I tried about 6 different comonent video cables at all price points and experienced little if any differences. Based on this, I concluded that video cables were video cables and they were all the same so why waste money. Then my dealer told me to try the Purist Audio Ferox component video cables. Made a HUGE difference in picture quality. More detail and texture. A year later, I'm still in awe. Try to demo them from the Cable Company in New Hope, PA. |
Get some or make your own using Belden 1694A RG6 coax. The Belden will work great for your digital audio connections, too.
This stuff is solid center conductor so it's not super flexible, but for me that's not a problem. Belden makes similar cable with stranded center conductor but the specs are not quite as good. Whether or not you would see or hear a difference, I can't answer. |
"many A'goner's will argue I am on glue and that their is no difference between video cables"
All you have to do is compare two sets of component cables. The difference in picture quality between my Comcast cables and my Monster cables is day and night. The Comcast cables yield a very bright and colorful picture, almost artifical looking compared to my Monster set. |
"Silver is a bad idea because it can tarnish very easily and depending on how the wire is terminated could seriously affect how long the cable will maintain optimal performance.
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Cinematic_systems, I've been using silver (not silver coated) audio cables for many years without any apparent long term effect. Are you saying there is something to this for video cables? It raises some concern, as I just finished evaluating long component cables and selected Bettercables Silver Serpent Reference over the Bluejeans Belden 7710A. The serpents produced a slightly more detailed picture, and the color was a bit more saturated (without looking cartoony). Is there any real reason to reconsider simply because these are silver coated copper conductors? |
Do you have BNC native jacks or RCA? I am going to assume RCA on both ends. I see you have a rear projection LCD. Cables may not make a huge difference. Heartlandcables.com tend to be cost effective. Radio Shack Fusion Gold were good when they made them. They do something cheaper now. Bluejeanscable.com, bettercables.com, and cobaltcables.com make decent stuff as well. Monster tends to be expensive relative to value. |
I have been enjoying a bunch of Have stuff for years. All but one S video cable have worked flawlessly. I suspect it's more the nature of those delicate connections inherenet in S video rather Have's fault. Cheap and good. The fellows on AVS Forum tout the Blue Jeans cables often. |
The one place in a system where cables can make a huge difference is video.
To be honest the MIT stuff is extraordinary video cable. They are the masters of this domain.
And I think $175 will get you the best video cable technology on the market.
"I for one find this a tough pill to swallow when we are a group of people who spend more than many do for all their components on cables, how can we discriminate against video cables vs. audio????"
I agree KennyT, if you're not spending $75 on you component cables, it is likely that the cables are truncating your video bandwidth. Silver is a bad idea because it can tarnish very easily and depending on how the wire is terminated could seriously affect how long the cable will maintain optimal performance.
Also make sure the dialectric is bonded to the center conductor so that gaps are prevented and impedance problems are avoided. I could go on but hopefully someone else can jump in and add some of the other prereq's for a good video cable. |
Bignerd100, I must disagree.
I used to use whatever cable for video... then I bought a Nordost Optix S (S-Video) cable from Sancuary of Sound, and replaced what I was using (Monster M1000) and the difference was clearly obvious even on my ~30" Proscan... While I have not done a significant comparison of component cables (I knew I'd end up using DVI in a short enough time to not bother) I must logically assume their IS a differnce...
Now, on the flip side of the coin... many A'goner's will argue I am on glue and that their is no difference between video cables.... I for one find this a tough pill to swallow when we are a group of people who spend more than many do for all their components on cables, how can we discriminate against video cables vs. audio???? |
I just bought a nice set from a seller here on audiogon. E-ticketcables. Only payed $60. I have been using his audio cables for awhile, with good results, so I tried them out. I just got them this week, but so far, so good. |
I suggest you look at the cables made by BetterCables.com. I own several of their products, including the Silver Serpent component video cables, and their price and performance is excellent (they've also gotten very good professional reviews). Here's the link to their web site:
www.bettercables.com |
Though it is blasphemous to say so on this site... cables are not likely to make a huge difference. Audition a $300 set of component video cables from your local dealer along with a $15 set of component video cables. If you can tell a difference then start looking for the ones you like. That money would be better spent on an ISF calibration on the display. This will allow that big bad Sony television to do all it is cappable of. Even with test discs like Avia there is only so much that can be done. An ISF guy will have lots of expensive gizmoes to calibrate the set and more importantly training on how to use those gizmoes. I think that they usually charge less than $300 to do a calibration depending on the display type. If i'm not mistaken the new Sony LCD rear projection televisions are a little difficult for even an ISF guy to work on.
Good luck! |
