Questions about Digital vs Analogue hookups

[BJ James]

Hi folks,
I recently purchased a Pioneer 1015 and a set of decent 6.1 speakers. I currently have a Pioneer 5 disc DVD/CD player, a casette deck, and a VCR. My TV is a 32" CRT (not HD) that has S video and component ins. The DVD player has S video and component video outs and toslink and digital coax, and RCA audio outs. Right now I'm just using S video cables to hook video up, and RCA for the audio. Will using the component connections be better even if I'm not running HD? What would you folks recommend for hookups with what I am using. The tape deck and VCR all use regular RCA cables. Wife like to record TV shows with the VCR(we will get a DVD-recorder sometime in the future)
I have everything working right now, but just want to optimize everything.
TIA,
BJ

As a side note I'm an old fart(41), thats why I have a casette and VCR. Those were the cool things when I was younger. I only just yesterday took my turntable out of the system....ah the good old days, lol.

 

[avliner]

Hi,

I wouldn't say I'm an old fart either (... just 49 3/4), but I do have the same gears as you do (+ a turntable, of course).

Yes, you'll get a better picture by using the component Video (Red, Blue, Green) cable from DVD to TV.
You'll also have a better sound using the optical and/or coax digital.
For the VCR, keep using the S-Video & standard RCA audio cables (red/white) and you'll be ok.

Let us know about your upgrades.

Chees / Avliner

 

[Tritonman]

Using component cables will optimize your viewing experience. As far as your VCR is concerned..if all it has is standard RCA then thats the best you will get unless it has S-Video.

Connection Ratio in order of top to bottom...

1)* HDMI, DVI, Component (HDMI has slight advantage of being able to transmit sound as well as video)
2) S-Video
3) RCA
4) Coax


*note..generally the 3 connections are the same..but depending on your video display each one may have a benefit on the other. Unfortunately the only way to confirm this is by trial and error.


As far as using Tosling or Coaxial for digital audio...unless you have surround speakers then using the coaxial or toslink will not reap any benefits..unless your tv have some type of internal Digital decoder to simulate surround sound virtually using a digital input.

 

[avliner]

BJ,

one more info: without either OPTICAL DIGITAL OR COAX DIGITAL, there's no way to enjoy DTS and/or DOLBY DIGITAL multichannel options. Now you have a 1015 Pioneer + a 6.1 speakers setup; therefore you MUST choose between OPTICAL or DIGITAL COAXIAL (both are ok).

Cheers / Avliner

 

[BJ James]

Thanks guys. Just got the digital coax for the DVD to receiver. Just have to change up my assignments when I get home. Will have to get some component cables. Are they the same as rca cable minus the color coding? I got tons of that stuff laying around if it will work.
Thanks.
BJ

 

[j_garcia]

An analog cable may or may not work, but I can guarantee you a regular composite video (yellow) will work as coaxial digital conforms to basically the same cable standard.

 

[jcPanny]

Video quality

BJ,
The component video cable will improve your picture quality if your DVD player is capable of a "progressive scan" 480p signal. If your DVD does not have this than hold off on the video cables until you purchase a progressive scan or upscalling DVD player.

 

[BJ James]

OK, I'll check that first.
Thanks

 

[BJ James]

I'm Back.
OK I got digital coax hooked from DVD to Receiver. The receiver now displays that it is receiving digital signal. Perfect.
Now, I tried component video cables from DVD to TV and S-Video from DVD to Receiver to see if there was any difference. There is. The component input seems to be slightly more defined. Not a lot but noticable. The new TV I have is a Toshiba 32" flat screen CRT. The manual stated that it can only receive 480i but not 480p(progressive scan.) My DVD player is a Pioneer 5 disc player...sorry forgot the model#...it's about 4 years old. Still works fine for me. If I can't use 480p into the TV will going to a progressive scan DVD down the road be a problem? How about if/when I get a DVD recorder?
Also, what are the pro's and con's of hooking up the video out of the DVD(and VCR) to the receiver first, vs going directly to the TV. The TV has 4 inputs. 1 S-video/rca, 2 rca, 1 component. I run stereo outs of the TV to the receiver too.
Thanks for the help and advice so far.
BJ

 

[j_garcia]

The advantage of having the video run through the receiver is that it automatically selects the correct video and audio when you choose that source. The negative would be that you have to have the receiver on to watch any sources that pass through the receiver. If you aren't going to use the receiver to switch video, then there's pretty much no benefit at all.

 

[avliner]

BJ,

consider this: whenever possible, use COMPONENT VIDEO all the way around, in order to get the best picture, followed by S-video & only then by composite video cable.
You've seen by yourself the improvement in picture quality, didn't you?

Another advantage on the compoment video option is that they're 75ohm rated, thus being able for progressive scan signal (you won't get it thru either S-video or composite), but in that case BOTH, your TV & DVD PLAYER must be Progressive scan compatibles.

You've mentioned that your "new" tv set is a 32" flat...
If it's not progressive scan at all and you can return it, get a similar model, but with the progressive scan chipset. Most probalby your DVD player is, so you'll then have a perfect match for the best possible image on the analog domain.

Considering the receiver you have now, the logical way is to connect all your gears into the receiver and then to the TV ( you'll have a much better sound & probably image). In this case, you'll have to run 01 more set of component cables from your dvd to the correspondent input in receiver and from receiver's monitor output to your TV set.

Any doubts, let us know.

Cheers / Avliner

 

[jcPanny]

TV component input

If you limited to a 480i input signal on your TV, then don't bother upgrading to a progressive scan or upscalling DVD player until you get a new TV.

 

[j_garcia]

BJ,Another advantage on the compoment video option is that they're 75ohm rated, thus being able for progressive scan signal (you won't get it thru either S-video or composite), but in that case BOTH, your TV & DVD PLAYER must be Progressive scan compatibles.

A few clarifications here:

75 Ohm has nothing to do with a cable's ability to pass progressive scan. ALL video cables, component or composite, are 75 Ohm (not sure about s-vid).

You've mentioned that your "new" tv set is a 32" flat...
If it's not progressive scan at all and you can return it, get a similar model, but with the progressive scan chipset. Most probalby your DVD player is, so you'll then have a perfect match for the best possible image on the analog domain.

TVs are not "progressive scan", they are HD capable, and he already said his is not.

Considering the receiver you have now, the logical way is to connect all your gears into the receiver and then to the TV ( you'll have a much better sound & probably image). In this case, you'll have to run 01 more set of component cables from your dvd to the correspondent input in receiver and from receiver's monitor output to your TV set.

I don't remember if the 1015 does video upconversion, but if it doesn't, then there is no way for it to improve the video in any way.

 

[BJ James]

Thanks guys. I'm on the right track. This system is a fairly low budget, semi-low tech system for our living room. We have a rec room/bar area downstairs that we will be reno-ing next year. Projector system and high tech sound all the way. I'll be back to read up on that before I purchase anything.

Since I have to change input on the TV to switch from watching TV(regular cable), to a different input for the receiver anyways, I think I'll just run the video(DVD component/VCR rca) direct to TV, and just send audio(DVD digital coax/ VCR rca) to the receiver.
Thanks,
BJ