It doesn't like we can do polls here, but I was wondering what you lot have chosen as your preference. RGB is set by default, but I was wondering how many of you use one or the other.

I Use RGB Output onto my LCD because it gives a sharper more natural image and better colour. CVBS Looks too exposed and slightly blurry on Digital TV's.

I use RGB to my 25" Panasonic CRT TV as it is incomparably sharper and clearer.

BTW, what happens if you switch to RGB if the TV isn't capable of receiving it? Is there a visible picture so you can change back?

I use RGB, 'cos it's better. I've got a standard old-ish CRT.

Not sure what happens if you go to RGB when your TV can't cope: I use S-Video for my DVD connection (throught a Scart) and the TV will sometimes go to the "normal" input on that Scart which gives a fuzzy and wobbly picture 'til you change it to the S-Video one. Not sure if the same applies to RGB vs not-RGB though.

RGB - the separation of colour signals will give you a clearer, sharper picture with better colour rendition. That's why the option is there - and that's why it is the default!

This has been discussed in depth before, one of the interesting things that came out of it was that certain TV's (My Philips for instance) does not look at it's best on RGB (low contrast - soft picture) instead I get a better picture using SVHS.

That's curious Powerhead! That is certainly not what should happen!!

Presumably, the TV scart you're plugged into on RGB is configured for RGB (I know some TV's require a setting to be made on the RGB scart to get RGB)?.

I feed the output of my Hummy to a video sender so that I can view programmes on the kitchen TV. Originally was using the TV Scart but had to send this through a scart splitter which cut the power so much that the picture was too dark to view. So now use RGB output instead. Overcomes the low signal problem but worth noting that when I used the Scart output I could also view my DVD recorder output using the Source button - can't do that with RGB as it only feeds the Hummy output.

Guess I should keep scanning for a Maplin special offer on an amplified Scart splitter...
Last edited by Hugh : 20-11-2006 at 10:57

Yup, everything OK in the scart department. I have my DVD player on RGB wich looks great. I believe other people have had similar issues depending on the brand of TV.

That's because Humax uses incorrect voltage levels to some of the pins of their SCART out socket and as it only appears to affect a few of their customers' TVs they will not remedy!

Unfortunately, although there is a SCART standard it doesn't seem to be followed rigorously (and I'm not just blaming Humax).

I guess it depends what one means by "sharpness". I've found the quality of the picture in RGB mode smoother, and the colours are more distinct. For example, yellow text is lighter in CVBS mode, but is darker in RGB. The i-plate text or subtitles demonstrates this well.

By sharpness, I mean linear features. For example, I find people's faces are "sharper" (as in seeing cheek lines etc.) in CVBS than in RGB.

So, how does this manifest itself to the user using RGB (i.e. what will we see that we shouldn't)?

I use RGB. CVBS combines the colour and luminance (brightness) signals leading to problems on decoding where repeated, rapid changes in brightness appear to be colour changes (e.g. a striped black and white shirt could look patterned with colour). SVideo keeps the luminance and colour separate but the colours are combined, of course. RGB is a bit like a parallel data cable compared with a serial data cable for CVBS. It can carry more data in a given time.

In my case I had two separate issues. The first involved an over voltage on pin 15 (Red) this caused my TV to flash red when changing channels etc. and also where there was a change of scene on a televised programme. The second concerns an over voltage on Pin 8 (aspect ratio switching) this causes my TV not to switch between widescreen and standard screen programmes (although this is not an RGB issue).

Funnily enough the changes they made in firmware .08 'corrected' the over voltage on Pin 15, which means I can now use RGB. The problem with Pin 8 is still there though.

After over 6 months of complaining Humax agreed to pick my box up for repair, after 3 weeks they returned it saying there was no over voltage problems. They didn't quote what voltages they had found, only a one line hand written note scrawled on the original returns form. Needless to say the over voltage on Pin 8 is still there and I have now been waiting a month for my further enquiry to be looked into. If your reading Mr Caughey this refers to you.

People shouldn't get me wrong for all its problems it's still the one of the best functioning Freeview boxes out there, I just wish they would be quicker at responding to customer enquiries and admit where there is a problem.

I trialled using CVBS for a while, but have now gone back to RGB. Whilst I still think some aspects of the CVBS output are "sharper" as described earlier, I think the RGB output has a better all-round look and feel.

As a complete novice to the whole Composite, S-Video, RGB, Component thing I found this article to be very useful.

Surely, there's no question that RGB is inherently better than CVBS.
If CVBS is looking better to you than RGB then I suggest it's down to a fault somewhere. Perhaps a dodgy SCART or even poor design of your TV.

I have an 8000 and a 9200 and in both cases the SVHS output is "better" than RGB on my digital Panasonic widescreen.

The RGB colours look oversaturated compared with both SVHS and with the off-air on the TV.

Needless to say I am very happy with the SVHS output as it is undistibguishable from the normal tv.

You will often get stronger colour saturation via RGB. Some TV's allow you to compensate for this by enabling seperate settings (colour, countrast, brightness etc) for the scart feed. This would allow you to tone down the colour to suit your preference and allow you to get the other benefits associated with the superior RGB feed (mostly mentioned in posts above).

Some TVs for cheapness implement their RGB inputs by internally converting the signals to S-video, then processing the resulting S-video signals. Any TV that does this is going to look worse when fed from the RGB input than when fed from the S-video input.

A more interesting question would have been do you see a large difference between RGB and CVBS.

Looks like I have some tasks for this eve :-
1 - check if I can lower the colour saturation on RBG
2 - confirm (cos I am pretty sure it is worse) that CVBS is worse than SVHS & RGB

Let you know

... and the answers are

No I can't alter the RGB so its SVHS for me

and CVBS does not look as good but there is not a great deal in ir.

I don't see a large difference, but the most noticeable for me as explained previously is how sharp people's faces look in CVBS as in you can almost see cheeklines. In RGB, it's much smoother, and this is probably how it should be. I'm just trying to determine if this is the way it should be.

I should point out I have a Panasonic CRT TV about 6 years old.
Last edited by TonyW : 23-11-2006 at 08:09

On my JVC 28in 100Hz CRT RGB is marginal better than CVBS BUT both are excellent.