S-video or RCA?

[joburnet]

Which provides better quality? I assumed that S-video was better quality but i've been told that it's just a cheaper solution then RCA. Anyone know the truth? Thanks.

 

[Vegito]

SVideo plugs cost almost 3x RCA... I thought SVideo was the better stuff..

 

[smb]

svideo provides better quality. If I remember right, the color/scan signals are seperate all the way thru.

 

[pg22]

VGA
Component
S-Video
Composite (aka RCA)


That's the pecking order

 

[Jiggz]

S-Video provides around mid 500 lines while composite video (RCA) is around mid 400.

 

[DARRIN]

S-video all the way.

 

[Gunbuster]

pg19: add RF converter to the bottom of your list

 

[Davegod75]

s-video is better

 

[Erasmus-X]

S-Video cables themselves DO NOT provide any more lines of resolution than an ordinary composite RCA cable does. S-Video simply separates the chrominance (color) and luminance (brightness) signals, allowing for a sharper picture with brighter colors, less "dot crawl," and other visual artifacts.

Component video takes this a step further by separating the chrominance band into two independent color signals. This gives the ultimate in picture quality, although a true RGB system (i.e. VGA and BNC monitor hookups) is superior.

 

[stultus]

This may sound dumb, but
Why is VGA better than composite?

I think we're starting to mix A/V and computers now, and I'm not sure that all assumptions hold true for all list items.

But hey, if VGA is "best", you'd better add BNC above that!

 

[sak]

S- Video...

 

[Vegito]

Rite, the cable doesn't do jack, its the recording devices that makes it better

 

[Noriaki]

Isn't component just 3x RCA? In that case RCA would actually be better than S-Video

RCA is just the plug type...you can use them for lots of things.

BNC and VGA are the best, a true split into RGB (the 3 primary colours of light).
Component is next (which I believe is 3x RCA for the cable), it splits the signal into Y,Cr,Cb which is almost but not quite RGB.
S-Video is next (a little black PS/2 looking plug) splits it into Y and C, which is not as good as 3 parts, but better than one.
Composite is below S-Video (it's 1 RCA usually yellow in colour), it sends the whole video stream in one line.
Coaxial is even lower

 

[Packet]

correct me if I am wrong..

but RCA is just a connector type, they have RCA audio cables, video cables, etc

RCA itself isn't a type of video cable.. its just the connector end
your looking for the type of cable

Component, composite, etc, etc

 

[stultus]

Noriaki, you can use three video RCA cables for component connection (3>1, how do you see RCA is better?) in which one carries brightness levels and the other two carry separate color-difference components.

 

[Noriaki]

I was making fun of the topic.

S-Video is worse than RCA if the RCAs are used in a Component set up, but S-Video is better than RCA if the RCA is used in a Composite set up.

I was just pointing out the S-Video is a signal format, RCA is just a plug type.

 

[stultus]

Whoops, I missed the joke. I am embarrassed now My brain was in paper-writing mode (down with school!) and not fun mode.

S-Video is worse than RCA if the RCAs are used in a Component set up, but S-Video is better than RCA if the RCA is used in a Composite set up.

I bet you've confused at least one person with this statement!

 

[wolf550e]

what is the 21pin connector?
where does it stand in the list of quality video transmition cables?

 

[Joony]

<< Isn't component just 3x RCA? In that case RCA would actually be better than S-Video

RCA is just the plug type...you can use them for lots of things.

BNC and VGA are the best, a true split into RGB (the 3 primary colours of light).
Component is next (which I believe is 3x RCA for the cable), it splits the signal into Y,Cr,Cb which is almost but not quite RGB.
S-Video is next (a little black PS/2 looking plug) splits it into Y and C, which is not as good as 3 parts, but better than one.
Composite is below S-Video (it's 1 RCA usually yellow in colour), it sends the whole video stream in one line.
Coaxial is even lower >>



colour? isnt it color? hehe

s-video provides better quality then RCA

 

[Howard]

Joony - Not everybody lives in America.

 

[pg22]

What are you talking about Yucky?

 

[Erasmus-X]

You can use 3 standard composite video cables for a component video hookup; it actually works! Specialized component video cables are signal-optimized for the most accurate transmission of the Y and Cb/Cr band, but they cost about 3-4x as much (I still don't understand why Monster Cable wants $70 for their &quot;cheap&quot; component video cable...).

I use S-Video throughout on my setup, mainly for simplicity purposes with my A/V receiver. Everything in my setup (including the VCR) outputs an S-Video signal and therefore I don't have to change anything on my TV (very dummy proof for people like my dad). Besides, in all honesty, it's very difficult to distinguish between S-Video and Component video on relatively small screens like 27-32&quot;. It makes the biggest difference where pixel artifacts are more noticeable, like on projection TVs.

 

[Noriaki]

Joony: It's also Neighbour, Habour, and lots of other words that are -or in the states are -our in Canada.



<< I bet you've confused at least one person with this statement! >>

Probably that's why I just made a quick little joke about it and moved on.

By the way, because of the way most TVs use the Y and C lines, having a separate Cr and Cb isn't an enormous improvement. You need a pretty fancy TV for Component to be worth the extra price over S-Video. Component *is* better, but they cables are rather pricey. But S-Video is defiantely better than Composite (single RCA).

 

[jamarno]

Erasmus-X, I don't understand how having &quot;optimzied&quot; cables would matter because even the worst coax cable easily has 5-10 times the bandwidth used by even the best S-VHS signals.

Noriaki, I'm no authority on how TVs handle S-VHS Y and C signals, but why would any manufacturer not design a set so that the color and monochrome signals aren't combined until as late as possible, when they reaches the video amplifiers? It seems silly to feeding the Y through the 3.58 MHz color subcarrier filter when the bandwidth can easily be doubled by routing it straight to the video amplifiers.