Component vs Composite

[ExedExes]

When I switched from Composite to S-Video on my Dreamcast and a CRT, I was able to instantly notice a much clearer video signal. I'm working on getting some S-Video cables for the Gamecube since their component cables are not any cheaper than $50-$70 at this point (I know of the proprietary element that causes them to not have any other cheaper alternative)

[floattube]

How does S-Video look on an HDTV?

[Zing]

It will vary significantly between TVs. The major benefit is that you avoid the TV's undoubtedly poor comb filter by using s-video. There is no reason to not use s-video if you can.

[Reprise]

No difference to me. Heck, the differences are so minute that you people that says they look much different I classify as videophiles over next to audiophiles.

Play some N64/Gamecube/PS2 games on an HDTV via composite and tell me that doesn't look like smeared diarrhea.

This.

The difference is huge. If you don't notice it, you're blind.

In the UK though, RGB Scart is the way to go imo. I ditched composite cables yonks ago for all my consoles (minus the N64 which isn't RGB compatible )

[elmagicochrisg]

The difference is huge. If you don't notice it, you're blind.

[ElkinFencer10]

I know it's been explained to me before, but it all went way over my head; I know older game systems don't usually look that great on HDTVs, but I don't understand. Can someone explain that to me in super dumbed down terms? Haha. I'd appreciate it.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

I know it's been explained to me before, but it all went way over my head; I know older game systems don't usually look that great on HDTVs, but I don't understand. Can someone explain that to me in super dumbed down terms? Haha. I'd appreciate it.

Our own Redifer's show Game Sack should do a pretty good job at explaining all of it to you in simple terms:

[theclaw]

Short story, American TVs are inferior to European TVs.

Long story, composite video is akin to lossy compression (think JPEG or MP3). By design its use degrades the source image. How much loss occurs is affected by encoding and decoding quality.

[Pulsar_t]

When I switched from Composite to S-Video on my Dreamcast and a CRT, I was able to instantly notice a much clearer video signal. I'm working on getting some S-Video cables for the Gamecube since their component cables are not any cheaper than $50-$70 at this point (I know of the proprietary element that causes them to not have any other cheaper alternative)

Last year I got a multi-console Radiohack component cable for far less than that.

[AppleQueso]

When I switched from Composite to S-Video on my Dreamcast and a CRT, I was able to instantly notice a much clearer video signal. I'm working on getting some S-Video cables for the Gamecube since their component cables are not any cheaper than $50-$70 at this point (I know of the proprietary element that causes them to not have any other cheaper alternative)

Last year I got a multi-console Radiohack component cable for far less than that.

Gamecube's component cables are proprietary and have circuitry in them.