x-box hook up question. (1 Viewer)

[Allen_Appel]

If price were no object, I'd get the Monster cables myself. Just like I'd buy a $500 component switcher. But I don't believe the improvements I *might* see (I doubt I'm as discerning as other HTFers) are worth the cost. I think the difference is better spent elsewhere. Like on a game.

Bob, as you posted in another thread, component cables offer a 5% increase in clarity over S-video. How much of a visible increase can there be between Monster and Microsoft cables? Is it just a little bit better, or is it "Holy mother of God, I'll never game any other way again!"? I can't cite the reference, but I did read of a home theater magazine that tested component cables and found Monster was not as good as a cheaper brand. I think the visual shortcomings of videogames are one reason why higher-end cables might be self-defeating. Seeing my PS2 through component cables revealed a lot more jaggies than S-video did.

David, I don't know what the Avia cost is as I picked up Video Essentials discounted to $15, since there was supposed to be a new version released. Avia is the better disk, though.

 

[Bob McElfresh]

Well a good, HD rated switcher is only about $150. This thread on Inexpensive HD Video switching has a lot of discussion and links for these.

(For the other viewers)

Home Theater magazine compared all 3 video connections from a DVD player to a 50" Reference TV and found:

Composite: baseline
SVideo: 20% better than composite
Component: 25% better than composite

But we are talking ordinary component video here to a analog TV. Not Progressive Video from an XBox to a HDTV. 4 Mhz max for component vs 13 Mhz for progressive - higher frequency means some different issues.

"How much of a difference would I see" largely depends on:

- is your TV analog vs HDTV
- is your display 30", 50", 80"? (The more you magnify - the more defects you expose)

Alan, you may not be as discerning (aka "Obsessive" ) as other HTF'ers, but neither was I when I started. But I learned. I'm trying to pass on the ideas behind my recomendation/opinion.

You now have new knowledge. When you look at a video cable, you will wonder if it's made with shielded coax, can it handle HD video frequencies and is the build-quality decent.

You've become more descerning just by reading. And you have done something ~140 others did not: you questioned, you challenged (with some good points by the way). Keep up the good work.

 

[Allen_Appel]

Forums like this (and members like you) are great ways to learn, Bob. But the more I learn, the more money I spend. :frowning: