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and how is the video quality compared to other methods, in your experience?
I'd like to know if S-Video or Component makes a noticeable difference in video quality for the PS2, and whether there's a difference in quality between the official Sony S-Video cable and the generic-brand counterpart.
Thanks for voting!
The biggest difference in picture quality comes from the quality of the TV itself...
Try comparing a GE or Philips TV with say a Loewe Planus , both connected the same way and see what looks better...
Anyone who uses RF or Composite(RCAs that came with the PS2) should have to get rid of their PS2. The data is recorded in a component signal, and if you are converting it down then reconverting it up youre killing it. You may not have composite, but pretty much every single tv on the market today has atleast svideo. comeon people.
Its one thing when youre too poor to get a new tv. but what really ticks me off is at peoples houses when i see they have the inputs but they use the shity cables anyways. like my friend has a dolby digital receiver, along with a dvd player, yet uses rca cables for sound, even though both of the devices have fiber optics and can acheive dolby sound if you use it. Your system is only as strong as your weakest link. Just like at Circuit City when they have $7,000 Sony Plasma HDTVs with a Coaxial cable plugged in it on display.
I use a RGB SCART cable, but you dont have that on the list.
I definitely see a difference in video quality between S-Video and the standard RCA plugs. The display looks grainy and shaky with the standard RCA connections relative to S-Video thus words are harder to read. I'd also like to know the difference in quality between S-Video and Component.
He probably didnt list Scart as he probably lives in the United States, we have no such thing as Scarts here. But RGB Scart is component I recon.
The difference between S-Video and Component on a Standard TV is mainly the color. Svideo is 2 wires where as component is 3. The luminance(amount of light) gets its own wire on Svideo, so its the same as component. The Red and Blue signals are shared on one wire at different frequencies, so when they are taken apart you get some color bleeding and its not as rich, but usually not super noticable. Technically Svideo is still a component signal, and it keeps its pretty real, and its much better than composite RCA, no doubts. Where component really sticks out is on an HDTV, but not much effect using just a ps2, or even a DVD player since neither are compatible with HDTV, except for 480p. I would say Svideo is totaly fine, no need to spend big bucks to go to component, unless you already have it, but anything less than it is a shame.
I have never heard of RGB SCART and it is probably because I'm in the USA.
Necrolop, do you think it's important that I buy an official Sony s-video cable ($25 at CompUSA) or will the generic no-name cable ($4 at EB) work just as well? There's also a Mad Catz s-video cable for $9 at EB.
Interestingly enough, the official Sony component cable is only $20 at CompUSA.
Living in Europe, I use a RGB SCART... it is the best cable you can get (if u are on supported areas....)
I spent the extra and got the component cables, and it's worth it, at least from the cables that come with the PS2. I actually downgraded a couple of days ago just to see if there really was a noticeable difference, and there really really is. Colors are brighter, everything is much crisper, etc with the components. There really is no excuse not to get some decent cables
I'm in the USA so I don't know much about SCART, but from what I've read, I would categorize that as Component for the purpose of this poll. Is that right?