composite vs component video cables

[mimwdv1]

Hi,

I'm new here but have a problem with connecting my DVD player to my new TV. I have a digitor TV (a basic model from an Australian equivalent to Radio Shack), and an LG DV7711P DVD player. I have the choice to use either a basic composite video cable provided or a component video cable. As component video is supposed to be better, I bought a component cable and used that. I was disappointed - the picture is less sharp, and has a distinct green cast when compared to the composite cable. I've done a search online but can't find any information. Any ideas what might be causing it or what I can do to fix this? I'm hesitant to spend too much on cables, since the player was a giveaway and the TV just over $US 100...

Thanks for your help,

Miriam

[Nelson37]

You bought A (as in single cable) component cable? Component connections require three seperate cables. I am also very suspicious of a $100.00 TV with component connections. Are you sure its not Coax?

[MOVIEGEEK]

I'm suspicious too,on the back of the TV there should be three RCA jacks that are red,blue and green.
www.michaeldvd.com.au/Articles/VideoConnectors/VideoConnectors.asp

[Popee]

True component input jacks will be marked: Y, Pb and Pr.

[mimwdv1]

Hi,

Nelson37, I bought a triple cable (sorry, called it one cable because they're all welded together like a triple RCA cable might be, but it's definitely a component cable, it's labelled as such on the cable, the box it came in and the jacks on the end are the right colourcoding). The tv (and the DVD!) has the right three kind of jacks. Popee, they're labeled Y, Cb and Cr, exactly as illustrated on the link you gave me, Moviegeek.

I recognise that I've got a super cheap setup here, and I'm not expecting top of the line quality at the bottom of the price spectrum. I was just very surprised that by connecting the equipment by the supposedly better method I got a worse picture.

[richard98]

Hi,

Nelson37, I bought a triple cable (sorry, called it one cable because they're all welded together like a triple RCA cable might be, but it's definitely a component cable, it's labelled as such on the cable, the box it came in and the jacks on the end are the right colourcoding). The tv (and the DVD!) has the right three kind of jacks. Popee, they're labeled Y, Cb and Cr, exactly as illustrated on the link you gave me, Moviegeek.

I recognise that I've got a super cheap setup here, and I'm not expecting top of the line quality at the bottom of the price spectrum. I was just very surprised that by connecting the equipment by the supposedly better method I got a worse picture.

Have you looked in the setup menu of your DVD player. On some players, you can select component or composite.

[gmatov]

I don't know why you guys are surprised at the 100 USD TV.

Here, in the US, Apex 20 inch are routinely sold for 100 bucks, with component input.

I have never seen one operate, but they obviously sell so many they keep stocking them.

TVs are such a commodity they have to keep building wierd sizes just to make you buy a new one. 21 to 25 was a large jump, but 25s are passe, have to have a 27, now they're last gen, gota have a 31 or 32, then 35 or 37, then projection.

Of course the first in my house was a 7 inch, so maybe the larger ones are not all that much of a must for me as they are for those of you who cut your teeth on a 21 inch,or a 19 inch personal TV in your room.

Just a thought.

Cheers, George

[MachineMan]

Maybe your cable is F-ed. Try switching the colors to see if the green effect you described changes. So use the red for green and the blue for red or something like that.

The idea of checking your DVD player set-up is also a good one. My cheapy Zenith XBV343 player (which kicks ass) needs to have the component out enabled in the set-up menu, otherwise it plays from the composite or S-video out.

[Roundabout]

It's also possible to have a problem in the TV, although it could be the DVD too. The specs call for the Composite Output>Input level to always be 1.0v P-P (peak to peak). You have a different situation with Component Level output, Where the Y (luminance) channel is also 1.0v P-P, the Pb and Pr channels are both spec'd at 0.7v P-P. The output of the DVD may be incorrect for one or more of these signals, or the TV may not be processing them correctly. Obviously, the TV processes the Composite input by itself, most likely through different circuits than the Component inputs are routed through, which is why you may not see a problem. The best way to isolate the problem is to borrow a DVD with component out from a friend and see what happens (since that's easier than hauling a new TV in to test). Or take your DVD to a friend's and hook it up to his TV that has Component in.

[gll99]

The DVD may have an option to select the video ouput type. If you select the wrong type it will distort the color. This is not to direct the signal like a switch but seems to be more to identify the proper signal to send out of the unit. Check the menu settings in your DVD setup. My player has component, composite and svideo options and I have to choose the right one (I think 2 are together). I didn't check the exact settings now but remember this was my problem when I originally set mine up with component video. I am not familiar with your DVD player so don't know if yours is the same.

[mimwdv1]

OK, I just checked the cable (by swapping green for blue for red etc) and there's no change in the picture.

My DVD player has no option for choosing what type of output.

Are there any other options anyone can think of other than a fault in either the player or the TV? I can borrow my mothers' player to do a test as you suggested, Roundabout, but I don't have easy access to another component input TV. But they're both only about a month old, so hopefully warranty shouldn't be a problem

[gmatov]

Have you tried a simple coax cable with f-connectors? Just to see what you get?

You should not be getting such off colors. Try , then take it back, if it doesn't work.

[tandynor]

Have you tried messing with the COLOR controls on your TV? maybe the TINT or the COLOR needs to go up or down. you should have :
BRIGHTNESS ------|------
TINT ---------|---
COLOR --------|----
CONTRAST ------|------
SHARPNESS ------|------

try messing with the TINT. thats probably what it is.

also make sure you have the correct colors inputs to the TV and DVD player. and make sure you are not using the AUDIO RED rca for your RED video input.

[mimwdv1]

I'm 110 % sure my cables are the right type and plugged in correctly (but thanks, tandynor).

Adjusting the tint works to some degree, but the reds/oranges/skin tones etc go magenta-ish much faster than the neutrals lose their green tinge - ie if I mess with it too much, I end up with a picture with very pink/purple faces, but with blacks/greys (and even some browns) still having a fairly strong and clearly discernible green tint.

Messing with this would mean I would get a mediocre result for the component input, and really bad results for my RCA/composite input and TV reception - I'm talking people having really bad sunburn on normal TV channels. Surely I shouldn't have to re-adjust this every time I change from DVD to VCR or TV reception?

I tried swapping the component cable out altogether, and just using a cheapie 3 strand RCA cable instead (pugged in correctly to component video jacks!). No improvement, in fact it's a bit worse. Would it be worth buying a more expensive cable and seeing how it goes? I'm currently using a radioshack cable, I could try a Monster cable - my store will accept them back if it doesn't work.

[tandynor]

well Other than that I do not know? It seems you have everything connected correctly. what kind of POWER do you use over there? is the TV an american TV? ntsc? are your movies the same video format as usa(NTSC)? what DVD are you watching? a PAL or NTSC DVD? I dont know if the TV you have is 120V converted to 240V?

also do you have anything around or on top of the TV that may cause interference with the TV? because when you hook up COMPONENT cables for the first time, you should notice a pretty big difference right away. which RADIOSHACK cables did you get? the cheapos, or the FUSION CABLES?

Is your TV a HIGH DEFENITION TV?

I say go to the store you bought it from and try your cables on a display TV if they have one.

[tandynor]

I also got this from this website. YOUR tv might have a setting for RGB or YprPb. it might be set to RGB and thats why the tint is green! check this link out. YOUR tv may not be HDTV but try and find this setting on your TV.


http://pub1.ezboard.com/fdigitaltelevisionhdtvforumgeneralforum.showMessage?topicID=156.topic

[Roundabout]

Since it looks like you've done everything correctly, it seems that your best option is to borrow another DVD player and try it. That should only take you 5 minutes to answer the question of it being a problem in the DVD or TV. I doubt it's the cables. Unless they were old cables (they aren't) or frayed or broken (which I'm sure they aren't), there wouldn't be enough frequency loss in a short 5 or 6 foot cable to account for this. I'm 90% sure the problem is with the DVD or TV, most likely the TV. Could be settings, like someone else suggested, or it may actually be a defect in the TV itself. Wouldn't be the first time. QC hasn't gotten any better over the years, and for some products (at Sony, anyway) they don't QC more than 5% going out the door.
Try another DVD player today, if you can, and let us know what you find.

[mimwdv1]

Hi all,

Just to keep you in the loop - I borrowed mum's DVD and have the same problem, so it looks like it's the TV. It'll be going back to the shop on Thursday, so we'll see what kind of help I get. They were at least helpful over the phone so we'll see how we go. I'll keep you posted, and thank you all for your help.

Miriam

[Poppa_Meth]

the TV being the problem is no big surprise. a lot of companies use super cheap components now. I've seen 13 Zeniths with all have pink and purple spots appear in the tube within the first week or two of play.