I am getting a Samsung HDTV after saying I wouldn't bother for ages, but at present my CRT just has two Scarts and my Toppy is connected via Scart.

So as I don't have a 5810, I have the choice of either Component, Scart or White/Red/Yellow RCA.

Is Component any better than Scart?
Do cheap component cables (Plexus from Ebuyer (£1), or ebay for £3.80 work as well as more expensive ones, so that I would really notice that much difference?

Thanks,

Toppy doesn't have component output but does allows component over scart.

Personally I use RGB scart and the picture (on my Samsung LCD) is very satisfying indeed! Just make sure you plug it into the correct scart socket (EXT1) on the telly.

Glen.

Wow thats embarrassing!, I was sure it did, I know my DVD has, but I am likely to upgrade that to a HDMI upscaling version.

Ah well Scart it is, thanks for the info about which socket to put it in.

BTW which RF out should I have the cable coming from to the TV so I can utilise the inbuilt freeview tuner, as well as the Toppy?

Ta,

Scart is just the connector standard. The Toppy can output Component or RGB on its Scart socket, and you can buy Scart to Component leads if your TV doesn't accept Component via a Scart socket (although you may find that a Scart to 4 RCA RGB lead is a lot cheaper and functionally identical, since the Scart pins are shared).

Th seperate pair of rf in/out sockets on the 5800 are only needed if you want to use the internal modulator to say pass the toppy output over a rf link to a second tv. Otherwise just chain the spare rf out in the block of four to your tv. Alternatively you can split the rf in from the aerial before the toppy and send one to the toppy and one to the TV. (might need an amplifier if you are a bit short on signal strength. On my 40" bravia the component output (using a scart to component adaptor) gives a slightly better picture than rgb over scart. Best advice try both and see which you prefer. Don't forget you need to change the scart output to component in the setup menus
Last edited by grahamlthompson : 28-05-2008 at 14:40

Thanks for the replies, just got back from holiday and it has made my mind a bit clearer.

The TV I am going for is the Samsung LE32A456C, typically Dixons reduced the price by £10 since I ordered it, so now wondering if I should cancel and then reorder.

Anyway, looking at the manual it mentioned RGB over Scart but not component, so will likely stick with that. The Wii I am also getting looks to not be much better using component than standard AV cables so I will probably stick with what I have for now and see.

Thanks regarding the RF cable, again I am looking to see how good the reception is before I may have to change my aerial. (roll on DSO!)

My Wii is thru component on my Samsung LCD and it REALLY does make a difference. I'd recommend it.

Glen.

I got the 5.1 DVD player to go with the TV (Samsung 32A456 from Dixons @ £374! ) Picture is pretty good via RGB scart so very happy. Am now wondering what anyone felt about optical out on the Toppy was like. Is it worth cabling it up, or would the difference between standard AV cables not be too great.

Ta,

I use it, more for convenience than anything else, I suppose - it goes into the AV processor along with all the other video sources. Works a treat.

If you have a really good processor, perhaps it'll do a better job than the decoder in the Toppy, but as to whether you'll hear a difference, I don't know.

Well got the cable and connected it and... nothing! There is no light at all. So maybe I have a fault, unless it needs to be rebooted. (read that it is/was a fairly common fault)
Anyway the optical cable has been used now to go from the TV to the 5.1 amp so it is still being used, and it means better sound for general TV watching instead of just the TV speakers.

I have returned to normal RCA out for the Toppy. I can live with that.

Have you switched the Tv scart to component in the menus ?

No.
I have it on RGB for the Scart, and didn't think that the Optical Out would be dependent on that either.