Video Cables
 

Hey guys,

I was wondering where you all get your analog video interconnects?

I need an S-video cable. I was recommended Monoprice.com, but there appear to be varying opinions about the quality of their analog cables.

Thanks all.

I have always bought my cables from flea markets and similar places, for $1-3 each depending on length. I have maybe had one cable go bad in the past 20 years out of many dozens I have used and repeatedly connected. Monoprice probably sells better quality cables than what I use.

Doesn't using inferior cables hurt the picture?

I too have rarely had a cable outright break, but I've seen cables that let through interference or deteriorate the picture in any number of ways.

I've never had a problem with Monoprice's cables (whereas I've had 2 much pricier Best Buy cables that were DOA out of the original packaging and had to be returned). As long as the shield ground has continuity S-video cables shouldn't let interference through.

I make my own coax.

Both the balun and the 75 ohm jack on my TV here are using RG6 cables I made myself: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...gon/cables.jpg

I got my HDMI cables from Frys while I was in Chicago. They had a whole shopping cart of 6 foot cables for $1.49. They work perfectly.

I believe HDMI is a different story, as digital connections have a completely different set of requirements.

Schmidt, I have some S-video cables that let through interference that show up as moving 'waves' on the picture, does that mean the cable is improperly made? It's quite thin.

Just wondering, guys.

If you swap those suspect cables with another and the interference goes away, then yes, they are bad. Specifically, it sounds like their shield/ground connections are bad.

I have rarely had trouble with any analog cables at all, and none of my digital cables have gone bad either.

The only problems I have with consumer grade RCA cables are the connectors
which seem to be made with very thin, cheap metal that will work their way loose and cause an intermittent connection. I did have one triple RCA cable that lost the video ground/shield wire connection on one end that caused moire in the picture.
I've never had a problem with any S-video cables including some I've had for many years.
Cliff