Not all AV cables are the same? (NES)

KaiserGXKaiserGX
in Gamer's Gauntlet
Just want to know if these are actually better then stock NES AV cables and why they are better. 



http://www.stoneagegamer.com/nes-av-cable.html

These on Stone Age Gamer claim they are better then the stock cables providing a clearer image. 



https://www.amazon.com/Simulated-Original-Nintendo-System-replaces-Entertainment/dp/B006457FUI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

These on Amazon say they are the best image you can get on an HDTV and the extra white plug gives you simulated stereo.



Basically I want to know if they are BS or do they actualy perform better. Is one better then the other or do both give you the same image quality? I know CRT is superior and I will use that to play NES at my mom's house when I get one but I recently received a small 15" 4:3 HDTV (it has no HDMI input so I can't use it with an AVS) and thought it was small enough to use as an emergency tv to take to a friends/grandmas house or something to play casual NES with my cousins. What would give me the best image on it, using composite cables. Not looking to mod anything or buy a framemeister or something. 

Comments

  • arch_8ngelarch_8ngel
    Originally posted by: KaiserGX



    Just want to know if these are actually better then stock NES AV cables and why they are better. 



    http://www.stoneagegamer.com/nes-...

    These on Stone Age Gamer claim they are better then the stock cables providing a clearer image. 

     



    Read the description carefully.



    He doesn't say that they are better than any other AV cables (i.e. RCA cables are RCA cables, pretty much across the board, unless you find some kind of total POS that I have yet to encounter)



    What he DOES say is that they provide cleaner image than the "stock cables" -- I suspect he is saying they are better than the RF switch and cable that come with the NES.

    THAT is a true statement.





    But it's a load of BS that some $6 AV cables from there are going to be better than any other set of RCA plugs that you already own.







    EDIT:  and any way you slice it, if you're using these cables to play on an HDTV you are going to be disappointed with the end result.

    Certainly superior to an RF switch, but nothing to write home about (plus you have the signal processing delay of analog to digital on the HDTV).



    Get a modest sized CRT for nearly free, and use AV cables to hook up to that, and you'll love what you see, with pretty much any brand of RCA cables.

     
  • CZroeCZroe
    They can be bigger and better shielded but if you aren't running through VCRs, splitters, Y-cables, and switch boxes and your other stuff is digital, you aren't going to see a difference. The one with the extra plug is just splitting it, exactly like a Y-cable from Radio Shack except with fewer connections. All the interference I'd pick up on composite cables back in the day were always solved by connecting directly and turning everything else off.
  • bearcat-dougbearcat-doug

    Originally posted by: arch_8ngel




    Originally posted by: KaiserGX



    Just want to know if these are actually better then stock NES AV cables and why they are better. 



    http://www.stoneagegamer.com/nes-av-cable.html

    These on Stone Age Gamer claim they are better then the stock cables providing a clearer image. 

     



    Read the description carefully.



    He doesn't say that they are better than any other AV cables (i.e. RCA cables are RCA cables, pretty much across the board, unless you find some kind of total POS that I have yet to encounter)



    What he DOES say is that they provide cleaner image than the "stock cables" -- I suspect he is saying they are better than the RF switch and cable that come with the NES.

    THAT is a true statement.





    But it's a load of BS that some $6 AV cables from there are going to be better than any other set of RCA plugs that you already own.







    EDIT:  and any way you slice it, if you're using these cables to play on an HDTV you are going to be disappointed with the end result.

    Certainly superior to an RF switch, but nothing to write home about (plus you have the signal processing delay of analog to digital on the HDTV).



    Get a modest sized CRT for nearly free, and use AV cables to hook up to that, and you'll love what you see, with pretty much any brand of RCA cables.

     



    That would be my guess as well. I've used stock RCA cables all the way up to shielded gold plated ones and never noticed any real difference in the picture quality.




  • KaiserGXKaiserGX
    I doubt it's talking about the RF Switch. It says compared to the original cable(s) (plural) that came with the NES system. The RF Switch was never bundled with any NES System besides the Top Loader and you can't even use AV Cables on the Top Loader.
  • arch_8ngelarch_8ngel

    Originally posted by: KaiserGX



    I doubt it's talking about the RF Switch. It says compared to the original cable(s) (plural) that came with the NES system. The RF Switch was never bundled with any NES System besides the Top Loader and you can't even use AV Cables on the Top Loader.



    There are two options here:



    1)  he is talking (very ambiguously) about the RF cable and telling the truth



    2) he is talking about bundled AV cables and lying





    There is essentially going to be ZERO difference between his cables and ANY other RCA cables you use, assuming you have everything directly connected and aren't using pass-through devices like switches or VCRs.







    So I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he is (again VERY ambiguously) talking about the RF cable when making his bold comparison.
  • KaiserGXKaiserGX
    So I'm guessing this is BS too? I know all HDMI cables are the same but wasn't sure about RCA.



    https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61DOhO0yQZL._SL1200_.jpg
  • arch_8ngelarch_8ngel

    Originally posted by: KaiserGX



    So I'm guessing this is BS too? I know all HDMI cables are the same but wasn't sure about RCA.



    https://images-na.ssl-images-amaz...

    I would bet money that nobody could actually tell the difference between the two sets of RCA cables in a blind comparison.





    There MAY be a marginal improvement with gold connectors, but with relatively short cables (i.e. 6 ft is pretty standard) and a direct connection (i.e. no losses or interference from pass through), I seriously doubt that it will be discernable to the naked eye.







    They can market like that because it is "technically true" (i.e. gold connectors are superior to steel connectors, in general).



    But they aren't quantifying anything with their statement.



    So the reality is:



    ANY AV cables are a night-and-day difference with the RF connection.

    But there will likely be no easily observable difference between any two sets of AV cables.




  • TulpaTulpa
    I see this same argument on home theater forums all the time and it always makes my brain melt.



    Unless RCA cables are damaged or are made of bamboo, you won't see a difference. People buying into the hype are why Monster Cables built an empire on overpriced interconnects.



    I always get mine from here:

    http://www.monoprice.com/category?c_id=102&cp_id=10235



    They're cheap, good quality, and ship fast.
  • arch_8ngelarch_8ngel
    Originally posted by: Tulpa



    I see this same argument on home theater forums all the time and it always makes my brain melt.



    Unless RCA cables are damaged or are made of bamboo, you won't see a difference. People buying into the hype are why Monster Cables built an empire on overpriced interconnects.



    Exactly.

     
  • bearcat-dougbearcat-doug

    Originally posted by: KaiserGX



    I doubt it's talking about the RF Switch. It says compared to the original cable(s) (plural) that came with the NES system. The RF Switch was never bundled with any NES System besides the Top Loader and you can't even use AV Cables on the Top Loader.



    The NES Deluxe Set, Control Deck Set and Action Set all were bundled with both RCA cables and a RF switch so there is still a possibility that they are referring to the RF switch.


  • MrWunderfulMrWunderful
    Once you go RGB, you never go back.
  • bearcat-dougbearcat-doug

    Originally posted by: Tulpa



    I see this same argument on home theater forums all the time and it always makes my brain melt.



    Unless RCA cables are damaged or are made of bamboo, you won't see a difference. People buying into the hype are why Monster Cables built an empire on overpriced interconnects.



    I always get mine from here:

    http://www.monoprice.com/category...



    They're cheap, good quality, and ship fast.



    I've ordered cables from them as well. Their prices are really low and I always got mine in a few days.




  • TulpaTulpa
    Yeah, they're out of Rancho Cucamonga (yes, Bugs Bunny did not make that place up), so I usually get them next day if I order early enough.
  • KaiserGXKaiserGX
    I just e-mailed Stone Age Gamer and yeah he confirmed it was talking about AV Cables in general over RF.
  • arch_8ngelarch_8ngel
    EDIT to delete.

     
  • KaiserGXKaiserGX
    Sorry I guess I worded it wrong. He said that the description was talking about AV cables in general being better then RF.
  • arch_8ngelarch_8ngel
    Originally posted by: KaiserGX



    Sorry I guess I worded it wrong. He said that the description was talking about AV cables in general being better then RF.

    OK, I've deleted my previous comment, then, since I don't want to besmirch him, if that is what he meant.



    Yes, AV cables, in general, are much better than RF.



    That is definitely true.





    What is not true, is some gold plated AV cables being noticeably better than "standard" cables that may have come with the original system.



     
  • jacob...jacob...
    Originally posted by: arch_8ngel



    I would bet money that nobody could actually tell the difference between the two sets of RCA cables in a blind comparison.

     



    i second this. composite is composite its all crap.

     
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