Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: RoboG2 on March 15, 2005, 06:17:39 pm
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I want to be able to plug two component video cable from two separate sources into the back of my tv, which only has one component input. Is there a component video "merger" I can buy? I've seen coaxial, composite, and s-video, but no component.
One more thing; I just bought a 27" Flat-tube Toshiba TV. It isnt HDTV, but I can definetely see the difference between a regular broadcast and one in HDTV. I am definetely going to use component input for my dvd player (also toshiba with "colorstream"), but is s-video good enough for xbox (which supports HDTV)? Thanks in advance.
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Depending on how well it's made, you could just buy a cheap Composite + Stereo audio switcher. Use the composite i/o ports for the Y cable, and the Left/Right ports for the Cb and Cr cables.
So long as they have it adequately shielded and use short wires inside to do the join, it shouldn't affect video quality too much. You will have to then use a separate switch to do the audio switching.
Or, the other thing you could do is get a SVideo switch that also switches a composite signal at the same time. However this one would require you to convert the Cr and Cb cables into a Svideo plug and then again on the other side. This means your Cr/Cb is switched on a Y/C pins of the svideo port, and the Y switched on your composite port, while your stereo audio could still be switched by the audio ports.
LMK if you need a diagram for this.
Alternately, you could just buy a low end Pioneer receiver that offers Component A/V switching (and probably upgrade your sound system at the same time..unless you have a really good receiver as it is)
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It IS possible to just use RCA splitters on each of the cables (Y, Pb, Cr), however only 1 component can be on at any given time. I did this on my HDTV between my HD reciever and my DVD player. I suppose this might be dangerous as you could damage your TV if it doesn't have sircuitry to protect it from going out of range. Otherwise its cheap and it works. As for using a composite + stereo switcher I have tried this, it works; however on my TV the picture quality was degraded, only after I purchased a $100 powered switcher did the picture look "normal".
Going from S-Video to component on an X-Box you SHOULD notice a big difference in the color. Component provides much more rich colors, but it depends on your tv. If you can't notice a difference between component and s-vid on your DVD player, you probably won't notice any difference on your X-Box. Hope this helps.
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I think I'll just go with component on my DVD player and s-video on my xbox. Thank you so much for your help.
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You can get component switch boxes for pretty cheap. Although mad catz isn't the greatest brand, I got theirs and it's pretty good for ~25 bucks. I see no signal loss whatsoever. The only issue thats been had with the madcatz are for those who are using it for HD, but even then it's not everyone.
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It isnt HDTV, but I can definetely see the difference between a regular broadcast and one in HDTV.
How do you watch an HDTV broadcast on an regular TV?
Art
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most set top boxes will let you watch HDTV in 480i through component which is basically just DVD quality - still looks good though!