Anyone have experience with Monster's (or other) composite to S-video converter? I'd like to make only an S-video run from my AVR to TV, but my VCR's output is composite. Anyone know how they do the conversion in a passive device?

I think it would be cheaper to buy a new VCR or just run the composite to the TV 2nd input.If not, I think Extron sells a converter but its pretty expensive.

Would a S-VHS VCR play regular tapes and still give an S-video output? Or do you need special S-VHS tapes? I have a big library of regular tapes.

My SVHS JVC VCR plays regular VHS tapes as well, and outputs video from either to both Svideo and composite jacks.

Dave

S-video cables have nothing to do with S-VHS vcrs.

because it is a higher resolution format, mfgs have chosed to include s-video jacks.

It is not going to improve your image quality to introduce another piece of gear to your signal path. You run the risk of degrading your signal.

Use the composite, or spend a few bucks and buy an S-VHS vcr.

Derek

Dave and Derek, thanks for the very helpful responses. I believe I will spring for a new SVHS VCR. Dave, which JVC model do you have and what's your opinion of it? Any recommendations from anyone?

I have 2 JVC VCRs - 9500U and 7600U. I like them both a lot. They are SVHS and there is just no comparison to regular VHS VCRs. I don't use them too often so I can't speak of relibility problems but JVC is a known brand for repairs and things don't work type of deal.

There are other brands you can look at such as Panasonic and Miti. They are good too.

I quite like the SVHS-ET feature and probably you know it, it allows you to tape SVHS quality on regular VHS. I understand SVHS tapes are pretty cheap in US, but it's not the same here in Canada (at least where I live anyway).

The JVC also support discrete codes for ON/OFF if you use Pronto.

P.S. Buy a S-VHS VCR and use the composite, you still get better quality than using regular VCR.

Simon

In answer to your original question, Tweakman, the Monster converter works just fine.

Paul

Currently the only S-video to composite converters that Extron manufactures are included in larger products suchs as the 6-in/1-out YCS switcher. Sorry.

Sima's SVS-4 does composite to S-Video conversion of up to 4 sources for about $150... and it's remote controlled.

Well a S-VHS VCR is the best way to go, but you can get the Monster composite to S-Video for $79.99 from these guys. I bought one and it works just fine.

[Link: satserv.com]

If you want to check out a less expensive alternative, try going to Yahoo!Shopping and search for "videoware". If you navigate carefully around their site you'll find a 6 foot Male S-Video/Male RCA video cable (other lengths/types available). It's on sale for 20 bucks and 3.75 shipping. I got one to connect my only non-S Video component (VHS-VCR)and to my eyes it doesn't seem to degrade the resulting image any further than the already weak VHS image. For 24 bucks I figured it was worth the gamble rather than spending $250-300 for a new S-VHS unit. Just keep your expectations at VHS levels.

Zeke,

Do i understand this correctly..? I can use this converter to take the RCA video out on my vcr and direct it to the s-vid in on my amp?

My Denon amp won't allow me to cross formats...all S-vid or no s-vid and my Sony VCR (rarely used) is not S-vhs so all components are now on RCA's.

Mike,

Yes. Thats exactly what I did, only in my case it was to a Yamaha receiver. This way I could watch a VHS tape and still be able to have the Yamaha on-screen display visible without switching video source on my TV monitor. Note that you do NOT get the usual benefits of using S-Video, but as I said in my original post, the resultant picture on the the TV appeared to me to be no worse than a straight VHS picture. Although I have seen a great many posts advising not to use a receiver as a video switch box, I don't notice any degradation in picture quality, which doesn't mean there isn't any, just that the results are acceptable and pleasing to me. Plus, I can eliminate unneccary cables, only have a single video connection to my monitor, and control all my video sources using my Pronto-controlled receiver. I originally purchased this converter cable as an experiment with the belief that I was throwing away my cash ( <$25 Bucks ), but I am extremely happy with the results.

Hope this helps.

the problem with the cheap converters (less than 100) is that they do not compensate for phase shifting. this will manisfest itself as ringing to the right of the image. The good ones (300) actually use a NTSC decorder to demodulate the composite and put it out again as chroma and luminance.