Testing component video cables , Higher end cables worth it to you???

[mantis]

As funny as it may seem coming from me , The amount of better detail from a better made component video cable is in question.

I have 3 sources that require component video cable for best possible video quality.

1) Pioneer Elite Dv47a

2) Mitsubishi HD500 Dss receiver

3) XboX game system.

I have had Monster M500 and M1000 , Transparent , rg6qw which I terminated in F to RCA and RG59SD terminated in Liberity RCA compression ends.

I would love to have all my cables again but I sold them. For the money which is something I don't allow to stand in the way of better performance with in my budget , I'm not really feeling spending hundreds of dollars on component cable when I can make my own.

I have found that RG6 vs rg59 , the 59 seems to have a very slighty better picture. I was extremely had to tell but after awhile staring at HDTV , I could see just a bit more detail. I can build Component video cables out of Liberity rg59sd for under 50 bucks. The way they perform exceed the very best video cables I have used in Price to performance. Very little gain I have seen using Transparent and Monster. Those companies seem to make incredible quality cables but are very expensive.I'm not sure if it's worth the extra cost.

I'm also wondering if my feelings are caused by my lack of video perfection. Audio I would stop at nothing to find the best cables for my given system , video I'm less willing.

How many peope have done video cable shootouts? What have you tried and what was the results?

I own a Sony 46" tabletop CRT rear projection HDTV. It does have HDMI . As I have no source currently that has HDMI out , I'm waiting for the HDTV DSS TiVo price to come down a bit , then I will go with a HDMI connection. In my experience , again not a great difference but noticable if you study the picture. Those cables are not a s much as Component cable so I might be more willing to try a higher quality cable. May are now making higher end cables.

Going from 36 inch Sony XBR non HD tv to a Sony 46 inch HDTV , component video became more Important to me. On the 36 I saw hardly no gain over composite or S video for DVD. Now on the 46 , I can see a huge difference due to component and Progressive.

[mantis]

I wanna add something.......

Please don't take this as advice in what to do in your system. Video isn't as Important to me as others. I'm way more into audio and would easily drop hundreds of dollars on Audio cables.

My tv looks fantastic and I'm very happy owning HDTV finally. I never really cared to own it and now that I do , I' happy to have it. Maybe after awhile video will grow on me and I may long for better video but damn HDTV and Progressive DVD looks good. Even my Xbox Looks so much better in the correct video ratio and resolution. Xbox outputs in 480p , 720p and 1080i depending on the game. Sweet...

[PolkThug]

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/component/index.htm

They make them for <$50 and give you all the specs,even though I know you're not much of a spec guy ;)

They also do custom lengths for no extra charge. Unfortunately, I dropped $70 on a monster cable before I talked to them.

Have you done the basic tweaks to your Sony?
-turn off edge enhancement
-turn off black enhancement
-regular color temp
-manual convergence (the grid)
-turn down contrast
-turn down sharpness

Regards,
PolkThug

[PolkThug]

I had a shootout with a Monster DVI cable ($100) and a regular computer store DVI cable ($25), and I could not detect a difference. They both got all the ones and zeros where they needed to go.

I recommend using your DVI out from your HD source. You just need a little adapter for DVI/HDMI. They are compatible.

I noticed slightly better shadow detail with DVI. (Along time ago I used to think they were the same, but I've had more time to play since then.

Regards,
PolkThug

[mantis]

polkthug,

Yes I have calibrated the set and turned off all the Sony gimmicks. I will have to check out Blue Jeans cables for video.

Thanks for the tip.

HMDI the new HDTV DSS TiVo has. I can use a straight cable as my tv has HDMI. I'm gonna buy it after Christmas. Or maybe someone wil get it for me for a Christmas present, its what I'm asking for.

[fireshoes]

Actually the HDMI might not make a difference. From what I have read, the biggest gains are made on fixed pixel devices (DLP, plasma), rather than a CRT. On my Hitachi 51" CRT, I compared the Monster M1000 component to DVI (admittedly the free one with the Samsung upconverting DVD plater), and the Monster component was clearly better. Also I have heard that most (all?) current tv's convert the DVI connection to component internally, so you lose the all digital benefit.

[mantis]

Intresting,
I'm looking forward to see for myself.

[danger boy]

i tried using a DVI cable on my CRT (tube TV) and didn't really notice any improvement in quality over component cables.

true component and progressive scan looks great on a HDTV monitor. :D

[Zero]

Why should video be any different than audio? I would say that it is relative to the product you are using. I wouldnt expect a $200 pair of silver laced wire to do the same thing for a inexpensive 27'' CRT as I would a 27'' HD CRT, let alone the projectors, plasmas, LCD's, and DLP's.

As always, you have to find if the ends justify the means, and if the cable makes enough improvement to give you the warm and fuzzies about your cash well spent.

I have a lot of trouble believing in these thick fiber optic and DVI cords... and I cant say I have ever heard or seen a difference between the big buck stuff, and the el cheapo. That however, is just my take on the matter.

[ezc]

If you have good component cables with good shielding & is built well pic quality should be good. I use Z300 & M1000 component cables & have been very happy. The cable is copper center that is silver coated. Video signals are high & run along the surface of the cable (silver coated). I have tried other much more expensive pure silver video cables & didnt notice any improvments, so I kept the Z & M series. HDMI & DVI is best if you have a digital display, lcd, plasma, dlp. We install both HDMI & Component to the systems we are currently installing, especially if it is a new construction or all the walls are still open. If you have a digital display the player or processor scales the pic to your screens native resolution & sends it digital, the display accepts it & displays, no d-a & a-d conversions = much cleaner picture.

[dorokusai]

I have used SC and BJC for component video against MC, and the aforementioned proved alot better in color saturation, image definition and black level. I kept the SC because it's build qulaity was better IMO, and SC supports the forum.

Perhaps it is my gear, but that's all that really matters anyhow.

[reeltrouble1]

Dan,

The Transparent I got from you way back does a much better job than either the AR or the MC I used before it, however, they were entry level at best the MC was the THX which I believe is pretty much junk, my TV guy also mentioned the shielding as being something to watch for.

RT1

[mantis]

Reel,

I'm considering trying them out again now that I have a TV that could show them off.Coming from a 36 inch Sony XBR non hd to a 46 Sony HDTV is nice.

[Dr. Spec]

The SC blew away ( I mean it - totally destroyed) the Monster CV2 I was using.

The difference in video cables is measureable and is visual. It's all about the bandwidth the cable can carry before the signal attenuates. Attenuation is quite obvious at the upper end of the video spectrum.

There is a very good reason why I saw such a big improvement. The MV2 is NOT rated to even carry typical progressive scan frequencies (up to about 13 MHz IIRC), much less HDTV frequencies (up to 35 MHz).

The rule of thumb is to take the highest frequency you will encounter and multiply it by 4. The cable you choose must have a -3 dB rating at that frequency or higher or you will see noticeable signal degradation.

The SC is rated - 3dB (i.e., a 50% signal attenuation) at 250 MHz for a 100 foot run! It can EASILY handle both progressive scan and HDTV. MC does not publish Freq. vs. attenuation curves, but the MV2 is not rated for even progressive scan from what I have discussed with knowledgeable cable builders.

A great cable cannot improve the signal, it can only minimize signal degradation.