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Is Scart to Component possible
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The header pretty much sums up my question. To avoid switching inputs on my TV, I would like to connect my 9500T to the component inputs of my Denon amplifier, thereby all signals would travel to the TV down the component cable to just one TV input. The Humax scart output has RGB available, therefore is it possible to use a scart/component cable to achieve this, or is it only possible with the use of an expensive electronic converter? The Denon does not have scart at all, only composite, s-video and component. The next best thing would be a scart to s-video converter but this will mean switching TV inputs when I change from DVD (component) to PVR. Many thanks.
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No need to go via the scart route, although you can get scart cable with component out (and in).
1. You want to output the sound output to an amp. Presumably to play through its own speakers.
2. You want to feed two (or more devices) to an amp without switching.
The first part is easy enough via either a SCART/Phono lead (which takes the sound from a SCART and transfers it to the amp input - only the stereo sound is transfered). Or just a phono to phono lead. I haven't tried to do this on my HUMAX (and can't -- it is downstairs) but I can do both on my SKY box.
Why would you want to feed a TV signal to your amp? All you need to feed is the sound -- unless you have something in mind that I can't imagine.
You have to solve the "non switching" problem by getting either a scart doubler (messy but possible) or phono input doubler (far easier) and feeding two leads in at the same time (I presume that you having nothing else to feed in).
As they won't be getting sound at the same time you don't need any switching.
I'd go to a specialist electronics store and tell them you inputs and make sure you get the right lead. You are going to need two.
Explain the
Sound (and I presume that is what we are talking about -- I am not sure of anything at the moment) is the final product of video/sat box/ humax/whatever so why are you feeding it back somewhere?
You feed the amp with sound -- it plays, end of story! If you have a daisychain an amp is the end of the road -- surely?
Besides, I would be amazed that a piece of sound only equipment could deal with a video input -- why would it?
A SCART to Phono link (which i use) only takes the sound pins and outputs them to standard phono/other. The video is discarded. I am sure that a lead could go from Scart to any common input you might have. I have not got your set up, but I feed to an amp for the best quality sound. I use the second SCART socket for my sound output lead.
(The last sentence might be your important clue.)
As I said before -- if you need to plug two sets of leads in to one set of inputs then you have to get a doubler.
I have found the SCART/phono outputs to be of very high quality -- better than most TVs when fed to a good amp and played through good speakers or headphones.
If I can be of further help to you, you will have to explain your chain of logic and why your amp has to be in the middle of your chain not at the end. I hope I am not sounding rude in asking this important question.
AFAIK, sydh, you'll need a gadget to do the RGB->component conversion. A cable alone is not enough unless the Humax can be hacked to provide a component signal (and that's not something I heard mention of).
I've wired the Sky box to not only one external amp but two -- upstairs and down using only very standard cabling and cheap leads. This resulted in being able to recieve two video streams, a sky box and PVR through two amps (one upstairs the other down) without leaving the chair/bed and fully controlled through a remote.
I only did this by thinking logically and buying equipment that I knew worked together in such a way. Buying several pieces of equipment in issolation and then hoping that they'd all come together (with a bit of blackmagic and a cable or two) would have been leaving things to chance.
From reading other boards (do a Google) pass through and switching equipment is a minefield. I was happy enough to build a system that worked and kept it as simple as possible.
Best of luck that the box of tricks works on your set set-up...
Using an amp to switch video to a single output, assuming it supports up/pass-thru/downgrading (as appropriate) of your video signal, is probably the simplest and best way of achieving what the OP wants. Most amps that do this, do it quite well, although often only support component, s-video and composite.
I did just have a scan at the manual just to see if the Humax supported component via Scart in a similar fashion to the Toppy. Unfortunately it's one of the few hardware similarities that it doesn't seem to share. So, as sdc395 said, what's required is some sort of RGB to component converter - this might prove a tad expensive, for example (this ), but it is the route down which some have had to go with other RGB-only equipment and plasmas/projectors that only have component input.
If the Hummy does not output component signals but you spend a £100 or so on a SCART to component device, would the picture quality be any better?
[See what I mean? Picture downgraded to RGB/S-Video -> gizmo -> upgraded (downgraded) picture to component (YCbCr?)]
Wouldn't it be best to stick with the s-video output and put up with a remote control press of a button to switch the tv output?
p.s. everytime a new subject appears, it seems the Toppy has this facility but the Hummy lacks it, how come?
http://www.avland.co.uk/qed/qcv/qcv.htm
Cost. Every time you put something else in it starts to add up. The Humax twin tuner PVR is the cheapest 160gb twin tuner freeview pvr with topup tv, and the facility to watch a third channel like the topfield. If it adds more bits to it it will probably work out more expensive. Its a good thing there is the choice in this market as I suspect there are features in the Toppy and the Inverto that would be worth the money depending if you have particular needs, that just cant be fulfilled by all the other PVRs. Everyone else will probably be satisfied with the svideo or RGBscart capabilities of the mid range units and will probably hold the bulk of general consumer sales.
That's enough ranting. Thanks to all who took the time to help.
Once again I bow to those whose technical knowledge exceeds mine -- but I am rather of the school that prefers an ugly ship that floats to a pretty ship that sinks. My reading of other boards suggests that some pass-throughs have problems with named monitor makes. Is this not a further complication in a daisy chain of four separate pieces of hardware?
(That are all working in peace and perfect harmony -- fingers crossed.)
The good news is that getting the sound to an external amp and enjoying it to the best quality of the external sound equipment is easy. Never had a problem.
As regards getting a better picture -- how could I get a better picture when the one I enjoy is perfect already?
My point is that many AV amps are designed to do just what the original poster requires - he's aware of that, but I think you initially misunderstood? The niggle here, however, is that such amps often don't support RGB. Aside from this, I can assure you that such ships float quite successfully with multiple composite/s-video and component inputs to the amp and with a single component output. I can't comment on the quality or otherwise of flinging RGB->Component converters into the mix, I've never used one.
mmm....I never said you could. I'm glad that your picture is fine
RGB (via Scart) and Component are two different video formats. The Humax does not output Component in any shape or form. You therefore can't connect one to the other without a conversion device in between.
What is the model of your Denon amp? Most Denon's have a choice of Composite & S-video for inputs, a Component input for a quality source such as DVD player and video up-conversion to Component out built in. They can usually be set up so when switching audio inputs the appropriate video input also switches. I think you will understand from a previous post that up-conversion won't actually improve the picture you get.
You have two choices to connect the Humax:
- buy a RGB to Component converter and appropriate cables to connect to the Denon Component input.
- buy a Scart to S-video Cable to connect to one of the S-video inputs of the Denon amp and set the output of the Humax Scart to S-video in the preferences menu (note no converter box required).
I have opted for the second method for connecting my Pace Twin to my Denon AVR3805 and get a really decent picture. I saved the Component input for my best source which is a Denon DVD player.
mmm...depends what you call "component outputs", I suppose. The Toppy does have component output over scart , although "component outputs" does seem to have become synonomous with dedicated phono outputs. That's why I was wondering whether the Humax, which seems to share a considerable amount with the Toppy on both the hardware/firmware side, was similarly supporting, but also "on the quiet"...I think I'm correct in saying that there's no mention of component support in the Toppy manual either, despite the fact that it is most certainly there and many use it.
Just make sure your Denon Amp does upconvert s-vid to component. I used to do exactly this and had just the one component cable to the monitor. The 2805 does upconvert (my one). I don't think the 1906 does it? The upconverted s-vid signal was very good to a 42" plasma. I now use an RGB to component convertor (built into a DVD recorder) and the picture is slightly better, clarity similar, but colours more lifelike. Not much between RGB and S-vid to my monitor really. In fact the quality of the cable made the biggest difference when I tested! I would also say that routing video signals through my amp has not noticably degraded signal in any way, I have done comparisons.
As for aspect ratio switching; I always make sure that the source uses line-23 signalling so that there are no problems. To be honest, I've never found myself rejecting any source because it lacked line-23 signalling; they all seem to. I once heard that some Sky boxes only offer pin-8 signalling but can't confirm that since I'd never subscribe to Sky.
Sounds like you've suffered some bad luck, markfraser.
I thought the Scart carried the aspect, though that fits in with what you are saying because it was with a Sky+ box that I had my probelms. Are you saying that with the the 9200t, I shouldn't have these problems?
My wife and I did notice quality loss with the Denon amp doing with video switching mind you, so I don't know if I'd ever want to go back to that - nice as it was to have on-screen control of my amp.
Modding Sky+ for line-23 signalling is possible (see here).