Graphics, Video & TV Cards

A Bit on Video Cables..

 

So in attempting to connect my TV in the best way possible, it was necessary to do a bit of research into video cabling and the various qualities of each method of connection.  

S-Video stands for “separated-video”.  This is the next step up from composite video.

Interestingly here, we see that the bandwidth (or the volume of data) of an S-Video cable is the same as for a composite video cable.  The difference is that S-Video reduces dot crawl, hanging dots, and crawling edges that appear on the vertical and horizontal edges of some colored objects in the picture.  Dot crawl, hanging dots, and others are technological terminology for various odd effects that can happen in signal transfer that skew, distort, or otherwise make the picture worse.

S-Video works basically by separating the color information (Chrominance) from the brightness (Luminance). By doing this, it reduces things like color bleeding and dot crawl and greatly increases the general clarity and sharpness of the picture. The reason that this is so is that televisions are designed to display separate Luminance (Y) and Chrominance (C) signals.

If you have the option to use S-Video, it is preferable to component cable any day.  This technology will stay around for a while as it is still the best option for certain electronic components that have a video output yet do not yet support HDMI or Component Video.  You can get a decent quality S-Video cable for less than $20.

See example  - www.ewholesaleoutlet.com/product_info.php?products_id=4590

Component (not composite) Video [aka Analog Component Video; Y - Pb - Pr; red-green-blue]:

Uses a three jack cluster of wires with the ends color coded green, blue, and red.

Y-Pb-Pr, or what we nowadays refer to as component video or color difference video, was invented to simplify video electronics and reduce the overall bandwidth requirements for transmitting video compared with RGB. In practice it provides one luminance signal with full horizontal resolution and two color signals with reduced horizontal resolution.

Y = Luminance, Pb = Chrominance 1, Pr = Chrominance 2

From your DVD player or HDTV set top box to your TV, it is analog, thus its full name is properly  "analog component video".

Also referred to as Y, R-Y, B-Y or color difference video. Some DVD players label the green, blue, and red jacks Y, Cb, Cr .  

This cable may be a bit more expensive but is worth the money.  Remember you can get great deals online on these cables.

See Example - www.ewholesaleoutlet.com/product_info.php?products_id=1304 

Composite Video [RCA or BNC] (aka "yellow-plug" video)

The old "AV" standard connector.  I have had these for years, and used to use them with my Super NES.  Fun retro stuff.  The common RCA connector is color-coded Yellow for Composite video.   This cable also came with a red and white audio cable, but we will not discuss that here.  That's for later.

The term "yellow-plug video" is recommended to help cut down on confusion between "composite" and "component" (which sound alike and are often confused).

 

See example here : www.ewholesaleoutlet.com/product_info.php?products_id=5573

 

And in case you are asking, "Where's the HDMI?" don't worry a breakdown of HDMI cabling is on its way.  

 

SUMMARY:

The three types of standard video connections described in the following table give you three levels of video quality. Optimize your viewing experience by using the best connection available for your connected component. For example, if your DVD player supports a component video connection, connect the DVD player to your Plasma TV using component video instead of composite video or S-Video.  Remember you can have an incredible TV and an incredible Blu-Ray video source but if you don't have the proper connection between the two, you will completely lose quality.  Use the best that you can for your connections.  This in turn, will bring you a great theater and media experience.

 

About the Author

My name is Chad and I write a bit here and there on various Audio/Video/Electronic and tech type stuff. I am just writing some things I have learned and actually been able to work with myself. Feel free to email me at ewholesaleoutlet@gmail.com if you have any questions and if you want to check out my little side business, see my gear at www.ewholesaleoutlet.com.

Thanks,
Chad Sepulveda
www.ewholesaleoutlet.com

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