Component video, composite video, and RCA jacks...they're all the same, right?

[kvrdave]

aren't they?

[X]

Yes

[clemente]

No (if I'm not mistaken)

I thought composite and RCA were used interchangeable - three cords, one red, one yellow, one white. Generally lower video quality.

Component is three cables, gree, blue, red, generally considered to be of much higher quality than RCA cables if you're equipment supports it.

[X]

No

[collven]

You can use any set of RCA cables for component or composite, as long as you have 3 connections on each end. A dedicated set of component cables may or may not be better than a set of composite cables, but most likely not. You could always buy a set of composite cables and use them, as long as you match the colors on each end. In other words, use yellow for green on each end, red for red, and white for blue, and it would work just fine.

[X]

Maybe

[BigPete]

Traditionally, it has been noted that the yellow video cable is of higher quality that the red and white cables in a matched set. Go figure.

[OldDude]

Well, they all have RCA jacks on them.

The composite video cable (usually marked by yellow jacks) may be just the video cable, or a three cable bundle of the video cable (yellow jacks) and two audio cables (marked with red and white jacks to indicate left and right audio channels). The red and white cables may not be satisfactory for video - well ' cause they're audio cables. If you had three yellow video cables, you could use them for component video (if you could keep all the ends straight), but you shouldn't use the red and white for video.

Component cables (usually red, green and blue jacks) are three video cables bundled together for the three video signals in component video. You still need a left/right audio cable for the audio.

[OldDude]

Originally posted by X
Maybe

Way to commit.

[Tsar Chasm]

More fun with cables:

http://www.hometheatersound.com/features/videonoise/vn_20020401.htm

[Frank S]

Not even close! Composite is vastly inferior to Component is! And you are mixing cable types and plug types here by comparing RCA and Component/Composite! RCA is merely the type of plug used on cable ends and the other two are cable types for different quality video technology.

Listed from best to worse:

RGBHV/VGA
Component
S-Video
Composite
RF (combines audio/video)

[Josh Z]

Yes, a component connection is much better than a composite connection. However, the cables themselves are exactly the same.

There are only two types of RCA cables: Video (yellow) and audio (red and white). The video cables have a better impedance rating. The audio cables are not suitable for transmitting a video signal.

A set of "component video cables" is nothing more than three Video-type RCA cables that have been bundled together and color-coded.

A "coaxial digital audio cable" is also just a Video RCA cable given a fancy name and a higher price tag.

If you are looking to save money on cabling, rather than buying a set of "component video cables", you can easily purchase three yellow Video RCA cables and use them instead, so long as you keep track of which component color you connect each to.

[steebo777]

Actually Josh Z, component and digital coax cables are a bit different than "normal" composite video cables.

- "Good" component cables need a frequency rating of 75mHz. This is for transmitting any HD signals.

- "Ok" component cables are rated at 50Mhz, which is fine for any other video transmission, like a progressive scan DVD player.

- Digital coax cables are rated at 75 OHM (edited for self stupidity).

- "Normal" composite video cables are rated at 33mHz (again, if I'm not mistaken).

There's alot of good info that can be found here (http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?&postid=652769#post652769)

[Josh Z]

Steebo, I believe you are incorrect.

From my understanding, "Video" RCA cables, component cables, and digital coax cables are all the same thing and should all be rated at 75 ohms. "Audio" RCA cables are rated at only 50 ohms and are not suitable for video transmission.

[X]

steebo777 is talking bandwidth here, not merely impedance.

[steebo777]

Yeah I am talking about bandwidth. Impedence I have no clue what the specs are. But hey, I could be wrong on the bandwidth part. I have been looking around on the net for some data to backup what I said, but haven't found anything yet.

[audrey]

Originally posted by Josh Z
"Audio" RCA cables are rated at only 50 ohms and are not suitable for video transmission.
Unlike video, there is no standard impedance for audio cables. Take a look at the specs from various brands/models and you'll see that they are all over the map.

[Josh Z]

Originally posted by X
steebo777 is talking bandwidth here, not merely impedance.

Are cables even marketed at different bandwidth ratings? I know that video switching devices are, but I've never seen "75 mHz Componet Cables" on a shelf. They are marketed by type (Component, Composite, etc), but beyond that any other differences seem to be just marketing spin (i.e. Monster pricing their cables through the roof because of the special magic that makes them extra good: "The way we twist the wires results in an astronomically better picture!".)

[drmoze]

Y'know, "bandwidth" and "impedance" are very much interrelated. Posting a bit of half-knowledge is a dangerous thing...

[X]

Originally posted by drmoze
Y'know, "bandwidth" and "impedance" are very much interrelated. Posting a bit of half-knowledge is a dangerous thing... Perhaps you could enlighten us then instead of merely criticizing.

[X]

Originally posted by Josh Z
Are cables even marketed at different bandwidth ratings? I know that video switching devices are, but I've never seen "75 mHz Componet Cables" on a shelf. Neither have I. Different quality cables are able to carry a particular signal longer distances with varying amounts of effect on that signal.