£120 scart leads - are they worth it?

[Darren A]

Just bought an LG 42PC1D TV, to be connected to an Sky+ box.

A few questions for those better informed on these things than myself!!

1) I assume the best connection between the 2 is a scart connection?

2) There is an RS232 output on the Sky+ box, can I plug this into the RGB input on the TV?

3) If the RS232 output to RGB input is possible, will it be better than the scart connection?

4) I guess the biggest question (because I think the answer to 1) above is "Yes") is - Is it worth spending £120 on solid gold scart leads to imrove the picture quality?

Thank in advance

Darren

[Scuttler]

Originally Posted by Darren A

Just bought an LG 42PC1D TV, to be connected to an Sky+ box.

A few questions for those better informed on these things than myself!!

1) I assume the best connection between the 2 is a scart connection?

2) There is an RS232 output on the Sky+ box, can I plug this into the RGB input on the TV?

3) If the RS232 output to RGB input is possible, will it be better than the scart connection?

4) I guess the biggest question (because I think the answer to 1) above is "Yes") is - Is it worth spending £120 on solid gold scart leads to imrove the picture quality?

Thank in advance

Darren

The best output is usually component video followed by composite and then scart.
With the equipment you've described Solid Gold Scarts would be a complete waste of money. You'd be unlikely to notice much difference to either the audio or the video.
Save yourself £100 and use the money to buy me a couple of beers

[Wacker]

Originally Posted by Scuttler

The best output is usually component video followed by composite and then scart.
With the equipment you've described Solid Gold Scarts would be a complete waste of money. You'd be unlikely to notice much difference to either the audio or the video.
Save yourself £100 and use the money to buy me a couple of beers

Yep I agree scart is a poor option conection wise.
seperate leads for audio and video can shield the signals much better than all the leads in one cable as in a scart.
componant is the best if you have that option then red green blue and lastly scart

[Darren A]

Pooh. Just checked the back of the sky+ box, and there's no component output, just RS232, scart and normal coaxil.

[PFMac]

Try Ixos or Qed Squart, they are excellent (Professional & audiophile grade) leads and retail aroud £35 - £75 mark.

I have both and prefer QED on RGB to feed a CRT TV from high end DVD player and Ixos are on my other video sources.

If you really wish to improve your picture put what youv'e saved towards a video scaler (eg. Iscan HD) - though benefits of this are only really observed in large screen and projection images - High def or component connections are really the way forward these days.

Hope this helps

[dlegros]

Originally Posted by Scuttler

The best output is usually component video followed by composite and then scart.
With the equipment you've described Solid Gold Scarts would be a complete waste of money. You'd be unlikely to notice much difference to either the audio or the video.
Save yourself £100 and use the money to buy me a couple of beers

Ex-squeeze me!?

I would agree that component is good (but not as good as HDMI).

SCART is only a plug, it is not a connection standard. It supports RGB, S-Video and Composite video.

I use RGB scart for my interconnections via QED cable - it is infinitely superior to composite video, which is only beaten in poor quality stakes by RF.

Darren, try asking at Richer Sounds, they used to do interconnect boxes you could borrow (leaving a deposit) and try out to see if there was any difference.

Dom

[Darren A]

Originally Posted by dlegros

Ex-squeeze me!?

I would agree that component is good (but not as good as HDMI).

SCART is only a plug, it is not a connection standard. It supports RGB, S-Video and Composite video.

I use RGB scart for my interconnections via QED cable - it is infinitely superior to composite video, which is only beaten in poor quality stakes by RF.

Darren, try asking at Richer Sounds, they used to do interconnect boxes you could borrow (leaving a deposit) and try out to see if there was any difference.

Dom

Hi Dom

You really are a star when it comes to Sky etc!! I think i'm a bit shafted then as the only outputs from the Sky box are RS232, scart and RF.

It's really frustrating though, as the freeview (BBC1,2,3,4 ITV1,2,3,4 etc) which came free with the TV is fantastic quality, and that is only coming from the 20 year old aireal on the roof, and into the telly on a normal RF coaxil :-(

[Scuttler]

Originally Posted by dlegros

SCART is only a plug, it is not a connection standard. It supports RGB, S-Video and Composite video.

True.....but you tend to find as you move towards high end systems that the signals get routed down independantly shielded cables. There are some good Scarts out there on the market but i seriously doubt with the Sky box and the LG that Darren is going to notice a significant difference between a £30 Scart and a £120 scart.

[milldog]

i have some gold spray you can have for £60

£120 your getting paid to much!!

[dlegros]

Originally Posted by Scuttler

True.....but you tend to find as you move towards high end systems that the signals get routed down independantly shielded cables. There are some good Scarts out there on the market but i seriously doubt with the Sky box and the LG that Darren is going to notice a significant difference between a £30 Scart and a £120 scart.

Very true, but he will notice a difference between say a £1.99 SCART cable carrying RGB and a solid unicorn-hair composite cable costing tons! That was my point before.

If you don't have the option of HDMI or Component then RGB over SCART (which Sky boxes do support) is as good as you'll get.

My QED SQART (sic) lead cost about £50 from HiFi and home cinema UK at up to 50% off RRP but TBH I don't think there's much gain over a cheaper lead. Maplin do a good range, just look for individually screened connectors and you can't lose.

Dom