Console Image Quality Guide 269
Jakub writes "We've posted a comprehensive guide on how to improve your console's image quality. It covers everything from the various connectors through cables to fine-tuning by modifying sharpness and brightness. Though the article uses the prolific PlayStation 2 as an example, it applies equally well to all video devices."
ad for monster (Score:4, Insightful)
Sharper image looks worse (Score:5, Insightful)
Useless article (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:ad for monster (Score:3, Insightful)
(1) Not a SINGLE comparison is between the same kind of cable. Every single comparison is between the regular RCA and Monster S-Video cable. What's next, comparing an optical cable with RCA?
(2) The article is completely devoid of any facts other than some really slowly loading screenshots.
(3) You need a monster cable like you need a lobotomy. Not only do many other cables found in big chain stores are just as good, remember this if you are actually considering buying one: That $20 cable costs about $2 to make, which might explain why other cables sell for so much less.
Re:buy the PC version of the game (Score:3, Insightful)
(That said, I still play console games because they aren't in my home office, making it *appear* I'm not at the same computer activity I was at for the previous 12 hours working... obsessive compulsiveness I guess.)
Cable hype (Score:3, Insightful)
Designing speaker and video cable takes a lot of science
This certainly isn't true when it comes to speaker cable - the audio cable industry would impress even PT Barnum, I'm sure he didn't realise just what suckers people are.
And note the distinct lack of any actual scientific testing of the cable and no comparison amongst S-Video cables. You'll see the same thing in audiophile magazines in their so-called cable reviews. If we're going to use subjective tests then I can say that the picture I get with my cheap S-video cable looks just like the one they're getting with the Monster Cable.
Reality is that any decent quality cable will give you the same results as a cable that costs thousands of dollars. And when it comes to speaker cable decent grade lamp flex will equal any cable out there unless you happen to have your speakers at least 50m from your amp (differences are only really even significantly measurable at around 100m and up).
Article wrong about "Xbox HDTV" games (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:You're wrong about the cables... (Score:3, Insightful)
Any and all of these WILL add noise to the signal, and they will all almost always cause slight nonlinear filtering effects. So buying more expensive versions of these things are justified, as the more expensive versions can take care of these problems. Cables, however, are just plain linear resistors; they don't really do much to the sound at all - at least not at first.
As far as the half a mile thing, like I said, the effect is supposed to be very, very slight. Apparently there's a latency issue with low frequencies that can cause some phase shift. This effect is supposedly discernable at no less than half a mile.
Fortunately for sound, phase is not really important - or rather, the only important thing is that everything is in phase. There are now digital devices that can realign the phase after a very long signal transfer.
Note that this effect (phase shifting) will have the following results:
1) Everything will sound a little quieter than it would have otherwise
2) Instruments with very different ranges (such as Piccolo and Tuba) will not blend as well.
Note that phasing is a common side-effect from nearly every sound system component.
Phase effects are also canceled by reflection - that is, when they hit a wall and bounce off, or something like that. Also, if you've got enough sound sources, the amount of phasing due to this effect should be miniscule compared to the natural amount. Don't bother with worrying about this if you are using it to listen to rock music. You won't know the difference.
Now I'm STILL not sure I buy the fact that cables produce nonlinear phase-shifting, but it does seem possible. Like most people, however, I run a max of about 100' of cable to my speakers, so I don't EVER have to worry about those effects (and I don't get to check and see if the cable people are lying about that, too).