I've just bought a Topfield TF4000T STB. At home I have a Loewe Xelos 5381 TV. I'm at work at the moment, so I'm jumping the gun a bit, but what is the best way to hook this up to get the best picture? My Toshiba DVD is hooked up, scart to scart, direct to one of the component scarts on the back of the TV. It has 3 scart connectors on the back of it. This Topfield STB came with 2 scart leads, but neither have scart connectors on both ends. Is that the best way to get the best picture? Scart on the STB, to scart on the TV? Sorry if this all sounds a bit newb-ish. But I am. I bought a $200 AudioQuest scart to scart lead for the DVD hookup. Should I be buying a dedicated scart to scart lead for this STB in order to get the very best picture out of it? Not necessarily $200 again, but will a decent dedicated component lead get me a better picture? Any info appreciated, and I hope I made sense in there somewhere...

Any general Topfield to Xelos setup and hookup info would be appreciated if anyone has the time or inclination. As stated, I'm all a bit new to this.

cheers
k00k

SCART to SCART, RGB. You can't get any better, really!
It will autoswitch the TV to that AV input when the STB is out of standby, and autoswitch the widescreen mode of the TV.
I run SCART to SCART RGB from my TF5000 to my Loewe Profil, and using the SCART passthru of the TF5000 to run my DVD player also with RGB (the Profil only has one RGB input, the other is svid/composite) and it all works very well.
Regards

I think my Xelos has 2 RGB, which is great, because the TF4000T doesnt have an RGB scart bypass. I'm pretty sure my DVD is hooked up to the Component on the Xelos, so i just have to figure out which of the other 2 scarts is RGB. So, I assume, I should be going and buying a dedicated scart to scart lead? Do Dick Smith/Tandy sell any half decent ones, or should I be heading to an audio/visual shop?

cheers
k00k

I'd just be going to Jaycar.... personally ( and I don't want to start a flamer here) I think cables like moster are all hype....


cheers,

Yep, the Jaycar "Concord" SCART-SCART for $30 is brilliant value, the $30 Dick Smith one is very poor value (same quality as the Jaycar $10 one).
I have linked to pics of the good ConCord cable not so long ago, but here it is again:
http://tonyspage.abock.de/topfieldpics/jaycar/
Cheers

The Xelos 5381 Scart connections are:

AV1
Composite, s-video

AV2
Composite, s-video, RGB

AV3
Composite, s-video, RGB, component

Presumably, you are already using AV3 for your DVD player if it is connected via component so AV2 will be your only choice for your STB using RGB.

Well, I got it all hooked up. Using the supplied scart to hook into an AV RCA converter on the scart on the TV. I will definitely be changing and getting a dedicated scart to scart connector. The supplied lead has already broken away from its moulding when I tried to press it home. Total junk. Anyway, what I cant figure out is that now my Xelos is saying that there is no stereo sound? It is set to stereo on the STB. The red, white and yellow leads are all in their correct spots. Picture is excellent, and I imagine will improve with a decent direct scart lead. Any clues as to why I have lost stereo when I listen to the sound through the TV? All it has in the Xelos sound menu choice now is "Mono" and "Mono!" ? Any info appreciated. And thanks for all the help so far.

EDIT: And yes, I'm using RGB on AV2. The DVD is Component on AV3.

cheers
k00k

??The red, white and yellow leads?

Are you running these from the back of the Toppy to the front AV connections on the TV? If so, you are connecting composite video plus left and right audio from the Toppy to the TV. If *yes*, remove because ...

... page 23 of the XELOS TV manual indicates all three of the SCARTS receive the various vision signals (as per another post) AND the left + right audio signals.

Therefore, a fully wired SCART to SCART cable, from Toppy to AV2 of TV, is most likely remedy to convey RGB vision and L + R audio.

Others - is the Jaycar Concord fully wired? Please confirm. Thx.

Good luck. Let us know.

R

He doesn't have the Jaycar concord, he is using a bunch of adapters, it was me who suggested to buy the concord lead. edit: hmm, either you edited your post, or I can't read, when I first read you post I thought you were asking kook about the concord lead.... doh! Yep, this lead is fully wired.
I guess it is best to hook up with scart-scart, but I don't really know why the Loewe thinks the signal is mono, it must be a Loewe setting, as really, it doesn't know if the av is mono or stereo as it can't really "sense" a L&R RCA connection.
Regards

??The red, white and yellow leads?

Are you running these from the back of the Toppy to the front AV connections on the TV? If so, you are connecting composite video plus left and right audio from the Toppy to the TV. If *yes*, remove because ...

... page 23 of the XELOS TV manual indicates all three of the SCARTS receive the various vision signals (as per another post) AND the left + right audio signals.

Therefore, a fully wired SCART to SCART cable, from Toppy to AV2 of TV, is most likely remedy to convey RGB vision and L + R audio.

Others - is the Jaycar Concord fully wired? Please confirm. Thx.

Good luck. Let us know.

R

[/quote]

Yes, red, white and yellow. I'm using the connector that came with my stereo VCR. Looks like that may never have actually been in stereo? I tried wiring the supplied Topfield scart with the scart end at the TV, and the red, white and yellow into the Topfield. Same deal. No stereo on the TV. I guess I need a fully wired scart to scart lead. I'll pick one up tomorrow. I have a QED SQART Dual Screen Silver Reference AV Cable running from my DVD to AV3 on the TV. That thing is a bloody work of art and beautifully made. Currently anything would be better than the supplied Topfield scart cable. I'll let you know how I go. I'm still very impressed with the picture. Hopefully I may improve it further with a decent cable.

cheers
k00k

Thanks Tony. I'll see if I can get one today. I saw the DickSmith one. Didn't look much better than the supplied Topfield one. I cant see the Concord listed on the Jaycar website. I'll give them a call shortly. Thanks for your help.

cheers
k00k

The Jaycar one isn't listed as ConCord (Jaycar very rarely brand sell), that just happens to be the brand of the cable. It is the $27.95 cable part no WQ7248
http://www1.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?...eMax=&SUBCATID=

Thanks Tony. I'm onto it. Looks like I could have a decent walk ahead of me for lunch today. I'm looking forward to seeing the difference with this new cable, after seeing this link in another thread. I'll be switching from Composite to RGB.

http://www.hifi-writer.com/he/video/index.htm

cheers
k00k

Well, I got my Xelos hooked up with a new scart to scart RGB cable. I ended up getting an Avico HTC1915 for $30 which seems pretty well made.

Anyway, I'm still having dramas. In the sound menu on the Xelos, the sound options are still only Mono or Mono! . The Stereo option has disappeared altogether. This is for sound via the TV. I dont want to have to run my Hi-Fi all the time. Also when I try to access AV2 to adjust it to RGB, I cant. I presume I am supposed to access AV2 and set it to RGB. For my DVD, I can access AV3, and it is set to Component Y from memory. Anyway, it works fine. It wont let me make any adjustments to AV2 at all. Its almost as if it doesnt want me to see it anymore. I have the Toppy set to stereo. Any clues or help appreciated. I am totally stumped.

By the way, I have my VCR disconnected at the moment. Thats not part of the equation is it? I've also removed it from the AV Connections menu.

cheers
k00k

Like I said previously, I don't believe your TV can determine mono or stereo from AV connections (or from the audio in the SCART connector). So either it *is* stereo (get a good MP3 or something that you know has good left and right seperation), or a setting needs to be altered in your TV.
Regards

The only reason I'm concerned is that it has always been on as "Stereo" in the menu. I have never seen the "Mono!" sign until I hooked the STB up yesterday. I'll keep fiddling with it. I've just disconnected and removed everything and am going to set it up from scratch.

cheers
kook

I assume you've selected STB as the device connected to AV2? If so, I have also noticed that it doesn't allow you to specify the type of video signal coming from the STB. It's not really an issue with a RGB signal via Scart because of the RGB blanking voltage that is also transmitted.

If you would prefer to select the signal type for AV2, select 'other component' rather than STB. It should then prompt you to select the signal type. Selecting 'other component' rather than STB makes no other difference.

Unfortunately, I can't offer any suggestions to the problem you're having with the mono audio.

Thanks Markdi. I actually managed to figure that bit out purely by mucking around. I now have the STB selected as Other Component on AV2 and receiving RGB. Still cant figure the Stereo issue out though. And lots of Googling doesnt help either. I will fix it. I'm determined.

I just watched the start of CSI:Miami. Damn, thats a great picture I have now!

cheers
k00k