component vs S video

Just bought a new TV and DVD player, however I'm using these ancient A/V cables for hook up. If I'm going to spend $40-$50 on some high-end cables, I want to know which produces a better picture, Component cables or S video cable? TIA

I think you should just go with s-video unless you only want the very best, cause I sure can't tell the difference just by looking at it(and that is what you are doing when you are watching tv right?)

MY suggestion would be S-video and optical for audio (or digital coax, pretty much the same quality.) You can get a good S-video cable for pretty much beans (They'll often give you one with the equipment when you buy it.) The component (RGB) cables are considerably more expensive, and you really aren't going to notice much more of a difference. IMO, the logical step up from S-video/Component is HD, but as we're all aware of, that's still an underutilized technology.

Go with the S-video, it'll do just fine for you. If you still insist on spending more for cables, then go with the Monster brand. Although to be perfectly honest with you, I've had a hard time detecting signal quality difference between gold and standard (unless you're operating near some major interference-producing equipment) and I sold this stuff for over a year working for the Shack.

s-video

Awesome, thanks tengu. So everything Monster is trying to push with their gold plated, zero impedance crap is that it reduces interference? I just have a receiver, DVD player, and a TV; none of that stuff would really require double gold super plated cables?

It really depends on your TV and DVD. If you want a High Defintion display and your TV has the ability to reproduce the quality then go for the component its the best exept for a really digital HD conection witch most DVD players dont support. The wires will last for ever. Dont wast your money on an optical coax, the only benifits of the optical is zero interfierance and light speed reaction times. But all the benifits are basicly wasted in a low end sound system because the internials in the amp and DVD player are wired so unless you have a really high end system or have problems with external interferance dont spend over double for the same as a good wired coax.

Component = 1
S-Video = 2
Composite = 3

component video is better than S-Video. here's how it works sort of
composite: one yellow cable. all colors, refresh, and sync in one cable. very compressed and not good quality.
S-Video. the colors are all in one cable, brightness are in another and the refresh and sync are in other cables. good quality.
component: separate cable for each color with the sync compressed. Better quality than S-Video. If your TV has component video, USE IT. it's the best (unless you've got a DVI input)
DVI is a direct digital connection. Not sure if the cable layouts are exacly right because that was off the top of my head, but I'm sure the quality is this order-> composite, S-Video, component, DVI.
Hope it helps

LOL I've been out of electronics sales for nearly two years but I'll correct a bit of what my3rdskyline said (but that was good!).

In a yellow RCA cable, chrominance and luminance are passed through.
In S-Vid, there are actually two cables in the jacket that separate chrominance and luminance.
In Component video, one of the cables is for chrominance, and for the other two it is the luminance that is actually split into two signals. (lol it might be the other way around where luminance is one cable, and chrominance is split into the other two).

This is why the jump from RCA to S-vid gives the biggest noticeable improvement. S-Vid to component is really only half as much of an improvement because it’s only one of the signals thats being improved.

Bottom line: cables are overpriced (way overpriced), but IMO they are worth having. The Monster THX stuff at Best Buy is absolute crap – go with a good set of Monster M series or Component Video II or III. Those gold conductors DO make a difference (it won’t blow your socks off but it’s definitely there). Look for the conductors that are cut along the sides and have a centre plug that is split in half – all this is done so the conductor fits real tight with its terminal. Don’t bend those cables 90 degree either, people have no idea how bad that is for cables.