Ranking of signal/cable/connector quality?

[tom_mk]

Is there an order of signal/connector quality, and if so what is it? For example (and I have probably got it wrong):

- SCART (lowest quality signal)
- S-Video
- Component
- HDMI (highest quality)

Please add the various connection types that I have missed and rank accordingly.

Basically, I've just purchased a new Panasonic 37" plasma and want to connect up my old DVD player (Sony DAV-S 550), but I want to ensure that I get the best quality I can from it until I upgrade.

I'm also aware that the quality of picture will be related to the quality of the type of cable I purchase. So, for example a high quality £20 SCART cable is likely to generate better results than a £1 component cable from PoundStretcher (sorry PoundStretcher)

I'm sure I've read this somewhere in a What Hi-Fi mag, but can I find it to refer back to, nope!

 

[professorhat]

Close, it's:
- Composite (lowest quality signal)
- S-Video
- RGB SCART
- Component
- HDMI (highest quality)

 

[Anonymous]

Any decent mid range component or HDMI cable should give you a good picture. If you are stuck Futureshop have a great range and can usually deliver the next day. (I personally use their budget Ixos range of component cables and it is fine.) don't forget if you use component you need both video and audio cable.

 

[tom_mk]

Thanks for the response ProfessorHat. So to get really technical, is it better to have Component-to-Component or is there no difference between that and say a mixed combo cable, such as Component-to-SCART?

 

[Anonymous]

I hope the prof agrees but I'd say that if you use a mixed cable the result will be no better than the inferior connection. So component to SCART not really any better than SCART to SCART. So use component to component if you can or HDMI to HDMI

 

[tom_mk]

Thanks for the info WelshBoy. Taking a look at the FutureShop catalogue of products has also answered another question that I had waiting in the wings. Which was, is there any benefit to having a good quality UHF aerial cable? The reason for asking is that I have a Vogel wall mount bracket for our screen which has a great cable tidy built in. The only problem is that the power cable for the screen runs right next to all other signal cables. Initially, when setting up the screen with the old aerial cable the signal quality was terrible. I changed it to a cable that I made myself and instantly saw a vast improvement. The question is, is there any benefit for purchasing a high quality cable over the one I bashed together at the weekend? Not sure I'll go as far as £37 for 2 meters, but I'm assuming it certainly won't hurt to get a good quality cable.

 

[professorhat]

Indeed, in fact with the component to Scart lead, you'll find the systems generally use a different kind of signal (RGB for RGB Scart and YUV for component generally) so you may well have to convert the signal using a conversion box like one of these for it to work. IMO, it's not worth the trouble!
On the aerial cable, I'm not sure, but there are places where you can buy these cables on a no-quibble money back guarantee so if you can buy from here and try it out, if it doesn't improve the picture, you can always send it back for a refund.

 

[timwileman]

professorhat:Indeed, in fact with the component to Scart lead, you'll find the systems generally use a different kind of signal (RGB for RGB Scart and YUV for component generally) so you may well have to convert the signal using a conversion box like one of these for it to work. IMO, it's not worth the trouble!
On the aerial cable, I'm not sure, but there are places where you can buy these cables on a no-quibble money back guarantee so if you can buy from here and try it out, if it doesn't improve the picture, you can always send it back for a refund.

not the same situation as the OP prof but...

i have fed signal from my PVR (Sagem 250gb jobby) into my onkyo 606 using a conversion from scart to component, mainly to get use of the front 3 speakers when wathcing TV through the PVR but i did notice an improvement in pic quality, it was sharper and the skin tones a touch more natural looking it was easy to tell the difference as i could flick between the SCART to SCART connection on the TV and the SCART to component then upconverted via HDMI.

the benifits of using the front 3 surround sound speakers vs the TVs own speakers became obvious when i was watching midsomer murders the other day, there was a deep bass line on the soundtrack and it came through the onkyo/speakers so full and rich i had to try out via the TV and you could hardly tell it was there !

EDIT: oh yes forgot to say my PVR can output component signal over scart connector so i didnt need a conversion box just a cable

 

[professorhat]

Ah fair enough, Tim - you're the first person I've seen who's tried it and said there was an improvement!
On the sound, is there no other sound output on the back of the Sagem? Most PVRs I thought had either an optical out or at least RCA stereo outs. If not, then I can see the benefit of splitting the Scart in this way as well.
EDIT - just seen your EDIT, that may well explain it - I think the conversion process adds the extra layer of processing meaning the signal isn't as good. If you didn't need that though, this makes sense.

 

[timwileman]

ah yes there is also a connection using coax digital for sound....

and yes sorry i forgot the edit bit until later, yes the sagem outputs component signal over its SCART 1 socket