|   Component Video Cables | MikeC
Apr 25, 2001 6:13 AM | | I'm an audiophile with a fifteen-year history of buying specialty (expensive!)cables, so I understand that they DO make a difference. That said, I've just bought my first "good" tv, a Toshiba CW34X92 16:9 hdtv upgradable, and am experimenting with hookups. So here's my basic question:
Is there likely to be any structural difference between the three-wire vcr-oriented audio/video cable Radio Shack sells, and their three-wire dvd-targeted component video cable. Yes, I know that the RCA connectors are different colors, but is there anything else?
I'm not likely to end up with Radio Shack cables, but I'd like to start with a "baseline" before I start experimenting.
Thanks. |
| re: Component Video Cables | Eyespy
Apr 25, 2001 7:26 AM | | "Is there likely to be any structural difference between the three-wire vcr-oriented audio/video cable Radio Shack sells, and their three-wire dvd-targeted component video cable"
Yes, the AV cable is 75 Ohm charateristic impedance for the yellow (video) cable only, whereas the component video cable is 75 Ohm characteristic impedance for all three.
"I'm an audiophile with a fifteen-year history of buying specialty (expensive!)cables, so I understand that they DO make a difference"
What "difference" would that be?
"I'm not likely to end up with Radio Shack cables"
That's good, I was starting to worry that your 15 year audiophile history was in jeopardy. That would be a real shame to throw it all away like that. |
| re: Component Video Cables | MikeC
Apr 25, 2001 9:14 AM | | You ask what "difference" I've observed with different cables.
The simplest and clearest example I can give is as follows: My Martin Logan CLS speakers have a "soft" switch on the back of the electronics modules that makes them sound less prominent in the upper end. When initially purchasing speaker cables, I received several different pairs on consignment. With some of the cables, I could duplicate the effect of the switch being set to "soft" even when it was not. Everyone who listened could hear the difference, which was consistently repeatable, including those who happily use zip cord for cable. I can't claim that one was absolutely right and another was absolutely wrong, just that there was a clear difference among cables with those specific speakers.
Thank you for your help with the video cables. |
| Problem solved........[off topic] | TinHere
Apr 25, 2001 8:56 PM | | What kind of cables did you use that made the difference with the speakers? I'm inclined toward regular wires, but would like to know if I bought others they would be the brand that made an audible difference. |
| Sorta related (ISF Tech chastisement)... | Josh Studrawa
Apr 26, 2001 6:51 AM | | about my cables. Specifically the component cable. It's a 12' Radio Shack Gold. He said their is degradation of signal, and told me to go get decent cabling. I said screw Monster. He said fine, just get something good.
Preface: I called to get calibration ($250 btw), and told him my digital cable is grainy and my DVD is almost unnoticably blurry (maybe just Gone in 60 Seconds was). I had tried the Avia disc and did the old "move the blue and red crosses" thing to focus it in all corners of the screen. I have absolutely NO confidence in my own eyes and ears.
Anyway, I did notice that the RS Gold was A/V. So that means I have a 3 wire cable, but 2 are audio and 1 is video? Thus saying that the video one is 75 ohm, but the audio may be less? I thought I read here that video coax is higher quality then audio? If so, then who makes a decent 3 wire video cable?
Hope you guys understood all that.
Josh |
| Sorta related (ISF Tech chastisement)... | GCM
Apr 26, 2001 8:35 AM | | Were you chastised because your cable was Radio Shack, or because it was an A/V and not a component cable? There's no reason to think the correct cables from Radio Shack would degrade your picture. I got my component cables from Target for $19.99. The picture on My 73" Mitsubishi Diamond is excellent with those cables. As long as all three cables are 75 ohms, your picture won't suffer. |
| Sorta related (ISF Tech chastisement)... | Josh Studrawa
Apr 26, 2001 8:46 AM | | He meant cuz they were from the Shack. But I don't think they are 75 ohms each wire. You mean Target as in the Red Bullseye logo, or the Target that makes A/V racks? And how do I verify that all 3 connects are 75 ohm? |
| Sorta related (ISF Tech chastisement)... | GCM
Apr 26, 2001 9:38 AM | | Target with the red bulls eye. In Target's case they said component video on the package. I believe they were using the RCA brand name. I'd start there or Radio Shack if I were you. If you feel like getting something more expensive, make sure you can return them if/when they don't yield an improvement over the less expensive ones. |
| Sorta related (ISF Tech chastisement)... | lanwanman
Apr 26, 2001 12:43 PM | | Hmm. The guy who ISF'd my 55" HDTV didn't seem to have a problem at all with the Radio Shack Gold component cables I have between my DVD and the Mits. (and I have to say it was worth the $250 to have the calibration done - stunning picture)
The component cables are 75 Ohm characteristic impedence while the A/V use 75 Ohm Z cabling only for the "yellow" video wire. The questionable Z of the other two cables may cause problems with reflections and signal degradation at the frequencies used in video.
lanwanman
"How odd it is that anyone should not see that all observation must be for or against some view if it is to be of any service!"
-Charles Darwin |
| I want to fully agree........ | TinHere
Apr 26, 2001 6:08 PM | | but personaly I'm waiting for the science to evolve to point that meaningful measurements can be shown to make a difference, so I have a reference for expectations before I commit to a subjective opinion. |
| how do you know? | TinHere
Apr 26, 2001 10:29 AM | | Agreed that dvd players look different. The differences I seen in cables are in the terminations, insultations, and visual appeal some have. The most I can say is that they are sound investments, if you want that difference, and money is not a concern. |
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