 
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
|
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
I bought a Monster super video 3, S-video cable from Circuit City for $50 and could see no improvement over the S-video cable that came with the cable company’s digital set-top box. As much as I wanted to see an improvement, there was none. I am returning the cable today. It seems that video is less revealing than audio when it comes to cables.Anyone else have the same kind of results as I did?
Follow Ups:
You should not let the salesmen sell you a 'name' (specially Monster), but buy based on quality.... Cables can make a huge difference, but in my experience Monster does not make very good cables.Also, your situation may vary as far as signal quality (RFI/EMI) and distance from the source to the TV will make a difference with S-Video.
Sam
But I had a long run (a no-no). I subjected some of my friends to a blind A-B test and they saw it as well and preferred the Monster by 100% (though they didn't know which was which).
The difference manefested itself in brightness and noise reduction.However, if it isn't visible on your setup, return the sucker!
Circuit City gave me a full refund.
I think they're still sticking to that idiotic "no return" policy (unless you may a usurious "restocking" charge) . . .
I replaced a cheapie S-video cable that came with my JVC S-VHS machine with a homebrewed cable built from Belden (#?) S-video cable and a set of gold plugs. But then again,I paid nowhere near $50. I'm viewing on a 27" HD-capable set. If I can buy a better wire by the foot, I'll be happy to give it a try.
The laws of physics don't apply to cables; this fact has been established long ago in the more audiophile asylum areas. The basics of capacitance, inductance and impedance seem to be manufacturer specific (to judge by their marketing hype). It's really refreshing to come to an asylum where the inmates dare to say what can't be said among audiophiles! "THE BEST CABLE IS NO CABLE" - there, I've said it, and it feels good, just don't report me to the Cable Asylum enthusiasts who are straining their ears to breaking point in search of non-existant differences. The comic truth is that a cheap cable, well made to observe the basic rules of physics, is the best.
I took your "THE BEST CABLE IS NO CABLE" advise and unplugged all my cables, now there is no sound, and none of the units power up. I also tried it on my hog farm where I removed all the wiring lining up the fences, and all the swines ran off. I don't think your advise is good.
Good one!
One of the funniest comebacks I've seen in a very long time!
about Mohammand Ali. He was on a plane and the flight attendant asked him to sit down and put on his seat belt. He told her that "Superman don't need no seatbelt!" Her reply was "Superman don't need no airplane!"
...you buy one frickin cable and you think you've seen it all.It seems that video is less revealing than audio when it comes to cables.
Thanks for providing the context of your evaluation which led to this pronouncement.
Tom §.
Tom, first off thanks for you patience, second I was using the S-video output of a Scientific-Atlanta digital set-top converter to feed a 32” TV. As I said, I could see no improvement with the Monster #3, over the cable, the cable TV gave me with the converter when viewing digital HBO.With audio cables I can hear differences, but I cannot see differences with video cables. Can you?
You make a sweeping generalization based on a singular event and you think I'm rude and impatient?With audio cables I can hear differences, but I cannot see differences with video cables. Can you?
Correction: you didn't see a difference with one cable in one system. That's super that you didn't see any differences *in your system*. Just don't go off and proclaim that it's a universal truth. People who use larger screen setups (front projection, rear projection, plasma) can see a *shitload* more than what they can see on a CRT (even 32"). Would you make the same proclamation on audio cables if you evaluated the cables using small boom box speakers?
The electrical parameters of cabling and more importantly the connectors in video applications have a measureable and significant effect on video quality. Pay close attention when I mention *connectors*. Most of the RCA connectors on consumer equipment are substandard and cause image degrading impedance mismatch signal reflections. There are even some video cables that are intentionally designed to alter the chroma signal delay in order to compensate for the poor performance of connectors and cheap color decoders (which are quite common even in the expensive televisions).
Keep in mind that I'm not advocating expensive=better for cables. You can put together some superior video cables for under $50 using belden 8281B cable and 75-ohm RCA's (which may take some effort to find) or BNC connectors (which are quite common and inexpensive).
There's a lot more to this than just slapping in a monster cable between a cable box and an unnamed 32" CRT.
Tom §.
Tom, since you quoted me in your text please notice that the word “I” is used, meaning “me” and only me. If you can see differences, great! I can’t, and that’s all I am saying, my results. I do work with 75 ohm cable and BNC connectors and all the other components that you have written about, but I have limited experience with S-Video cables, that is why I am posting about them, to gain other persons (like yourself) results with them.On another subject, are you really Steve Eddy? :^)
That has not been my experience. What setup are you using? Have you adjusted your TV according to Video Essentials of avia??
See the post to Tom. No, I have not used the video essentials, this was just a A vs. B test of cables, and my results, and wanting yours.
I have tried some audioquest, xlo and wireworld, I have not tried the Monster Cable. The Wireworld video made the least difference even though it was the most expensive! The others were a clear improvement over what came in the box with the DVD player. The colour was better, image cleaner, etc. I also found that properly adjusted with the Video essentials also makes a difference and makes the money spent on the cables more worthwhile. That said I would not spend more than $50 on S-video cable for the typical tv. Sure if you have a topline Plasma or project unit, then spend the money and make sure it looks good, but for the typical mass market direct view, keep it inexpensive.
To be accurate, video signal is 200 times more sensitive to cables than audio signals. As "smart" people here like to say your TV is not revealing enough. You need to by "high resolution" system.
But it seems to be no such TV system. How come?
Most expensive TV is still 1/100 of the price of the expensive cable for audio.
Just wait, someone will figure out to charge you $100000 for junk $500 TV, and sure you will see a difference. Just as they hear it in cables on their "high resolution" systems. I'm yet to see such high resolution system.
Having just moved to an area of San Diego that sits directly in the line of two large broadcast towers beaming ABC and CBS eastward, and now getting "snow" on those channels via my old RG-59 cable, I can tell you the importance of shielding.Other than that, any good solid OFC copper of 18 or 20 guage should do just fine.
P.S. Don't tell me to rewire the house, it's a lot cheaper to go satellite! That's my next step.
Sounds like a Quad shield RG-59 or RG-56 would be of help in any of your wiring locations even if you go with the dish, because of all that RF around you. Sometimes just tightning the "F" connectors with a 7/16" wrench will really help.
Dish will be mounted on top of the house, then I'll run RG-6 in as short of length as possible to two set-top boxes -- one cheapo for the downstairs unit, and (eventually) one HDTV-compatible for the upstairs room in which sits my Panasonic 47WX49 HDTV-capable RPTV.Thanks for the suggestions.
Be sure to use GOOD cable. I went with Belden 1694A for outdoor use. Inside, 1695A is even better (teflon)
nt
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
