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Regular Coaxial vs. S-Video/Digital Audio Coaxial

592 Views 7 Replies 3 Participants Last post by PeRsIaN_PiMp, Sep 11, 2003

PeRsIaN_PiMp

Discussion Starter · Sep 9, 2003

My current setup:

Sit-Top Box --> regular-old white coaxial cable * --> TV Tuner Card

ATI Radeon --> 5m DVI-D cable --> Panasonic PT-L300U

Aopen AW850 Sound Card --> digital audio coaxial cable --> Yamaha 6.1 Receiver

* = you know, the one that has cable tv and cable internet

Now my question is:

What difference, if any, in quality is there between a 'regular' cable coaxial connection to my TV Tuner card vs. having an S-Video cable and a digital audio coaxial cable going to my daughter card on the Aopen Cobra Deluxe Sound Card?

Therefore, my setup would look like this:

Sit-Top Box --> S-Video --> TV Tuner Card

Sit-Top Box --> digital audio coaxial cable --> AOpen AW850 Sound Card

ATI Radeon --> 5m DVI-D cable --> Panasonic PT-L300U

Aopen AW850 Sound Card --> digital audio coaxial cable --> Yamaha 6.1 Receiver

Is this superior in quality vs. my current setup?

Many thanks in advance,

-- Navid

Note: The TV Tuner Card is an Adaptec VideOh! DVD Media Center (PCI Edition) and the Sound Card is an Aopen AW850 Cobra Deluxe (w/ the Daughter Card).

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bart745

· #2 · Sep 9, 2003

To give more info, more info is required:

1. It appears that the TV Tuner Card is currently receiving the STB output as RF ch 3 or 4. Correct?

2. Is the STB and/or TV Tuner Card capable of HD (1080i/720p) or even ED (480p) or just S-Video (480i) at best?

3. Does the STB output 5.1 audio on the digital audio output?

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PeRsIaN_PiMp

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 10, 2003

1. Correct, the TV Tuner Card is currently receiving the STB output as a RF ch 3.

2. The product specifications for the TV Tuner Card (Adaptec VideOh! DVD Media Center Edition) states: Video Resolution, NTSC: up to 720x480 PAL: Up to 720 x 576. I run NTSC, but I don't even know what PAL is or if it's useful for my purposes.

3. I'm not sure if the STB outputs 5.1 digital audio or not; I don't recall the model # of my STB but I will let you know as soon as I get home. I believe it was a Motorolla 2200, 3200, 5100? I don't even recall.

Given this information, what's the conclusion? Am I screwing myself over out of could-be quality? Or does it make no difference either way?

Thanks a lot!

-- Navid

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WMAMan

· #4 · Sep 10, 2003

S-Video produces a higher resolution color picture (720 lines), no dot crawl, less chroma delay (color bleeding) and no inerference with the audio (heringbone patterns). 720 lines of black and white is technicaly possible but RF color information is about half the resolution of black and white.

Television audio has a frequency response of 30Hz-15KHz over two channels and a typical s/n ratio of 80 db if the MTS dbx decoder is working right. The digital audio output has (theoreticalty) a frequency response or 2Hz to 90KHz across 2 channels or 2Hz to 42KHz across 7 channels and a signal to noise ratio of 140 db.

Hope that helps.

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PeRsIaN_PiMp

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 10, 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by WMAMan
S-Video produces a higher resolution color picture (720 lines), no dot crawl, less chroma delay (color bleeding) and no inerference with the audio (heringbone patterns). 720 lines of black and white is technicaly possible but RF color information is about half the resolution of black and white.

Television audio has a frequency response of 30Hz-15KHz over two channels and a typical s/n ratio of 80 db if the MTS dbx decoder is working right. The digital audio output has (theoreticalty) a frequency response or 2Hz to 90KHz across 2 channels or 2Hz to 42KHz across 7 channels and a signal to noise ratio of 140 db.

Hope that helps.

Hey, WMAMan that's awesome. Thanks, but like, what does it mean? So, would it be better to have the s-video/digital audio coaxial vs the regular coaxial cable? Yes or no?

I couldn't decipher that second paragraph of yours. Thanks again for your help.

-- Navid

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bart745

· #6 · Sep 10, 2003

Is there a specific reason why you are running the signals thru your PC (e.g. PC video recording, DVD watching using PC drive, AV switching, watching TV on PC monitor)? If not, I'd consider feeding the STB outputs directly to your PJ and AV receiver.

BUT.... If your STB is HD (e.g. Moto DCT5100), use the component video connections directly to your HD PJ. For PC recording/viewing, you can ALSO connect the STB S-Video output and digital audio to your PC.

That said, your proposed setup is clearly superior for audio.

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WMAMan

· #7 · Sep 10, 2003

S-Video and Digital Audio is better than Coax.

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PeRsIaN_PiMp

Discussion Starter · #8 · Sep 11, 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by WMAMan
S-Video and Digital Audio is better than Coax.

Thank you very much. You guys have been more than gracious. I appreciate all your technical expertise. I went ahead and ordered all the appropriate cables from Pacific Cable. I love that company.

Again, thanks for all your help.

-- Navid

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