question re: s-video output

[DVD_NDN]

hi

this is a rather simple question

can anyone tell me in the simplest terms (besides 'mm- s-video good') how s-video out on a DVD player is superior to the analog output?
the answer I would think is obvious - digital output right? but as far as performance goes, does it drastically improve my (your) home theater experience? examples?

thanks
-DVD_NDN

[chas0039]

S-Video splits the choma and luminence signals to stop interferance between them. This gives a shaper picture. However running S-Video into a older or low end set isn't going to gain you anything as many times the tube isn't capable of showing you an appriciable difference.

I have heard that many times with a high end set the increase is considerable from composite to S-Video and less of a difference from S-Video to component.

[DVD_NDN]

thanks alot for the quick adn informative reply.

My television is a 'sharp' 27" flatscreen television, so, while not the top of th line and latest in vegging technology - I woudl think it should be enough to handle the s-video then.
thanks again

[c_hernandez32]

I think that S-video will be an improvement even on a tube TV. I have a sharp round tube and the quality is alot better with S-video than with composite. S-video looks brighter and sharper. Especially with dark scenes. If you TV has it go with component. Colors look better with component.

By the way composite, s-video, and component are all analog. The signal is converted from digital to an analog wave form. The different types of connections just split or combine the video into different channels (Yb, Yr, L). Only HDMI or DVI-D are digital connections. So far analog component or RGB video (few DVD players have it) are better because it is the most compatible with HDTVs. A few older TV sets cannot recieve digital signals via DVI because the TV doesn't have HDCP and won't accept the encoded signal from a HDCP encoded DVD player. Though I'm not sure component video connections can handle 1080i.

[chas0039]

thanks alot for the quick adn informative reply.

My television is a 'sharp' 27" flatscreen television, so, while not the top of th line and latest in vegging technology - I woudl think it should be enough to handle the s-video then.
thanks again

You're welcome. From my experience I will always opt for S-Video. On a non HD TV I cannot see any benefit to component. On an HD when I am running progressive scan I can.

[monzie]

Tv's all work BY DEFAULT on the s-video (y/c)principle (separate chanels for colour and black and white) BUT <broadcast> (ie normal TV) cannot/does not use this, but instead merges the two chanels into a blend which is then recomposed into colour and B&W by way of a COMB FILTER (ie the signal is split back into s-video or y/c signal INTERNALLY by the TV).

Using s-video cuts out this conversion BUT ONLY IF YOU HAVE DEDICATED Y/C (S_VIDEO) chanel..otherwise you may well only get B&W or washed out colours (double conversion otherwise..the signal will STILL go thru the comb filter)...and yes, S-video is most definately analogue.

[Gurm]

Another thing to watch out for is that on some components, S-Video is really just splitting up the signal over the cable - it's already been mangled inside the component. Older DVD players did this.