The difference in picture quality between Component nad S-Video connection is minimal or virtually indistinguishable if your TV size is small. The size masks the inherent flaws making comparison between them seem minute.

Once you start racking up screen size, then you NEED better connections to improve picture quality since larger screen sizes magnifies flaws. Component is the lowest denominator when it comes to the upper tier picture quality. Next would be VGA (isf your TV/monitor supports it), D-Terminal, DVI and the the best would be HDMI. No consoles in the market currently supports connection via HDMI, save for the upcoming PS3.

So, if you're sticking with smaller screen sizes, the only benefits of having component connection without going into one of the HD modes (480p, 720p, or 1080i) is to clean up the image. Once you do HD, then there is another different story altogether, even between the three HD modes, there are differences.Again , these differences are minimal if you are playing on smaller HD screens. I personally find it annoying to play on 480p on my Samsung, the image is still washed out to me. 720p is the minimum acceptable quality for me.

Color separation would be better, although how much better compared to S-video remains to be seen. It all depends on our eyes. If you are particular, then you would nitpick, but some cant really see any difference. I would say the difference is pretty minimal at best.

I notice a lot of bleeding on my old Samsung Plano 32inch Widescreen last time, while on S-video. The color red bleeds into everything, even after i changed to different cable brands of S-video. Changed to Component, problems solved. Upgraded to connection via VGA port (480p HD only on this Samsung Plano), even better!

But the difference might not entice people t upgrade their connection. TO some, that amount to upgrade connection is a significant amount of money. It is when you start moving past 40 incher screens that you need to have some sort of HD running on it, lest yo would see stair-steppings and ugly scanlines on interlaced mode.

This post has been edited by stringfellow: May 13 2006, 02:21 PM