Pic quality: RCA vs S-Video vs Component for PS2

[ugh]

Hi all,

Hope I'm posting this in the right forum...

I'm thinking of getting either a S-Video or Component cable for my PS2. Actually leaning more towards S-Video FTTB since my TV doesn't have Component inputs {g} I'm still wondering if they actually have PS2 S-Video cables since I've only seen Component cables for PS2 only.

Anyway, I'm just wondering if the jump from RCA to S-Video is great for PS2. My friend told me that the jump from RCA to S-Video is far more significant than going from S-Video to Component.

Any ideas/experiences? Any input is appreciated.

TIA.

 

[everman]

My guess would be S-video.

 

[Spicedaddy]

My friend told me that the jump from RCA to S-Video is far more significant than going from S-Video to Component.

He's 100% right.


And since your TV doesn't have component inputs, you don't really have a choice...

 

[ugh]

Thanks for the input guys! Will be looking for a S-Video connector now

 

[LethalWolfe]

When I switched from composite to S on my DC I was like "dddaaaaammmmmnnnnn..."


Lethal

 

[maxis]

maybe you can check out the review at firingaquad website

 

[ugh]

Originally posted by: LethalWolfe
When I switched from composite to S on my DC I was like "dddaaaaammmmmnnnnn..."

Interesting In which way does the image quality gets better?

 

[LethalWolfe]

The biggest difference I noticed was you see more fine detail. Everything looks sharper and more clear w/S-video than it did w/composite.

Lethal

 

[Mavrick007]

I agree, I have a s-video with RCA audio connectors for my PS2, as well as my Xbox, GC and DC.
It does help alot. I found that there was less jaggies and the colors and detail were sharper.
Good Luck!

 

[Pariah]

I found that there was less jaggies and the colors and detail were sharper.

Sharper with less jaggies? Isn't that a contradiction? Unless your S-video cable is capable of FSAA the sharper picture will create more jaggies which has been my experience. I do agree though that S-video produces better colors and the picture is sharper than composite, I also agree that the difference is more significant than the improvement going from S-video to component, though there are also noticable improvements there.

 

[Mavrick007]

Pariah, well, I say that it had sharper colors but I mean more vibrant really and it did seem to have less jaggies when I used the DC on the monitor using S-vid with a vga box and tv tuner card too. The outline of characters while playing Soul Calibur seemed very smooth and not jaggy unlike when we used just the standard RCA cables, which gave the images a more fuzzy look.

 

[Pneumothorax]

Your friend is right on that the diff between svideo and rca is bigger than component vs. svideo. On the other hand, if you have a large HDTV with component inputs, it does make an appreciable difference between svideo and component. The colors are even more vibrant and the edges more defined. I also found there isn't any difference between Sony's $30 cable vs. the $8 generic cable you can pick-up at most dept. stores.

 

[Boogak]

Back when I had my PS2, I went from the Monster S-Video cables (yeah yeah, they're overpriced) to the Sony branded component cables on my 43" Toshiba RPTV. Picture quality wasn't that huge an improvement, the colors were maybe a little brighter and less bleeding around the borders. I'd go with at least s-video though if you're TV supports it, it should make a pretty nice difference over composite.

 

[ugh]

Thanks for sharing all your experience. Come to think of it, I've been seeing only a BIT of bleeding using the composite cable in Burnout 2. Hopefully I'll be able to find the s-video cable for PS2 as I haven't seen any around so far...

 

[cmdrdredd]

here
monster cable S-Video for PS2


and here
available at bestbuy

that's what you want!

edit:linkified

 

[cmdrdredd]

Monster is NOT overpriced...they use nitrogen gas filled tripple shielded cables. They give much better signal flow. Trust me...after installing numerous home theater systems with everything from generic Radioshack cable to monster cable to the super expensive Acoustic Research Ultra series cables I found Monster to sound the best and provide the best quality for the money you spend. The Acoustic research cables are $100 for a 3meter S-Video cable where monster is around $35-$40 depending on the series and quality you want. Seriously better value.

 

[ugh]

Thanks for the links... but I'm not gonna touch any Monster cables Besides, I'm not staying in US

 

[cmdrdredd]

then go with SOny...Sony is $30 so you m8ight as well go monster for the extra few dollars and get better cable.

 

[Mavrick007]

Does the Sony really cost $30? I got my Sony s-vid cable for like $10 used so I guess I got a pretty good deal.
You can buy a combo s-vid cable now too which will hook up to PS2, Xbox, and Gamecube with the different connectors.
It might save you some money if you have more than one console.