYOhowsDAjello and doublejbass, by build quality, you guys basically mean something that won't fall apart, yeah? And regardless, picture quality should be pretty constant, it sounds like? I appreciate your opinions--I'm probably just going to go out and pick up the least expensive ones, then.

Hottie, how would a premium surge protector make a difference in picture quality? I haven't heard about that before.

Texun, thanks for the interesting read. Even though it applied more to the audio cables, it was still good info. And Boston Dangler, thanks for the info.

:beer:
 
Originally posted by: bovinda
Thanks everyone. So YOyoYOhowsDAjello and doublejbass, by build quality, you guys basically mean something that won't fall apart, yeah? And regardless, picture quality should be pretty constant, it sounds like? I appreciate your opinions--I'm probably just going to go out and pick up the least expensive ones, then.

Hottie, how would a premium surge protector make a difference in picture quality? I haven't heard about that before.

Texun, thanks for the interesting read. Even though it applied more to the audio cables, it was still good info. And Boston Dangler, thanks for the info.

:beer:
Click to expand...

Yeah, something that's made of high quality materials on the outside... good connectors that fit well... the kind of cable you could step on and not be too worried about it, etc.

If you want something really cheap that will just get the job done, cablesforless has some very inexpensive stuff. I doubt you'd be able to tell any difference in the picture quality, but the cables aren't going to be nearly as sturdy as the ones mentioned above.


 
You wouldn't get any benefit from a surge protector, you would need a line conditioner. Basically, it eliminates noisy power and fluctuations in the AC input. I use a Monster HTS 3500, about $400 when I bought it new. I like it more for protection, rather than high-tolerance AC power. Most electronics can tolerate the inconsistant AC power used in the US. Inconsistant like voltages, spikes/drops, phase, etc. Not inconsistant like power in India, where people are surprised when the lights WORK.
 
does svideo even look that much better than composite anyway? i know RF looks pretty bad compared to composite, i hooked up a dvd player thru vcr and the sharpness was really bad (the tv only had the RF antenna type).
 
Originally posted by: SonicIce
does svideo even look that much better than composite anyway? i know RF looks pretty bad compared to composite, i hooked up a dvd player thru vcr and the sharpness was really bad (the tv only had the RF antenna type).
Click to expand...

IMO it does. The difference is quite visible on my DVD player.
 
Yeah, I think s-video looks a lot better too with DVD players. I'm hoping the same will be the case for video game consoles. I'll know in a couple days.
 
S-video (or even better, component video) looks substantially better than composite. As for the line conditioner discussion, there is merit to a line conditioner, but it's only noticible in certain situations. For example, the 53" HDTV in my basement looks great without one, UNTIL someone either uses the paper shredder upstairs, or turns on the fan on my gas fireplace. For some reason, these devices interfere with the television over the 110VAC power line, and result in a very obviously fuzzy picture. Got a line conditioner, and voila! no more problem. Unless you have some device in your house that causes a problem like this, you probably won't notice the difference using a line conditioner.
 
Component looks better than s-video, mostly because of Progressive scan. I think S-video looks better if you can't run pro-scan

just get mad catz s-video cables...they hook up to all 3 systems out now (its a universal cable) and look great. they dont fall apart either.
 
In general the jump from composite to s-video is considerable. Going from s-video to component adds a little (depending on what you're doing with it naturally). Finally going to DVI/HDMI should be the best on a digital set, but some manufacturers have managed to screw it up to component looks better on some sets.
 
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
In general the jump from composite to s-video is considerable. Going from s-video to component adds a little (depending on what you're doing with it naturally). Finally going to DVI/HDMI should be the best on a digital set, but some manufacturers have managed to screw it up to component looks better on some sets.
Click to expand...


^ the man speaks the truth.

S-video -> component is more of a COLOR difference where S-video is notoriously sharper.

S-video is a MUST IMO for video game systems.
 
Originally posted by: hans030390
just get mad catz s-video cables...they hook up to all 3 systems out now (its a universal cable) and look great. they dont fall apart either.
Click to expand...

I was wondering about those very cables in fact! That was the cheapest I could find for the Xbox and the GC. That seals the deal for me--I'm getting those. Thanks for the rec hans030390.

YOyoYOhowsDAjello, rleemhui, and Umberger, thanks for the continued discussion too. It reaffirms my decision to upgrade to the S-video. 🙂 :beer:

 
as long as the cables are intact. svideo is limited anyways. its like trying to getthe beset quality out of something thats already not so great😛 quibble over nothing
 
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