Why can't I see any difference between Video, S-Video & Component (I&P) picture quality?!?

Question

I have a 42" Panasonic Viera Plasma TV (new generation) & I've tested many DVDs using my Samsung DVD Player.
I've connected the DVD player using normal video input, S-video input & RGB (Component ports - both Interlaced & Progressive Scan) and I tell you that I can see simply no difference. Am I blind or is there anything wrong or actually there ain't no visible difference at all?!
One simple difference I found was between Component connections (Interlaced & Progressive) that in Progressive scan, the resolution was higher (device menus got smaller) but then again the frame-rate was lower like the motions in the movies wasn't smooth. Please tell me if there's any way to fix it. And I also appreciate if u tell me that if there's any difference between using specially-made Component Cables (pricey) or normal 3-way cables for component connection cuz I see none!
Best answerer wins 10 points.
Thank you.

Answer 1

For the video experts, they claim there is a difference. I agree with you, I fail to see any noticeable difference. So I just use the three cables, (video, audio left and audio right) for interconnect. As for cable to use, if you are talking about a 3 foot run or less, don't waste your money on the 'high-end' cables. They are NO better for feeding video or audio at that length.!! (Most are just hype, with gold plated connectors, performance: the same.) Similar to 'Video splitters'. Those coaxial cable cable splitters, (one in - two out ALL have a 3.5 db. loss, whether you pay 2.99 or 5.99 for them!!)

Answer 2

There is sooooooo much that could be going on here – difficult to diagnose your picture quality issues.

Something must be terribly wrong if you can’t see the difference between normal composite, S-video & component.

Start with the DVD “Digital Video Essentials” and optimize your Plasma. Watching the DVD will teach you how to make the most of your picture quality. It’s only $19 from Amazon.

Next, if you’re using the cables that came with your equipment, they’re worth what you paid for them. Discard them and at a minimum buy cables from RadioShack with the correct impedance and shielding. For best results - I recommend the cables from BetterCables.com - reasonably priced high-end cables.

You should find a noticeable improvement with those two actions.

If you’re unable to improve your picture I would suspect you need a new DVD player

Good Luck

Answer 3

It's probably largely a matter of personal taste. I myself can see the quality difference between composite ("normal") and component video inputs, but I honestly can't really distinguish between what my friends can identify as "good coffee" and "bad coffee"--it all tastes like "coffee" to me.

As for your frame-rate problems, that shouldn't be happening. It's possible that your DVD player isn't working properly, or there's some sort of conflict between your player and your TV in their settings--when a player is "progressive," what it's actually doing is pulling together the interlaced frames on your DVD and creating whole frames. So the picture you see shouldn't just be sharper, it should *move* more like film. I'm thinking there's something in the settings that just isn't right.

You should get one of your more tech-savvy friends (someone who *can* tell the difference) to come over and verify that your setup is optimal, and that there are no settings or connection problems that are giving you issues.

Answer 4

I don't blame you and don't feel bad. You are actually lucky you can't see the difference, because after you learn how to tell the difference, you will not be able to watch TV at your friends' house.

The main difference among all cables/setups is in "color bleeding". With Composite, colors bleed the most, S-Video less, and component the least. Look at the edges of objects. With component, color separation should be much better than with composite and the edges will look sharper. (It will be easier to detect that in a "frozen", static picture)

If possible, display on your TV the famous "color bars". Some DVDs include for free the THX Optimizer (for example, Finding Nemo delux edition) which I think includes color bars. Or try any home-theater DVD setup (like DVD video essentials). Then, color bleeding in the color bars will just pop-up.

Don't waste too much money on cables.

Answer 5

Are you matching the TV settings to the DVD player? I believe you need to fine tune the video settings depending on what the DVD player is outputting. ie : 16:9 vs 4:3, 720i vs 720p etc.

Also, I am of the opinion that the factory settings for brightness, contrast color, tint and sharpness are all wrong and you won't get the best picture unless you change them.

Answer 6

Anthony is ideal. besides to element basically being analog, you nonetheless choose one extra 2 wires for audio, or a toslink or optical cable for audio. HDMI is one cable. It sends finished HD (now maxed at 1080P, besides the indisputable fact that the specification is going a lot larger) AND digital audio via that similar unmarried cable. besides the glaring bulk of a wad of element cables and audio all strapped at the same time, there is extra lack of signal over cables that are overly lengthy. HDMI also helps administration alerts via the cable. for instance, my Samsung Blu-Ray participant will actual turn my Samsung television on and turn to the Blu-Ray source when I insert a disk into the tray.

Answer 7

Maybe it is your eyes, I could tell the difference between say the old one video plug to the component video.!!!

Answer 8

it's not just that easy, you need to go into your tv menu and change its settings as well. Plasma sucks anyway, but upping the setting may increase pic quality. can't recall what the setting is called though...hope you can find it.