Component Video Cables: Any Difference in Quality?

[dj_mocok]

Not to start a argument, but I was just wondering, is there any difference in terms of picture quality if say, I use the Component Video that comes with a Set top box (or DVD player) compared to the expensive one?

And if the material that I am watching is just SD TV program (not High Def), will there be any difference if I use el cheapo freebie one compared to 'proper' after market one?

 

[strangelove]

I've only tried comparing the cheap come-with cables vs the monoprice premium component cables. Even though the monoprice ones probably aren't considered that good, I still noticed a large improvement in picture quality. Now whether the super expensive cables would offer any significant improvment over the Monoprice ones, who knows.

 

[dj_mocok]

Can you give more details on what cables you used, what it was connected to, etc. please? Because to my understanding, for a normal SD feed, even el cheapo stock cable is good enough?

 

[jilgiljongiljing]

For SD, I dont expect to see any difference. For HD though, I would not use the standard ones that come free with the DVD players. Instead get a slightly better cable. Not sure if the high end ones will make a difference, but for me, I got a better shielded thicker cable for about 30 bucks and it made a difference, especially in the black background.

 

[Logistics]

I agree with jilgiljongiljing that a better shielded cable, which will be notably thicker than come-with cables, is ideal, but I would say the most important factor is whether the cable is as close as possible to 75-Ohm, which is what video cables should be.

I was just at an elderly friends house, last night setting up one of those little boxes they sell now so that you can watch the digital stuff coming in over the antenna on your old television. The box was very inexpensive and did not even have S-Video; only RCA Jacks and the RF connectors. He ended up having a stray RCA video cable lying around and it was very thick, almost as thick as the connector on the end, and it was clearly labeled down the jacket "75-Ohm." I was actually jealous of his nice RCA cable.

The HD stations looked beautiful, even over an RCA cable.

I would look for a manufacturer who emphasizes that their cables are 75-Ohm or as close as possible. This is important even for SD as a cable with lower than ideal impedance will cause a loss in signal quality, even making it darker. Usually, only coaxial are about 75-Ohm exactly, whereas even nicer RCA cables are usually in the 60's, and cheaper ones being in the 50's or lower.