SDTV has both Composite and YCb/Pb, Cr/Pr inputs

[specWB]

I wasnt sure which forum in particular to post this in since it is related to the Xbox 360, but it isnt really about gaming with it exactly. Please move this if it isnt in the right place or direct me to a link if it has been asked before.
I have a standard definition TV. I am not sure of the exact model but it is a 32" FD Trinitron WEGA. I Recently had to disconect the cables from the TV to organize the cables and such bejind the TV. Prior to today, i had the xbox connected to the TV on the video side of things using the single yellow composite cable. When i was reconnecting everything, i realized that i also had the red, blue, and green inputs, which i believe are YCb/Pb, Cr/Pr but i am not sure. I decided to see what would happen if i connected the xbox to the TV using those instead of the single yellow one, and sure enough, it worked. So my question is, what is the difference between the two input options that i have? Is one goin to be better than the other in picture quality or otherwise? I figured there had to be some kind of difference or i dont think it would have included both. Any input that can help make the situation a little more clear would be greatly appreciated. I dont know a whole lot about TVs so while this may be simple or common knowledge, it was apparently enough to stump me.
Thanks in advance.

 

[MustISO]

Component connections (R/G/B) should provide a better picture. They're most often used on HDTV's. If you have the connections, use those.

 

[spidey07]

Component is MUCH better than composite. It essentially separates the video into black/white and two color difference leads. You will notice MUCH sharper picture (specifically where different colors meet) and better color.

If you want to learn more just google component video. Also read or look up the manual for your TV, it may accept 480p video connections, you can tell your xbox to output 480p. It's worth a shot. It may even accept 16x9 content and display it a full resolution.

 

[specWB]

Thats cool. Unfortunantly i cant find the manual, but I can tell you that i can put the tv in 16x9 mode with black boxes at the top and bottome of the screen but more than that i dont know. I will try to find the manual online. I already checked sony's website and they seemed to have ditched everything about SDTVs. Ill google it though. And just to confirm, component will look better than composite, even though it is an SDTV?
Thanks.

EDIT: Found it:link
Ill have a look at the PDF manual now

 

[spidey07]

If you can put into widescreen mode (aka, "the squeeze") then it most likely accepts a 480p 16x9 picture.

-edit-
yes, night and day difference even on a SDTV. Do a comparison. Video games with all their sharp color next to each other especially benefits. You'll notice much sharper edges and no color bleeding.

 

[specWB]

Boy you were right about night and day. I Just did a comparison my self. Even on the xbox dashboard, the colors and text were alot more defined. Composite looks plain ugly now. Ill check on the 480p/16x9 thing.
Thanks for the help, i feel like i have been missing out for so long, and in reality i guess i have. Ill check back with an update on weather 16x9 allows for 480p.
Thanks again.

 

[spidey07]

You're on your way to video heaven. If you can look at composite and recognize what is wrong (edges, etc) you're well on your way to expecting only the best in video.

If I were a betting man, and I am, 50 bucks says your TV can do the squeeze and accept a 480p input. Sony CRTs were well known for this unless your TV is over 8 years old.

 

[specWB]

Your a betting man huh, well, ehem, I dont think it does, unless it just does it by itsself without having to change it to 480p. And this TV is only a few years old. Just sayin'. That and if you look at the downlodable manual, it says 480i only i belive, ill have to double check. But yea, when i compare it to composite i cant believe i was able to deal with it for so long. And you are probably right, once i realize there is even a possibility something could look/sound even a little better, i start to get really nitpicky. Heck when you suggested that i might be able to do 480p with 16x9 mode, i spent at least 45 minutes switching back and forth between 4:3 and 16:9 on both the TV and the console looking for even the slightest difference. Every single time i came to a conclusion, i would second guess my self. And also now that i have seen how much of an improvent a slight change to a standard definition tv, it makes me REALLY want to go HD.
Unfortunantly for me, im young enough that i still live under my parents' roof. And it seems that even though my dad (although he would never admit it to me or my brother or sister. I just saw his salary on a webpage i had left open on his computer) makes substantially more than the average income, its too much money. I think he is starting to crack thoough. Alot of my family members have them and he is starting to see how much better they are.
Anyway, thanks for your help. I feel good now knowing that the picture quality i am getting is that much better.

 

[spidey07]

LOL, it's not too much money. The gubment takes a very large chunk of it - probably around 35-40%. Thankfully I deduct my gambling losses.

He's putting a roof over your head and food on the table. You'll understand later, that whole real-life thing tends to be an eye opener. But I see that from the manual it 480i only.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: specWB
Your a betting man huh, well, ehem, I dont think it does, unless it just does it by itsself without having to change it to 480p. And this TV is only a few years old. Just sayin'. That and if you look at the downlodable manual, it says 480i only i belive, ill have to double check. But yea, when i compare it to composite i cant believe i was able to deal with it for so long. And you are probably right, once i realize there is even a possibility something could look/sound even a little better, i start to get really nitpicky. Heck when you suggested that i might be able to do 480p with 16x9 mode, i spent at least 45 minutes switching back and forth between 4:3 and 16:9 on both the TV and the console looking for even the slightest difference. Every single time i came to a conclusion, i would second guess my self. And also now that i have seen how much of an improvent a slight change to a standard definition tv, it makes me REALLY want to go HD.
Unfortunantly for me, im young enough that i still live under my parents' roof. And it seems that even though my dad (although he would never admit it to me or my brother or sister. I just saw his salary on a webpage i had left open on his computer) makes substantially more than the average income, its too much money. I think he is starting to crack thoough. Alot of my family members have them and he is starting to see how much better they are.
Anyway, thanks for your help. I feel good now knowing that the picture quality i am getting is that much better.

yeah 16:9 mode does not allow 480p. However, what it does do is allow you not to "waste" lines of resolution on the black bars which letterbox a widescreen set. So you do get a decent increase in resolution by using that option.

 

[specWB]

so is the resolution i would get from doing 16:9 Equivilant to like 720 or any other resolution? or is it like somewhere in between? The only problem with it is that it seems that if i want to play a game in split screen, the two screens it is devided into get quite small because it then puts bars on the side to to make the screens proportional.

And at Spidey: I was actually saying that he sees HDTVs as too expensive, not that i think he makes too much money. And i can understsand what you are saying i think. The web page he left open actually also stated the spending money he would have after the cost of living for our area and other things like were taken into account. And it certainly was a jaw dropper, just didnt seem fair. Still though, i really want an HDTV. Of course not at the expense of a roof over my head and food on the table.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: specWB
so is the resolution i would get from doing 16:9 Equivilant to like 720 or any other resolution? or is it like somewhere in between? The only problem with it is that it seems that if i want to play a game in split screen, the two screens it is devided into get quite small because it then puts bars on the side to to make the screens proportional.

And at Spidey: I was actually saying that he sees HDTVs as too expensive, not that i think he makes too much money. And i can understsand what you are saying i think. The web page he left open actually also stated the spending money he would have after the cost of living for our area and other things like were taken into account. And it certainly was a jaw dropper, just didnt seem fair. Still though, i really want an HDTV. Of course not at the expense of a roof over my head and food on the table.

No, the max resolution is still 640 x 480. However, this resolution is often reduced when watching widescreen material on a 4:3 set as most sets will "draw" the extra black bars on the top and bottom. By doing this "squeeze" you keep all 640 x 480 lines of resolution drawing the actual image material. However, if you watch a 2.35:1 movie or anything wider than 16:9 some resolution will still be lost drawing those black lines.

Hope this makes sense.

 

[bigpow]

What they said, component of course.

Component > S-VHS >>> RCA (yellow)

If the TV can do 480p (it usually says Progressive somewhere), then by all mean spend the money to buy Xbox 360 component cable (doesn't have to be the pricey official Xbox 360 cable).

Only use RCA (yellow) as a last resort. Even SVHS will give you better/crisp picture.

 

[specWB]

My xbxo actually came with a component cable so i dont have to worry about buying one. Everybody was right it certainly was a huge improvement. I especially notice certain colors like red and blue are much more vibrant than they were before.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: specWB
My xbxo actually came with a component cable so i dont have to worry about buying one. Everybody was right it certainly was a huge improvement. I especially notice certain colors like red and blue are much more vibrant than they were before.

Do your trial again. Look at the edges of color/contrast against each other.

This should tip you off on if the Y and C are separate leads.

 

[specWB]

Yea they are. I know that this is in fact a component cable. I was pretty sure it was in the first place from the descriptions i read on them, and the final proof that it actually lists "Component HD/AV cable" on the box that the xbox came in.

 

[erwos]

This is a little OT, but given the choice between composite and s-video, you'll see quite a bit of improvement with s-video, too. That little yellow composite connector should be your last choice. I used to be confused as to why receivers had so many s-video connections, but now I know why...