Ordinary RCA patch cables for DVD component inputs?

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mithrandir2001

Diamond Member
May 1, 2001
6,545
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Can you use ordinary patch cables to hook your DVD player up to the component video inputs on your TV? The component video jacks look just like line-level jacks for audio components. I guess it's just a matter of whether the ordinary patch cables can deliver the bandwidth needed by the component video signals.

I believe most "information" about cables is steeped in snake oil, so I'm not spending extra moolah for "special" component video cables if ordinary patch cables will work. When I bought my Panasonic Tau at Circuit City this weekend, the salesperson wanted me to buy these $90 component cables. Bah.
 
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atrowe

Banned
May 20, 2001
253
0
0
Yes. The picture may not be quite as good as the $90 Monster Cable component cables, especially if you've got a long cable run, but it will still work.
 
Muadib

Muadib

Lifer
May 30, 2000
18,124
912
126
Make sure that they are 75-ohm shielded cables. You should have no problem finding a set for $20.
 
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tweakmm

Lifer
May 28, 2001
18,436
4
0
Paying $2000 for a TV and getting only mediocre picture quality out of it due to cheap poorly made cables is even more insane IMO.
Click to expand...
it's people like you that keep moster cable in busines :)
 
F

FrustratedUser

Lifer
Aug 16, 2001
22,505
4
81
No the $80 cables are not needed.
Get a pair of cables for around $15-$20.
The cable you have will work but the cable above is a good upgrade.
 
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Antoneo

Diamond Member
May 25, 2001
3,911
0
0
Yes, you can use ordinary RCA patch cables but they are probably not shielded... as ArmenK mentioned, Ratshack's gold series cables are pretty good quality. Make sure you get the one that has metal connectors and not just "gold plated" connections. Also check out Acoustic Research cables found in your local Best Buy. Monster cables are overpriced and not worth the quality they claim to bring imho.
 
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BDawg

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
11,631
2
0
Just to be more specific, there are 2 kinds of RCA cables, 50 Ohm and 75 Ohm. 50 O are the red and white audio cables, you cannot use them for video. If you're talking about the 75 O RCA cables for composite video (yellow one), then yes, you can use 3 of these for component. You might want to color the labels red, green, and blue.

IMHO, it's worth it to pay a bit more for quality cables that will last than to buy really cheap ones that will fall apart. I'm not saying you should spend $100 on video cables, but I'm also not saying to spend $10 on cheap, POS cables.
 
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StattlichPassat

Banned
Jan 9, 2002
5,232
0
0
S-video cables and the like are definitly better than ordinary patch cables if you have the inputs. You don't need to spend $90 on Monster Cable though- that's really ridiculous. However, I'd probably want something better than the average generic cables too- I like AR (Acoustic Research) cables at Best Buy. Great quality/picture/sound. They're even better when you can get them for a few bucks a pop with your employee discount (no longer working there, but things like this made it worth it last summer. barely)! :D
 
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Antoneo

Diamond Member
May 25, 2001
3,911
0
0
S-video cables and the like are definitly better than ordinary patch cables if you have the inputs. You don't need to spend $90 on Monster Cable though- that's really ridiculous.
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Uhm.. mithrandir2001 was talking about component out which delivers video quality higher than s-video :).
 
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BDawg

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
11,631
2
0
Uhm.. mithrandir2001 was talking about component out which delivers video quality higher than s-video :).
Click to expand...

That's an opinion. On long runs it's true, but plenty of experts can't tell the difference in S-vid and component on shorter runs.
 
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