SCART to SCART OR SCART to S-Video+ 2xRCA. Any difference?

[eddytor]

Hi all,

I'm in the process of setting up to dub from VCR to a JVC DVD recorder DRM10.

I could just use a scart from the vcr and go into the scart on the JVC recorder.

Or I can go from scart on the VCR into the S-Video and 2 x RCA audio inputs on the JVC recorder.

will one method give a better quality signal - or is there actually no difference in quality between the two?

cables - recommendations
==================

I also plan to do some capturing via a ADVC110.

in terms of cables (scarts/s-video/phono etc) - I see that Monster are on the hardware list at lordsmurf's digitalFAQ .

by experience - is it better to use OCC (single crystal copper) rather than OFC cables - especially for the S-video lead. or is there no real discernable difference to the quality?

can anyone recommend good scart, S-video and phono audio cables based on experience.

I've seen reasonably priced OCC cables from Profigold and Belkin - but Monster OCC does seem expensive.

I've also seen some good quality OFC cables from QED and IXOS.

any thoughts anyone?

thanks

pete

[SatStorm]

A good (and short, less than 1.5 meter) SCART cable is better.

For longer cables, about 1.5 meter+ maybe S-Video / RCA is better

I can't suggest you brands. The brands we have here are not the same brands you have there.

[eddytor]

Hi.
I'm a little confused.
you seem to be saying that when the cable run is under 1.5m to use a scart but when its longer use individual cables? whats the reasoning behind that ?
I assume the scart carries the S-video and L&R audio signals anyway - so is there really any difference in signal quality scart versus individual cables? are the extra wires in the scart thought to cause more interference than the simple 3 discrete cable approach?

pete

[Richard_G]

No point in going SCART adapter to S-Video and dual phonos for audio unless your VCR is a JVC SVHS model. I don't know of any non SVHS VCR that outputs S-Video so your picture will be in black and white. Stick with SCART to SCART. SCART carries the S-Video signal but only if there is one there in the first place.

As for cables, avoid the really cheap ones and the really expensive ones. Most of it is marketting over engineering. Think about it, I have always been highly amused by the concept of Oxygen Free Copper cables. Of course they are Oxygen Free, Copper is an element that doesn't have any Oxgen in it! if there was any Oxygen, they would be made of Copper Oxide, green and crystalline (and not a very good conductor at all!). I have not yet come across OCC (single crystal copper) cables, but I suspect they are yet another figment of a marketting mans imagination.

As long as the cable cross sectional area is large enough to not add any resistance to affect the impedance, and the consequent frequency response, they will work. Use reasonable quality cables and don't have them any longer than necessary and you won't have any problems, just don't pay extra for a brand name.

[eddytor]

thanks for that richard.
you may have saved me from getting the wrong setup.
my current vcr is an old mitsubishi so If I got scart to svid and 2xphono I would as you say be in B&W.

I am going to try to find a JVC s-video out machine. is it worth for the picture and signal quality? I only have VHS tapes but I hear that s-video is substantially better than composite video (phono).

I can pickup a new JVC S_VHS vcr on ebay for £50. would that be worthwhile for the extra picture/signal quality?

the other thing that springs to mind is that I was going to try some capturing via the ADVC110. fro what youve said - unless I have a JVC vcr I would have to use the 3 composite vid/audio sockets on teh advc110 and cannot use the s-video?

as far as occ versus ofc goes apparently there is quite a difference in quality of signal. occ is a single crystal of copper using a solid conductor.

thanks again

pete

[Richard_G]

I can pickup a new JVC S_VHS vcr on ebay for £50. would that be worthwhile for the extra picture/signal quality?

the other thing that springs to mind is that I was going to try some capturing via the ADVC110. fro what youve said - unless I have a JVC vcr I would have to use the 3 composite vid/audio sockets on teh advc110 and cannot use the s-video?

as far as occ versus ofc goes apparently there is quite a difference in quality of signal. occ is a single crystal of copper using a solid conductor.

thanks again

pete

From the top. S-Video separates the image (luminance) from the colour (chrominance) so should give less colour bleed on the edges of different colours. However, VHS is pretty crappy quality at the best of times, so whether you will notice any difference will depend on how good quality the original tape is. S-Video was introduced with Hi-8 camcorders because composite couldn't do it justice even though it had been perfectly OK for normal 8mm video. Are your originals better quality than an 8mm camcorder tape?

Yes, if you get an ADVC110, you will have to use the three phono composite connectors. I only mention JVC as they are the only manufacturer that still makes an SVHS machine although there never were too many of them about. Probably due to JVC inventing the VHS standard in the first place, maybe other manufacturers have to make a royalty payment for every one they make or something like that (a bit like Porsche have to pay Mitsubishi for every 944 and 968 they have ever made).

I love it!!! "A single crystal of Copper", Copper is a metal, it isn't crystalline at all. A test was done recently to refute a lot of the bullsh*t claims made by the manufacturers of highly overpriced cables. Very expensive speaker cables were replaced with 4mm solid copper mains cable and not one of the 'experts' noticed any difference in sound quality.

[eddytor]

my vhs's are in good shape - but wouldnt be better than camcorder. I think I may just go for the vhs vcr scart to scart into a DVD recorder (jvc DRm10) and see how the quality is for a start off.

cables..I know there is a lot in the marketing thats for sure. cant say ive ever listened to the different types to compare. the boys at atlas may be have to pull down their website if the mains cable tests are made public...

http://www.hifi.org.uk/tech/?view=s3

cheers

pete

[trhouse]

Maybe this will help,

"Quality differences exist in SCART cables. While a proper SCART cable would use miniature coax cables for the video signals, cheap SCART cables often use plain wires for all signals, resulting in a loss of image quality and greatly reducing the maximum cable length. (To non-destructively verify if a SCART cable uses coax cables, unscrew the strain relief at the SCART connector and fold open the plastic shell.)"

[trhouse]

P.S. I did not realize copper existed in crystalline form but it does. There are numerous references on the web.

[eddytor]

thanks for the info on scarts.

Yes - I've found plenty of web refs and web pics for copper crystals too. Seems like atlas' web site as per my link above is actually talking sense.

As for OCC versus OFC cables, there IS definitely a difference in sound quality.

Since my post above i've compared profigold oxypure OCC audio rca cables with basic radio shack OFC audio rca cables.

It was like a different album with the OCC cables. The bass is far more punchy and the midrange much clearer. Overall there's a sense of separation between sounds and instruments, as if the band is almost in the room with you. I could recommend the profigold OCC.