OK... heres a question... if a TV has a Component video input, does that mean it's Hi Def? Or does it need to specifically say HDTV? MyTV has a component video in... but says nothing about being HDTV ready or anything.... Sorry if this is a silly question but I'm clueless when it comes to audio video stuff..

Component inputs do not necessarily imply that it's capable of understanding an HD signal. And looking at that link, I see nothing that would indicate that it's HD compatible.

For a case in point from a different perspective, many NTSC DVD players have component outputs, but they can't produce HD signals.

Probably not.

Component video input can be used for a progressive-scan DVD player running at 480 lines progressive-scan. (known as "480p")

Most US high-def television is 1080 lines interlaced (1080i). Although it can also be other refresh rates such as 540p and 720p

By some definitions, 480p is one of the "modes" of high-def, so you might see some old TVs that try to bandy about the phrase "high def" when talking about a 480p-capable set. But such a set won't play a 1080i picture unless it was specifically designed for it.

I'd like to state once again that this is perhaps the greatest forum on the web.... have a question? Post it here and someone will answer... thanks guys you provide a veritable cornucopia of information...

Component video input can be used for a progressive-scan DVD player running at 480 lines progressive-scan.

To be clear, it can also be used for plain-old NTSC.

To be clear, it can also be used for plain-old NTSC.

Of course, silly me. My own interlace-only DVD player is hooked up with component cables, I'd forgotten that completely.

has anyone seen a converter from svideo to component video?? My receiver only converts from composite to svideo.

You wouldn't gain anything by doing it. The only reason your receiver converts from composite to S-Video is so that it can have a single cable running to your TV. Unless your receiver has a component in, but no component out, which seems unlikely, I don't know what you'd gain by using such a converter.

has anyone seen a converter from svideo to component video??

Why would you WANT to? Component is a better signal than svideo. You would be taking a "worse" s-video signal and then running it into a "better" component input.

This wouldn't improve the quality of the picture just because you're using the better input. You'd still be starting with the "Worse" s-video output to begin with. In fact, the additional conversion circuitry would make it look slightly worse than if you just ran it into an s-video input on your TV set.

Jinx!

I know what you mean, it will not do anything to the picture quality, but I just want to get rid of the extra set of cables going to the TV.
Also, my TV does not autoswitch between Svideo and component because both are 'live' at the same time. So getting rid of the svideo to TV will fix that as well.

What are you using that has composite out? Does it not have an S-Video out? If it does, then why not just plug that into your receiver?

Edit: Why don't you describe what you're trying to hook up and we can offer some suggestions?

Thanks Bitt,
My TV has mutiple inputs composite/svideo/component/RGB/DVI etc but will not autoswitch.
My receiver will convert from composite to svideo, but the component is separately switched.
So, to watch cable/vcr it works fine on SVideo, but DVD is on component only so the TV must be switched to the component inputs.

My choices are:
1. watch DVD through SVideo and junk the component cables so everything runs on the svideo input (not a great choice)
or
2. get an SVideo-Component converter (to convert the receiver to TV link) so I can junk the svideo to TV connection and run a single (well triple) cable to the TV and not have to keep switching inputs on the TV.

BTW The TV is a Sampo plasma, don't get caught out by the price, it is not that great, but it is thin and cheap!

thanks

Unless your receiver will convert S-Video and composite (if you're using any) to component, then that still won't work. And it sounds like it won't. Unless you're talking about converting each source from S-Video to component and plugging multiple component inputs into your receiver. But I find it unlikely that your receiver has multiple component inputs.

Sorry Bitt, maybe I wasn't too clear there.....
The receiver has three Component ins and one out.
All of this is moot if I cannot find a converter anyway

I did find a Denon receiver that would do the conversion, but it was $3700!!!!

Oooooh, I bet it's worth it though! Assuming you had the money laying around the house in piles, of course.

heh!
Maybe I could use that pile that is holding coffee table up

May I just chime in for a moment and say how much I hate the fact that the industry has evolved to use the words "Composite" and "Component" to describe two vastly different yet very common video cabling schemes.

Even though I know the difference between the two, I have to stop and think carefully each time I encounter the terms, because the words are so similar.

I couldn't agree more. I keep interchanging them and it's really frustrating.

YES! That annoys me too. And noone knows which one to use, so they just say video or RCA....

I'm used to it. Those terms have been around a long time in other, slightly different contexts, but with the same meanings.

But you're right, nonetheless. Shoulda been composite and separate or discrete or something other than component.

I've always done my best to refer to Component as "YPrPb" or "three-wire" just to be absolutely clear.

my wife refers to component as Yah Booh Sucks, then at least we know what we mean