Expensive SCART Cables Options

[Default User]

Hi,
What benefit if any can you get from using those expensive "Monster" brand SCART to SCART RGB cables ?

I recently bought an Opentel STB and I connected it to my Metz Artos TV via a SCART to SCARt cable I got from Jaycar for about $29.Now the picture is pretty good via RGB, would I get any tangilbe benefit from paying a hundered bucks more for a new SCART cable, considering that I already have decent quality TV ?, or is the the whole thing just marketing bulldust ?

[THarper]

I think the Jaycar one (assuming it is Jaycar's "high quality" one) is a beauty.

The best of the "expensive" SCART cables I have used (and I have bought all sorts of them over the last few years) are the QED brand ones from the UK - as far as their construction quality, shielding and _not_ taking anything away from the signal being passed through. IXOS brand ones are very good too as high-end cables, but really I think the Jaycar ones are great value-for-money and give excellent results for 10-20% of the price of those two brands.


ted.h.

[bennobee]

Ha you touched on one of those raging topics. everyone has a strong opinion about this topic. Some think its about as useful as pissing in the wind whilst others swear by it. The best thjing to do is try some or get a demo side by side (but thats hard to do). Otherwise not really worth it unless your getting some major noise that requires that crazy type of protection from it.

I have some monster Component cables and I can't really see much diff between them and my Jay Car ones.

[Chris137]

I was amazed when I changed from an ordinary SCART to an $80 you-beaut cable -- the RGB signal now looks fantastic. Very well worth the effort, in my opinion.

[tonymy01]

Just to add to this thread, I took a couple of pictures of the good Jaycar cable:
http://tonyspage.abock.de/topfieldpics/jaycar/

Anyway, I believe that a $80 cable from a boutique store would be no better then this $30 Jaycar cable, it really is good value for its quality.
I would suggest an $80 cable would be much better then the $30 Dick Smith cable (which is the same quality as the $12 Jaycar cable which I would *never* recommend), which for me had poor contacts after probably about 25 removal/connects (I moved my DVD player a lot for "tweaking", see http://www.tonyspage.dynodns.net for what I mean).

[ijd]

Anyway, I believe that a $80 cable from a boutique store would be no better then this $30 Jaycar cable, it really is good value for its quality.

Tony is right. For analogue (video or audio), the most expensive cables are only good value if you have high-end equipment. For digital (video or audio), a stretched coathanger or some wet string should be adequate for high-end equipment.

There is no doubt whatsoever that higher-grade copper conductors and better shielding will reduce losses and noise in the analogue signal, but you need to be driving 'reference standard' speakers to hear the difference, and probably true 1920x1080 HD to see the difference. Indeed, with my old reference standard audio system, even equipment placement affected the audio quality (drove my girlfriend nuts because I moved my amps out of the equipment racks to the middle of the floor for maximum sound quality :-).

2 cents worth on a very emotional topic,
Ian

[gibson]

Have found that cheapy Scart cables have a tendency to just crumble into pieces, like dust. The outside metal insert rips out because of the cable tension if there isnt enough glue holding it in.

And as for picture quality, yeah, it makes a difference. Colours deeper, skin tones better.

Worth $100? Up to you. :ph34r:

[Santa]

Just adding my 2c on this subject again...

The bigger the display, the more noticeable the cable quality (or lack of) - in general. For sets under 70-80cms, not so noticeable. For bigger sets or displays, the differences can show up. (If you can test on an old so-called "CRT" RGB scart fed projector pumping out a 100 inch image, you should be able to do a good comparison of cables!)
Also, it depends on the overall set-up you have ... if you've got spaghetti junction, with a mix of equipment types and new & old gear, etc, then the better shielding and build quality of good cables can help.
Finally, of course, there's longevity. However, in this day and age, when things are binned after five or less years, SCART will probably be history well before the cable gives up. (Though, if you're pluggin in/out alot, the better the construction, the longer it will last, and the less degradation of image as it ages).

[ritesh]

Hi,

Don't know about the SCART but I have everything connected via Component cables (monster) and whilst the picture from STB and DVD is great ! I wanted to improve my picture for the VHS and Sat. TV. which were just connected using a $12 Composite cables from Tandy. For me the colours were not accurate and the pictures were too soft !

I, tried a better set of composite cable, and for me it made a dramatic difference to the colours and overall picture. Not as good as Component ofcourse but a dramatic difference none-the-less.

Since that I have upgraded my composite cables !

Perhaps the cables that I had originally were really bad or something; but if it made a difference for composite cables; I presume there might also be difference in better quality SCART cables !

So my recommendation, buy the best you can afford,

cheers,

Ritesh

[Naarn]

Scart, scart, scart.... hate it, hate it, hate it.

I have an STB (Samsung SD) with scart out only. I also have a PJ (Benq PB6100) that has VGA, S-Video and Composite Input.

I was looking for a Scart -> S-video cable so I do my web research and think the $30 jaycar cable is the go. When I get to jaycar I realise that the signal direction is only S-video -> Scart and not Scart -> S-video. I asked the *guy* and he says go with the Scart to S-Video/Composite adapter and attach a S-video cable.

When I get home it doesn't work properly as the S-video part of the adpater is only for input only not output. I will be taking it back.

The search for the best Scart -> S-video or better still Scart to Component to VGA continues.

Naarn.

[tonymy01]

Use one of those adapters with the in/out switch on it. Given it is only used to present the pins in the scart adapter to the pins in the RCA/Svid sockets, quality isn't so important as a 1.5/3m run of cable (although would be nice to have gold-coloured pins for slightly better contact, but really, once you plug it in, you won't have to remove it again...)

[Naarn]

It is one of those adapters with the in/out switch on it. When it is switched to input it gives "monochrome PAL" according to the PJ. Fuzzy monochrome PAL if you ask me.

[tonymy01]

If you are plugging it into the TV SCART to connect the output of the STB to your TV, then you will need to set it to out, not in.
Regards

[catlike]

Scart, scart, scart.... hate it, hate it, hate it.

I have an STB (Samsung SD) with scart out only. I also have a PJ (Benq PB6100) that has VGA, S-Video and Composite Input.

I was looking for a Scart -> S-video cable so I do my web research and think the $30 jaycar cable is the go. When I get to jaycar I realise that the signal direction is only S-video -> Scart and not Scart -> S-video. I asked the *guy* and he says go with the Scart to S-Video/Composite adapter and attach a S-video cable.

When I get home it doesn't work properly as the S-video part of the adpater is only for input only not output. I will be taking it back.

The search for the best Scart -> S-video or better still Scart to Component to VGA continues.

Naarn.

I had EXACTLY the same problem. Dopey salesman telling me "this will definately work" only to get home and realise it was SVHS to scart (again). I found the right cable at Harvey Norman, the brand is real expensive, Stream or XStream? $139.95 for a 1.5m true Scart to S-Video - I told the sales guy that I wasn't that desperate so he knocked it down to 80 bucks just like that - unreal. He said they weren't moving?

This cable is Rolls Royce, it looks like I should be wearing it as jewellry. Anyway it works beautifully and I'm happy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[tonymy01]

$139.95 for a 1.5m true Scart to S-Video - I told the sales guy that I wasn't that desperate so he knocked it down to 80 bucks just like that - unreal. He said they weren't moving?

This cable is Rolls Royce, it looks like I should be wearing it as jewellry. Anyway it works beautifully and I'm happy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

LOL!@!!
That isn't too bad, if it looks like a bit of royal jewelry!

[Naarn]

If you are plugging it into the TV SCART to connect the output of the STB to your TV, then you will need to set it to out, not in.

Now Tony I hope your not one of these people who gets offended easily, but seriously, you think I didn't try that ? Just to make it clear, when I have it set to output the PJ autodetects fuzzy monochrome PAL 50 hz, when I have it set to input I get... nothing.

Naarn

[tonymy01]

Ok, but quoting from your previous message:

When it is switched to input it gives "monochrome PAL"

therefore I suggested it should be output.

But there is one more thing you have to do, you have to go into the menu system of your STB and set the output to SVIDEO/SVHS (could be called either of these, SVHS is not correct but manufacturers seem to use it), otherwise you will end up with only the Luminance of composite being seen (i.e. no colour).

Those IN/OUT connectors are *exactly* what you need, the salesman didn't pull a swifty on you!

Regards

[Naarn]

I will take your word for it and try it out.

The source of my problem could be my STB which only outputs Composite or Compoosite + RGB. It is a Samsung DTB-9401F which is far inferior to my strong 5390 in terms of signal strength and quality.

Plugged into exactly the same aerial connection the Strong picks up all channels with good signal, except for the occasional stutter on Ch. 7, whilst the Samsung misses 9 all together and is very choppy on ABC aswell. Also the Strong outputs via s-video and gives a fantastic picture through the PJ.

I am seriously thinking about taking the Samsung back and swapping it for a box with component out.

Naarn.

[Stux]

Hmmm

I would be surprised if an STB could only output Composite or RGB on its TV SCART. It seems to be fairly normal for STBs to at least output SVHS/S-Video as well, and its nice how some even output component (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Anywho, if you STB can't output SVHS on the SCARTs then its not Jaycar's fault (nor the lil ol SCART plugs fault (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) )

[Naarn]

Anywho, if you STB can't output SVHS on the SCARTs then its not Jaycar's fault (nor the lil ol SCART plugs fault )

True, and I am willing to admit it if I am wrong.