Capping Video - Will any S-Video cable do?

[DNICE_ONE]

Hi!

Just to let you know guys that after reading many threads and asking many questions on this forum about video capture and taking advice of the "Experts" I am now a proud owner of a JVC HR-S9600EK (almost new) and a DataVideo TBC-3000.

Now I am looking for a decent capture card and quality cables. What I have been able to find out about cables on this forum is that apparently all the experts use Monster cables (which are quite expensive in the UK).

My question is that will any S-Video cable do or should I spend a big sum on buying Monster cables? I have seen one model Monster THXV100SV which is costing me about £24. How good is this model and what are the alternatives? Any feedback will be appreciated.

[redwudz]

Experts don't use Monster cables unless Monster cables pays them to. They are outrageously overpriced and no better if not worse quality than a good name brand cable. It's all hype.

I use Belkin brand cables. It's a good company that's been around for many years. There are other brands that are also good. For a SVHS cable, say 6 feet long, I wouldn't pay more than $20US or thereabouts.

SVHS is not RF or very high frequency. I wouldn't buy a $1.98US cable, but don't get ripped off by Monster.

Someone in the UK can probably give you some good brands available there.

[davideck]

Well said redwudz! I agree 100%.
A 6 foot shielded 75 ohm cable pair is not exactly rocket science!

I'd love to attend a meeting at Monster where they dream up their next product line.

[SatStorm]

I use typical mainstream 5 euro cables between my VCR and my ACE enchancer and another one from my ACE to my capture card...

Expensive cables from a point and beyond are useless...

[anitract]

I too find that belkin cables (called PureAV) are great. They have excellent build quality, the picture looks quite nice, and the price doesn't break the bank.

[lordsmurf]

I find that Monster are the best cables, so I do own a couple of them for the main connections. I do not buy the "top of the line" Monster ones that are like $75 for 3 feet, but the basic Monster ones are good and are not all that expensive ($35 for 6 feet, $20 for 3 feet, etc).

Radio Shack and other similar electronic "goodies" stores tend to carry shielded cables of their own branded and work well. They are really not that much cheaper than Monster, but are a bit harder to locate sometimes.

Basically, you want the wires (1) thick, (2) gold plated connectors, and (3) thick rubbery wrap that shield the cables nicely.

As usual, the brand doesn't really matter. Monster is just good and readily available. Well known for quality cables. People that usually bash Monster are just angry about the prices, nothing more. And that's understandable, somewhat. People have a hard time spending $$ on something that comes free with the unit (although your free ones are junk worth maybe $1).

[zoobie]

I, too, was concerned about my cheap flimsy s-video cable so I bought an 6' Acoustic Research Pro Series on eBay for $14 delivered....Looks like a small garden hose. I tested it against the cheapo and noticed more detail was transferred.

[harley2ride]

I'm with LordSmurf.. I bought my cables are radio shack (composite), and I'm using an ADS PYRO AV/Link. I've captured straight to MPEG2, and to AVI, and I'm very happy with the results. It is possible that I could get better results with more expensive cables, but I just don't visually see anything wrong with what I'm getting now, so I'll just keep it like it is.

[Jester700]

As usual, the brand doesn't really matter. Monster is just good and readily available. Well known for quality cables. People that usually bash Monster are just angry about the prices, nothing more. And that's understandable, somewhat. People have a hard time spending $$ on something that comes free with the unit (although your free ones are junk worth maybe $1).

They do make good, if usually overpriced cables. Actually, *I* bash them because their marketing dept. is more bold in its lies than is typical (though not necessarily in this branch of cables) and their legal department is equally brash. With a plethora of good choices available, "anyone but monster".