Picture Quality Difference, using S-Video or COAX

[dynamix]

I have a quick question about video cables and picture quality.

My setup is: COAX -> digital cable box -> COAX -> PVR-350

And it works fine. However, would I get better picture quality if I went:

COAX -> digital cable box -> S-Video -> PVR-350?

My digital cable box can output svideo, component, or coax.

The main reason I'm asking, is because when I copy sage.tv files to a PC and view them, they always seem a little fuzzy. Was wondering if s-video would sharpen them up.

Thought it might be best to ask before I go changing things... (it's a pain to move cables around behind my TV)

Thanks. -PM

[pcuoco]

In analog video S-video will absolutely look better than coax. In terms of quality it goes like this:

Coax - combines all video and audio information into 1 wire = worst quality

S-video - separates chroma and luminance video values into 2 wires (1 connector) and audio is physically separated = better

By separating the signals in different wire paths you get better signal quality for both audio and video with less noise which will equal better recordings.

[jenkins_pete]

Related question: I am using S-video with an analog cable signal. To my eyes it looks great, would it look much better getting a DVI to Component out (the Toshiba TV accepts component in)? Anyone have experience between component / s-video? This is not a hdef TV, just a regular unit.

Thanks!

[mdmint]

Originally Posted by jenkins_pete

Related question: I am using S-video with an analog cable signal. To my eyes it looks great, would it look much better getting a DVI to Component out (the Toshiba TV accepts component in)? Anyone have experience between component / s-video? This is not a hdef TV, just a regular unit.

Thanks!

I saw a noticable difference SVideo versus component output, not huge but noticable to me. It was not totally apples for apples however since SVideo was 480i and I component output at 480p.

[dynamix]

Originally Posted by pcuoco

In analog video S-video will absolutely look better than coax. In terms of quality it goes like this:

Coax - combines all video and audio information into 1 wire = worst quality

S-video - separates chroma and luminance video values into 2 wires (1 connector) and audio is physically separated = better

By separating the signals in different wire paths you get better signal quality for both audio and video with less noise which will equal better recordings.

Hrm, ok I'll give it a try. I would think there would be no difference on the analog channels, but on the digital channels there might be a difference.

I guess my original thinking was, since it's COAX going into the cable box, why not just use COAX into the PVR-350.

[stanger89]

But by going with S-Video you avoid an extra remodulation step.