S-Video cables offer better picture quality on older TVs. They have a series of pins (4, 7 or 9) at the ends, which plug into a circular port. To use them correctly, you need to choose the right model for your TV or player and connect them the right way.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Choosing the Right S-Video Cable
Step 1. Make sure your TV and player support S-Video cables
These cables connect a device that generates a video signal (such as a DVD player) with a screen (such as a home television).
The S-Video input ports are circular with a few holes arranged around the center. Both the player and the TV must have S-Video ports to use such cables
Step 2. Count the number of holes in the TV and player ports
This way you will know which type of S-Video cable you need to buy and if you will need an adapter.
- S-video ports can have 4, 7, or 9 pins.
- For example, if the player port has 7 holes (a 7-pin configuration), while the TV port has 4 (the standard 4-pin configuration), you will need a 4-pin to 7-pin adapter.
Step 3. Purchase the S-Video cable
You can usually find them at much lower prices than high definition cables.
- Gold-coated connectors do not oxidize over time (unlike silver- or copper-coated ones), so even if a more expensive cable doesn't guarantee better image quality, it will likely last longer.
- Usually, you can save money by purchasing the high quality cables on the internet instead of in a shop. Amazon and eBay are reliable online services.
Step 4. Also buy any adapters you need
If you need to connect multiple devices, for example a video cassette player and a DVD player, buy an S-Video "splitter" plus all the cables you need. Usually, the cost of splitters does not exceed € 5
Part 2 of 2: Connect the S-Video Cable
Step 1. Turn off the TV
If you connect the cables with the device turned on, you risk damaging it.
Step 2. Disconnect all video cables from the TV
Picture quality can deteriorate if there are too many signals connected to the TV at the same time, so it's best to start from scratch.
Step 3. Plug one end of the S-Video cable into the player
The port you are looking for is round, with a series of small holes around the center, which correspond to the number of pins on the cable. The pins must be at the top of the door.
If your TV requires a different number of pins from the player (or vice versa), count them so that you are sure you are connecting the right end of the cable
Step 4. Connect the other end of the cable to the TV
If necessary, use an adapter.
Step 5. Make sure the audio cables are connected
You may have red and white composite cables (in this case, do not connect the yellow video cable) or a higher quality setup.
Step 6. Turn on the player
The device should be in operation before turning on the TV.
Step 7. Turn on the TV
If the video from the player appears, it means that you have connected the S-Video cable correctly!
Once the S-Video cable is connected, change the TV's default input signal if necessary, so you can see the pictures. To do this, press the "Input" or "Source" button on the remote control
Advice
- Usually S-Video cables are used for standard definition video, ie 480i. If your TV is capable of playing 720p or 1080p signals, use an HDMI cable instead of an S-Video cable.
- If you need to change all your living room connections just to connect all your players to your TV with S-Video cables, you may want to consider buying a new TV instead of new cables.
- S-Video cables do not carry audio signals. If you don't have separate cables for audio, buy them when you buy S-Video cables.
