Interchanging composite and YPbPr cables?

[lefenzy]

I read this

YPBPR cables are not physically different from composite video cables and can be used interchangeably. This means that the yellow RCA Connector cable commonly packaged with most audio/visual equipment can be used in place of the YPBPR connectors, provided the end user is careful to keep track of the device functions (i.e. connect the functions together using any cable colour).

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YPbPr

Is this really true? Do component video cables (Ypbpr) tend to be of higher quality than composite, or can I use composite cable instead of component if I keep track of colors without other worries?

 

[kornphlake]

I think the impedance of component cables is different than composite and the signal won't carry correctly when using the wrong cable, I don't remember which way worked and which way didn't. It might be that component cables don't work for composite connections, but a composite cable will work for a component connection. Of course that could be a marketing lie to sell more monster cables.

 

[sdifox]

Composite and Component are both RG-59 cables. They are the same. You doubting wikipedia?

 

[Fallen Kell]

There are impedance differences in the spec. Just having the same wire of RG-59 does not mean they use the same end connectors with the same impedance.

Now I am not saying it won't work, or that you will even be able to tell a difference. The component cable specs simply call for high quality standards on the cable as a whole to certify that it can properly transfer the higher frequency, higher bandwidth video signals over the cable than would be required for composite. A good quality composite cable should be able to meet the specs for component certification, it is simply that not all composite cables can.

 

[sdifox]

There are impedance differences in the spec. Just having the same wire of RG-59 does not mean they use the same end connectors with the same impedance.

RG-59 impedance is speced at 75ohm... RCA connector is RCA connector.

Composite cable :RCA terminated RG-59
(analogue) Component cable :RCA terminated RG-59 x3

and if you are going to stick a shitty cable to your system, I don't really care what kind of cable it is, it may not work correctly.

 

[CubanlB]

The impedance change introduced by the quality of the ends is pretty minimal. Almost all video RCA cables are going to be pretty close to 75ohm (or at least close enough to work). In practice yes, they are almost completely interchangeable. But the tiny cables that come with DVD players fall into the category of you get what you pay for.

How well individual cables handle other issues such as RF noise and other sources of EMI are more dependent on the cable, but over short distances, whatever. It's not like component video cables from monoprice are very much money anyway.

 

[Fallen Kell]

RG-59 impedance is speced at 75ohm... RCA connector is RCA connector.

Composite cable :RCA terminated RG-59
(analogue) Component cable :RCA terminated RG-59 x3

and if you are going to stick a shitty cable to your system, I don't really care what kind of cable it is, it may not work correctly.

RCA connector is not RCA connector. There are plenty out there with built in capacitors, or resistors. There are some even with inductors.

Just an example:
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0803/rothwell.htm

 

[sdifox]

RCA connector is not RCA connector. There are plenty out there with built in capacitors, or resistors. There are some even with inductors.

Just an example:
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0803/rothwell.htm

them be out of spec... sticking electronic components into the connector facilitates the user, but you can't claim it to be the norm. Hell, they even call it RCA attenuator, denoting it is an attenuator that uses the RCA plug.

 

[Fallen Kell]

I agree with you, these things are typically not in spec, but it doesn't mean they don't exist, and it doesn't mean that a company didn't build them onto their cable in order to make the cable as a whole into spec.

 

[lefenzy]

I think I was under the wrong impression that component cables were more expensive than composite cables, but I see that their prices are comparable.

 

[CubanlB]

RCA connector is not RCA connector. There are plenty out there with built in capacitors, or resistors. There are some even with inductors.

Just an example:
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0803/rothwell.htm

These are for the super enthusiast or the super gullible as they in no way enhance audio quality, they only compensate for weakness in equipment or some sort of mismatch in components (cd player to like a tube amp or something).

Honestly, other than extremely low quality cables, a cable is a cable is a cable. Even if you want to get into individual cable qualities, e.g. no name rg59/6 vs belden rg59/6, the differences in signal are in no way perceivable at frequencies that we can hear. They are more important in frequencies that are used for communications. Even then it's more about cable gauge and shielding e.g. rg6 vs rg11 that help deal with loss and attenuation issues.

Just buy the length cable you need and not of the crappiest quality and you'll be fine.