S-Video - Composite Video

[KLowD9x]

I need some information on these hookups...S-Video, and Component Video. I just rewired my whole home theater system with S-Video becuase it looks really good. But, I noticed at best buy, the new HDTV systems use component video inputs. I did a short search lsat night to find out which has better quality, and the few sites I found said that S-Video is better...Is this correct? IF so, why do HDTV systems use component video connects? Also, what does Y, Cb/B-Y,and Cr/R-Y stand for? I think I have an idea, but I would like to confirm them.

[Coolio]

I don't know about the other stuff but I am sure that S-video is better than composite video..

[KLowD9x]

Bump?? Sorry, im impatient....

[FunkyTechnician]

S-video is not better than component. Here is the order from best to worst. Always use component if it is available.

1.component
2.S-video
3.composite
4.coax

A²

[mcrites]

Yes component is better than svideo, dont ask me how, i just know it is :D What I do know is that component splits the video signal into 3 different signals: red green and blue. Whereas composite and s-video just spit it out one different signal, i believe :rolleyes: . S-video is the biggest jump from component, rather s-video to component from what im told, but I tell ya, my dvd player and playstation 2 look a helluva lot better on component then rca and svideo. It seems to clear up the picture a lot, and give more brightness, and more light sources.

[KLowD9x]

ok, I dont have a monitor that supports component...thanx for the info tho

[Coolio]

oh whoops sry for the wrong information, I thought I read that S-video is better but as it turns out I was thinking about composite.... Need to sleep:rolleyes:

[Lancelot]

Composite: throws all video data on one channel
S-video: uses two seperate channels for color and Illumination
Component: uses three seperate channels for RGB

People often mix up Composite and Component...

[JigPu]

Originally posted by Lancelot
Composite: throws all video data on one channel
S-video: uses two seperate channels for color and Illumination
Component: uses three seperate channels for RGB

People often mix up Composite and Component...
Woah... From your description of S-video, that's exactly what the C-64 used when connected to a Commodore monitor! :eek: Talk about advanced for it's age!

Also, I don't see any diffrence between S-video and standard composite video with our DVD player.... Is something wrong, or is there really almost no diffrence in video quality?

JigPu

[Crazy Jayhawk]

Can someone explain to me how composite video can carry the whole picture on just one wire?

[Lancelot]

JigPU; I was already wondering about that; if you would see any difference with your NTSC TV-standard. I'm from Europe where we have the PAL TV-standard and we get a much sharper picture and can really notice some difference between composite and S-video. TV was introduced here a few years after it was introduced in the USA, and since technology had advanced more we got a newer standard. I believe we have about 150 horizontal lines more so NTSC looks 'blurry' to us.

[zman]

component video is the best of the best(well for now)
pr=red
pb=blue
y=yellow
s-video and composite all colors are mixed together
with having the 3 colors you get a more perfect picture

[LJ5L]

And now the correct answer: neither one of those is better than the other, it's all application and condition dependant.

It would be pointless to type it out here, as I'm assuming you have access to tha internet ;) , and answers to all your question can be found easily.

Hint: read carefully what mediums (dss, dvd, ld…) use what video format

[mEKbOY]

S-video looks ten times better than composite on my sony 27 inch and my xbox. Everything is much more crisp and clean. You need a good TV to see the difference. I want one of those sony wega's to see just how good component realy is. Looking at all the cables that component uses it must be perfect.