My parents just bought a Sony 30" widescreen HDTV. I can tell the picture tube is good, but cable TV looks like total crap on it regardless of any widescreen stretching. Right now I'm using a cheap ass composite cable from the cable box because we don't own a s-video cable. Can I expect a significant improvement after buying a s-video cable tomorrow? The best way to describe what it looks like now is when you run Windows in 16 colors.
How much difference going from composite to s-video with a HDTV?
- Thread starter Sukhoi
- Start date
Hell fvcking yes use an S-video cable.
Edit: And you don't need a super monster supreme premium cable, just a reg s-video cable will do.
Edit: And you don't need a super monster supreme premium cable, just a reg s-video cable will do.
Well obviously.
What I'm wondering is will the s-video cable likely fix the majority of the image problem, or are we screwed because we are watching standard cable TV? On our old 25" TV the picture looks great, so the input into the cable box isn't the problem.
MrChad
Lifer
- Aug 22, 2001
- 13,507
- 3
- 81
It depends on whether or not your cable box's comb filtering is better than your TVs. When you run a composite signal to your TV, the TV's filtering will be used. When you run an s-video signal to your TV, your box will filter the incoming signal. You might see some improvement, but don't expect miracles.
Regardless, a high resolution TV is going to make any low resolution source (such as analog TV) look like crap. Do you have HD options from your cable company as well?
Regardless, a high resolution TV is going to make any low resolution source (such as analog TV) look like crap. Do you have HD options from your cable company as well?
And by composite I mean RCA or w/e. Not coax from the wall. Haven't tried that yet.
There is some HDTV offered on our cable but I'm not sure how many channels and how much it costs.
There is some HDTV offered on our cable but I'm not sure how many channels and how much it costs.
MrChad
Lifer
- Aug 22, 2001
- 13,507
- 3
- 81
Before you invest in an s-video cable, see what kind of HD options are available from your cable company. If you upgrade to an HD cable box (which I highly recommend, especially after investing in an HDTV), you'll want to use component cables or a DVI cable for your video connection.
IHateMyJob2004
Lifer
- Sep 29, 2004
- 18,656
- 67
- 91
Just so you know, you are probably using RCA cables right now, not componenet. Componenet are as good as it gets. And yes, upgrading from RCA to S-video is like night and day. While upgrading from S-video to COmposite is mostly reserved for those that want hte best and are willing to pay the premium..
We have digital cable TV, but only channels over 100 are digital. We hardly watch them. However the box does convert from the wall coax to composite and s-video. Right now we don't own a s-video cable so I just ran the composite to the HDTV to see what it would look like, and ended up with crap.
MrChad, I agree. I'm trying to convince my parents it makes no sense to pay $780 on a HDTV with 5-year warranty and then not buy a single type of premium content for the TV. But an s-video cable is only $10 so I'm just going to buy a 6-foot one tomorrow to hold us over until we figure out what's going on with the cable TV package.
IHateMyJob2004, composite and RCA are the same thing. Then you go to s-video, and finally component at the high end. Good to hear that there is indeed some difference going from composite to s-video.
I should add that even our true digital (but not HD) channels look like crap too. I guess slightly better than the analog but not much.
MrChad, I agree. I'm trying to convince my parents it makes no sense to pay $780 on a HDTV with 5-year warranty and then not buy a single type of premium content for the TV. But an s-video cable is only $10 so I'm just going to buy a 6-foot one tomorrow to hold us over until we figure out what's going on with the cable TV package.
IHateMyJob2004, composite and RCA are the same thing.
Then you go to s-video, and finally component at the high end. Good to hear that there is indeed some difference going from composite to s-video.I should add that even our true digital (but not HD) channels look like crap too. I guess slightly better than the analog but not much.
or those who like progressive scan, which makes the jump from s-vid to component video worth it. anyway, you can get fine component cables for $10
composite = yellow + red/white for sound
s video = ps2 looking cable
component = red/blue/green
composite<s video<component
go get a component cable is you have hdtv, otherwise, what's the point?
s video = ps2 looking cable
component = red/blue/green
composite<s video<component
go get a component cable is you have hdtv, otherwise, what's the point?
Otherwise whats the point? The quality will still be better using component.
Edit: And Sukhoi, who is your Parent's cable provider?
standard channels, will look like ass. I have a huge 51 inch hitachi, and the local channels look like ass. The good thing, is that crapcast offers our local channels in hd. So i can go to the hd channel and it looks great.
no matter what, most channels will look terrible unless they are hd or they are on an analog tv. The best thing you can do, is make sure you have a good provider, and get the hd pack.
the thing about hd, it makes you watch stuff you would never sit down and watch. hell, i watch the discovery channel one day. it was soo cool. there were beavers and they were talking about their lives, and their dams and their homes. really cool when it looks like its right in front of you.
no matter what, most channels will look terrible unless they are hd or they are on an analog tv. The best thing you can do, is make sure you have a good provider, and get the hd pack.
the thing about hd, it makes you watch stuff you would never sit down and watch. hell, i watch the discovery channel one day. it was soo cool. there were beavers and they were talking about their lives, and their dams and their homes. really cool when it looks like its right in front of you.
ive watched that program at least a dozen times now! that and the one on japanese rain forests. hd makes boring programming so interesting.
anyone know if its ok to use regular rcas for component use? like using the white/red/yellow for the green/blue/red?
We have Adelphia. Looking at their website it makes no sense to get their HD pack unless it's almost free. They offer the local HD channels in one pack, and then ANOTHER pack you have to pay extra to get ESPN, ESPN2 and Discovery. Pretty damn pathetic from a pathetic cable company. Looking like it makes the most sense to just get a tuner and antenna for the local channels. If it was me I'd get the HD cable for ESPN and ESPN2 but they wouldn't watch it that much.
Don't do it. Besides it being a generally bad idea, the yellow wire isn't always the same as the white and red since those two are for audio.
Are HDTV tuners seriously $229 like Circuit City wants for this one? That's almost the entire price difference between the TV we got and the one with the SuperFine tube and built-in tuner.
spacejamz
Lifer
- Mar 31, 2003
- 10,921
- 1,570
- 126
Can anyone honestly tell the difference between rca composites and s-video when watching regular TV on a HDTV set? I mean c'mon...S-video is supposed to look better, but every time I compare both connections on the same set, it still does not do the HDTV set justice.
If you aren't gonna use component or DVI/HDMI, then stick with composites (just get the Acoustic Research ones at Best Buy if you don't order them cheaper on the internet) cuz you won't be able to tell the difference (and if you do, it ain't worth the difference)...
IMO, the difference is more noticeable on non-HDTV set though...
Thats pretty standard for cable companies to charge extra for the HD channels.... they are supposed to include all locals in ANY package though. I would advise you to go to AVSForum and into the Local Area Forum and find your city. You will get much better information there about your options.
My local cable co (cox) lets me get the extended basic package and then get all the hd channels and my total comes to $53 monthly for ESPN, DISC, CBS, NBC, PBS, INHD, INHD2 and a HD-DVR (I would highly recommend getting the HD-dvr in your area if it is one of the dual tuner ones). Mine costs 10 a month to rent and thats all I pay for it.
My local cable co (cox) lets me get the extended basic package and then get all the hd channels and my total comes to $53 monthly for ESPN, DISC, CBS, NBC, PBS, INHD, INHD2 and a HD-DVR (I would highly recommend getting the HD-dvr in your area if it is one of the dual tuner ones). Mine costs 10 a month to rent and thats all I pay for it.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 24K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 19K
-
-
-
Facebook
Twitter