DVD outputs and TV Inputs

Theodoric · 02-01-2004, 18:47

When I was a young lad, electronic equipment had 2 inputs, mains and an aerial and no outputs. Nowadays, let's say I'm confused.

My new DVD has 4 sets of outputs, Composite Video, S-Video, Component Video and SCART. Can anyone briefly explain the differences between these, in particular, which would give the best final picture on the screen?

My elderly TV has 4 sets of inputs; Video input (phono jack) + Audio inputs (phono jacks), S-Video (4 pin DIN) and 2 SCART sockets (1 RGB/video input, TV output and 2 S-video/video input, TV output).

This gives 4 x 3 = 12 different types of connecting cable. Now, I'm sure not all of these are available, so what are the combinations commonly found in the shops and which would be the best one? At the moment I am using a completely unoriginal SCART to SCART one. Also, as there's also the ntl STB and a VCR to take into account, I assume that I'm going to need some sort of switch if I carry on just using the SCART connections.

paulyoung666 · 02-01-2004, 18:53

s-video and phono audio for you methinks , leaves the scart's free for ntl and video

homealone · 02-01-2004, 18:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulyoung666

s-video and phono audio for you methinks , leaves the scart's free for ntl and video

I was going to say that too

- some info on the standards in the following link, Theo...

http://www.datapro.net/videodoc.html

paulyoung666 · 02-01-2004, 19:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by homealone

I was going to say that too

- some info on the standards in the following link, Theo...

http://www.datapro.net/videodoc.html

2 heads better than 1 my mate

homealone · 02-01-2004, 19:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulyoung666

2 heads better than 1 my mate

too right, nice one Paul

pitscof · 02-01-2004, 19:40

Personally i would say it depends what you want to see in the best quality. I dont have digital TV yet, so only having 1 RGB scart on our sony widescreen TV isnt a problem.

Do you want kick ass RGB quality NTL or DVD. (you could get a scart switch of course.) The difference in quality between RGB and composite video is noticeable.

paulyoung666 · 02-01-2004, 19:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by pitscof

Personally i would say it depends what you want to see in the best quality. I dont have digital TV yet, so only having 1 RGB scart on our sony widescreen TV isnt a problem.

Do you want kick ass RGB quality NTL or DVD. (you could get a scart switch of course.) The difference in quality between RGB and composite video is noticeable.

bearing in mind Theodoric's ' elderly tv ' i would reckon he would be more than happy with s-video

, i am more than happy with it

pitscof · 02-01-2004, 20:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulyoung666

bearing in mind Theodoric's ' elderly tv ' i would reckon he would be more than happy with s-video

, i am more than happy with it

His TV cant be too elderly to have RGB scart on it, and he also did ask which would give him the best quality. Having said that you wont notice the difference unless your using half decent leads. (im using the second up cambridge audio lead from richer sounds)

paulyoung666 · 02-01-2004, 20:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by pitscof

His TV cant be too elderly to have RGB scart on it, and he also did ask which would give him the best quality. Having said that you wont notice the difference unless your using half decent leads. (im using the second up cambridge audio lead from richer sounds)

fair comments , mind you i still stick by my first opinion

Theodoric · 02-01-2004, 21:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulyoung666

s-video and phono audio for you methinks , leaves the scart's free for ntl and video

Nothing like learning on the fly, is there. So, I now know that s-video is video only and that I need to connect the audio separately. The DVD has a 'Mixed audio out' which has 2 sockets marked left and right. The TV also has 2 audio sockets, marked beneath the grime, as left and right.

Now, quality of cables. PC World has a BELKIN PRO GOLD SERIES S-VIDEO CABLE, 3.6 m, at Ã‚Â£10. A bit of quick googling gives me Cable Universe with a S-Video Plug - S-Video Plug (Gold plated) 3 metre at Ã‚Â£1.88 (ex VAT?). I know which one appeals to me, but is price everything? However, using TV speakers do I really need gold plated, oxygen-free copper at hundreds of pounds per metre?

PS Thanks for all the replies.

Theodoric · 02-01-2004, 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by pitscof

His TV cant be too elderly to have RGB scart on it, and he also did ask which would give him the best quality. Having said that you wont notice the difference unless your using half decent leads. (im using the second up cambridge audio lead from richer sounds)

My DVD is a Cambridge Audio purchased from Richer Sounds. Does this mean that I am moving in the same circles as people who know something about audio, DVDs etc. Cor!

paulyoung666 · 02-01-2004, 21:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theodoric

Nothing like learning on the fly, is there. So, I now know that s-video is video only and that I need to connect the audio separately. The DVD has a 'Mixed audio out' which has 2 sockets marked left and right. The TV also has 2 audio sockets, marked beneath the grime, as left and right.

Now, quality of cables. PC World has a BELKIN PRO GOLD SERIES S-VIDEO CABLE, 3.6 m, at Ã‚Â£10. A bit of quick googling gives me Cable Universe with a S-Video Plug - S-Video Plug (Gold plated) 3 metre at Ã‚Â£1.88 (ex VAT?). I know which one appeals to me, but is price everything? However, using TV speakers do I really need gold plated, oxygen-free copper at hundreds of pounds per metre?

PS Thanks for all the replies.

personally i would go for the middle ground as regards cables , from this seat your setup doesnt warrant ' oxygen-free copper at hundreds of pounds per metre? ' , same as mine doesnt , glad to be of help btw

Tricky · 02-01-2004, 22:14

I have Chord RGB DVD cables from the DVD player to RGB on TV
I have cheapish IXOS (Ã‚Â£20 tops) Scart from Sky+ to AV2 on TV - No longer have a video...
I have a scart cable into my 2nd AV socket on DVD player for Xbox giving me a RGB passthru when I want Dolby digital sound (Not through same cable before someone notes this!)

Richer sounds will give you free advice on cables and won't rip you off unless you have a dodgy outlet.

pitscof · 02-01-2004, 22:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theodoric

My DVD is a Cambridge Audio purchased from Richer Sounds. Does this mean that I am moving in the same circles as people who know something about audio, DVDs etc. Cor!

I'm currently a student, so cant afford much myself at the moment, (no job (at the moment), or decent room).

Personally i would go back to Richer sounds, and get some cables for your DVD player. A note for next time is that Richer sounds have a habit (in my local store) of knocking money off (i got some Ixos 6003 speaker cable for 99p/meter, and got Ã‚Â£10 of some speaker stands this time last year, cos they were silver!). Out of interest what TV are you using?

Jeremy

Theodoric · 03-01-2004, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by pitscof

I'm currently a student, so cant afford much myself at the moment, (no job (at the moment), or decent room).

Personally i would go back to Richer sounds, and get some cables for your DVD player. A note for next time is that Richer sounds have a habit (in my local store) of knocking money off (i got some Ixos 6003 speaker cable for 99p/meter, and got Ã‚Â£10 of some speaker stands this time last year, cos they were silver!). Out of interest what TV are you using?

Jeremy

The TV is a Sony Trinitron Colour TV, either KV-X2552U or KV-X2952U. It's now quite elderly, early 90s IIRC. A little while ago it stopped working and my wife, who believes in the principle "If it's broken, buy a new one" got quite excited at the prospect of a new (and suitably expensive) TV. Unfortunately for her my grandson cleaned out the aerial socket and got it working again.