I just hooked up my Xbox, PS2 and Gamecube through a 3-way Component switcher that came very highly recomended.

I calibrated my CRT set before seting up the switcher with DVE and my PS2 DVD player...if I run DVE again and find that nothing needs to be recalibrated, is this a reliable indication that no noticible signal loss is going on with the switcher?

No not really, what you want to look for if you're running through a switcher or something like that is for frequency response and also if there's any added ringing/ghosting or the like. For that you want to look at a frequency sweep or a detail/sharpness pattern.

If we are to assume you mean the NTSC version of 'Digital Video Essentials' the SMPTE RP 133 pattern and the multiburst patterns that immediately follow it should be revealing. Those patterns are found in 'Title 13: Video Test Signals, Picture Resolution.' You could examine the quality of the signal between a direct connection to your display vs. going through the switcher. The Blu-ray version of 'DVE: HD Basics' would likely be even more revealing, since it provides a higher resolution signal.

Best regards and beautiful pictures,
G. Alan Brown, President
CinemaQuest, Inc.

"Advancing the art and science of electronic imaging"

Thanks...I tried out those test patterns and they look prett much the same. Although I need to ask is it normal to see some flickering of the line patterns and some slight noise between lines? It appears through either connection...

Yes, in your type of setup.