S-Video vs. Component cable

I received my 1050 today and am anxious to hook it up tomorrow but would like some input on whether to use the S-video connections from my DVD to the 1050, or run component cable direct from DVD to monitor. I understand the quality vs. convenience trade-off, but what I'm mainly interested in is the cost-benefit of S-video vs. component cable since I have to run a little over 10 feet and there's a considerable diff in cost involved. I've always used component cable and am not familiar with how an S-video picture compares. If I run S-video to save some bucks and enable recording a lot easier would I be sacrificing a lot in terms of picture quality? Experienced user opinions appreciated.

dave

For reference, my equipment does not have component inputs, but a few of my friends systems do. My thoughts:

If cable runs are long, interference and cross talk can be an issue to the perfectionist. Is that you, I do not know. In the ideal world, component is the best call.

But, if you are saddled with the reality of cost vs. performance, it is a different game. From my experience with my friends' systems, component reduced 'jaggies' and improved color separation on the Avia test disc, when compared to S-Video, but not to a huge degree. On the test screens, it was a noticeable difference, but while watching a movie, the difference was way beyond my comprehension.

To my friend who had the DVD close to his TV, I recommended to use the component outs. To my other friend, I recommended to use S-Video. Due to my monitor, I use composite, which is a definite compromise I know.

I personally, with my friends systems did not find a night and day difference between S-Video and component. It was there, but not a huge difference. My thought is to use S-Video as it is cheaper. If your system was truly calibrated to ISF standards, you might notice a difference, but I do not have the luxury of having components which would reveal such small differences.

Technically, component is the 'only way to go' but S-Video is a decent interface, without question. If it were me, I would likely run a good quality S-Video cable if budget were a consideration, but if I had an open budget, I would use component.My eyes do not see a noticeable difference on similar systems, but nuances may escape me.

My thoughts, that's all. . .

S.

I just read flyntm's response and what he said about a progressive scan player makes total sense. It appears (but may not be the case on all player/TV combinations, just ones I have researched) that a progressive image (480p) is only output from the component outputs. The S-Video, even on a progressive player, is only going to be 480i. But all of that only matters if the monitor can accept progressive images. A good reality check from flyntm!

[This message has been edited by MrSandman (edited December 05, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by MrSandman (edited December 05, 2001).]

My experience is similar to MrSandman's -- I've compared S-video and component video on a pretty nice 20" Toshiba and saw little benefit. If it's reasonable to do, go with component. If it'll cost a fortune to do component, S-video should be an acceptable alternative.

I have tried both S-Video and component cables with my Outlaw 1050, Toshiba 3108 & 36" Cinema Select Sharp TV. Although they're only separated by a few feet I notice a difference(even with movies) when using the superior component connections. On a side note the DVDs that I've tried to make copies of were all scrambled. So if you were planning on doing a good bit of that you might be out of luck. Any of the decent component interconnects should have sufficient shielding so I doubt you should get interference. You can always return stuff :-)

It probably depends on your TV and DVD player. If your DVD is a progressive scan then you will see a greater benefit from component video. Or if you have a big screen TV you will probably see a bigger difference with component.

If you choose to go with S-video, you may want to consider going direct from the DVD to the TV. Each connection is a degradation in quality, but you do sacrifice a little in convenience.

From here we could get into a discussion about cable quality, but that's an entirely different topic!

After reading the above I am curios about something, are component connections the three labeled r-y-b or something like that?
And if so you would use one or the other?

That's component, alright. Three separate cables to complete the video connection. It is generally considered the "best" video connection, superior to S-Video which is in turn superior to composite.

For progressive scan DVD and for HD signals, you need component (or something more exotic -- VGA or a digital connection like DVI). Actually, I should clarify that for those two you need a "special" component input that supports it, slightly different to the typical component video.

If you use the S-video connection, I would encourage you to go direct to the set and bypass the 1050. Some of us have experienced picture problems with the 1050 switching S-video. See this thread for the whole discussion and solutions.

One of these days, I'll have to get gonk to tell me how he makes those nice clean little links...

Also, I seem to recall the 1050 doesn't switch video modes b/n inputs and outputs. For example, an S-video in cannot become a composite out. Not being familiar with your setup, I just wanted to mention this as I noticed you mentioned something about recording in your original post.

Edits: Fixing the link for the new server change.

[This message has been edited by Owl's_Warder (edited March 10, 2002).]

[This message has been edited by Owl's_Warder (edited March 10, 2002).]

pssst.... take the spaces out from inside the brackets and use whatever URL you want:

[ url = http:// www. yahoo .com/]Yahoo![ /url ]

Hopefully that'll work and not turn itself into a link...

Here's my two cents, for what it's worth. I have tried both with my set-up and after calibration the component was much better than s-video. My TV is about 20 feet from the rest of the equipment and I have had no problems with any kind of interference. Whatever you do get a set-up disc of some sort, it helps a lot.

Forgot to mention that this is a progressive scan set as well as DVD player I'm not sure how much difference it makes without that.

[This message has been edited by hydro (edited December 07, 2001).]

With progressive scan it's a definite that you want component over S-video -- you'll only be able to get the progressive scan video through component (something that I don't think anyone's pointed out in this thread).

Thanks gonk! I stole your "secret" code and pasted it into a word doc. Now I have it forever handy on my hard drive in my Outlaw folder! Next link I post will be nice and clean.

All the responses have been helpful....I've got the 1050 set up and ran S-video direct from the DVD to a 36" Toshiba screen and the picture is excellent. Component might do a bit better but this is fine. The pic is so good that I hate to watch TV now through the regular video connection to the monitor which the other sources run on. The set-up was a challenge...I got the 1050 figured out and it's actually pretty friendly but God the cables!!! My fronts are all KEF's, and I've been experimenting with a set of MBQuart Balcony II rear speakers but haven't yet watched anything with a lot of sound through the rears, and without a way to isolate the rears it's hard to really evaluate the speakers there. I'm going to audition a pair of KEF's in the rear as well, and possibly pick up a SPL meter because my current fronts/rears are pitched differently and it's hard to balance them by ear. Also need to save some bucks for a sub!!! Anyhow, the sound is very good and actually impressed my wife, tempering somewhat her "do we really need this?" attitude. And the 1050 makes beautiful music as well, as others confirmed before I decided on it. Couldn't be happier with the unit. (I almost forgot.....the reference I made to recording in my first post was mistaken. The manual makes a reference to running analog AND digital audio cables if you want to record a source like a DVD, but when I talked to Scott about setting up the unit he explained that recording of DVD's isn't reality, so with that option moot the direct S-video connection made the most sense...he also said they'd delete this erroneous example in future manuals (so as not to fool naive blokes like me - g).

dave

[This message has been edited by dbissett (edited December 18, 2001).]

Great! So glad you got it all set up and running. I completely understand the "do we really need this" line, heard it many times myself in the planning and install stages. Anyway, an SPL is one of the best things you can buy to get it all dialed in properly. Definite improvement in quality over by ear.

As for something to audition the rears, may I suggest you buy/rent/borrow a copy of Star Wars Episode 1. Excellent use of surrounds there from start to finish, including the rear center.

Anyway, congratulations and hope you enjoy it.

Dave,
I came across your post and wondered how you liked the sound of the Outlaw 1050 with your Kef's. I've got Kef Q55's for fronts and will get the Q95c and Q15's for the rear and the Outlaw is one of my choices for a receiver along with Denon avr2802 so your in put on the Outlaw would be apreciated
Thanks,
Joe

Sorry for the late reply...I just saw your question and, hey, we've had a baby here so I've been out of touch! Anyway, I have no complaints about the 1050 and my KEF setup. True to KEF form I get great midrange, and bass going to the Klipsch sub from the 1050 is solid. What I do notice is that the high end can sound somewhat contained or remote on some music tracks. It's not as open as I'd like above the midrange, but I've read reviews of KEF speakers that have pointed out this slightly constrained high end so I don't think it's a fault of the 1050. Different cabling might have an effect on this, I don't know, but I can't change this since my speaker wire (Monster 16 gauge)is in the walls. I've found the 1050 flexible and user friendly, with more than adequate power for the 20x18' room here. And for the price I don't know of anything that can touch it.

Dave

Dave,
Thanks for the reply. The 1050 sounds like what I want in a receiver and I'm glad to get input from another Kef owner since I can't test it before buying. My room is much smaller ( 13x14) so it should be no problem with power.
Joe