Any recommendations on an s-video cable for SNES/N64/GC?

[j_factor]

My S-video hookup for these systems gives me an ugly mesh pattern over the picture. Same problem on SNES, N64, and Gamecube, with the same cable. I'm pretty sure it's the cable because the systems are fine in composite and my Saturn looks fine through s-video on the same TV. Also with some fiddling I noticed that black & white images aren't affected. So I guess it's a problem with the chroma wiring in the cable. This isn't my first Nintendo s-video cable, either.

So just get a first-party Gamecube s-video cable, right? Trouble is, such a thing is not on Nintendo's online store, or even listed (regardless of availability) on Amazon or Gamestop. Plenty of random third-party ones out there, of course. I know I'm only out a few bucks if I buy one and it doesn't work out, but I'd really like to just get one that I know works properly and be done with it.

Why am I having such a hard time with s-video on Nintendo systems? And can anybody point me to a surefire s-video hookup?

[Gentlegamer]

The solution is the first party GameCube cable, as you mention. I was able to order from Nintendo 3 years ago, thankfully. I guess your best bet now is ebay.

[RCM]

While I haven't tested every third-party SNES/N64/GC S-video cable out there, go with the first party cables if you can fine 'em. Last I looked they were harder to find than the GC component cables.

[joshnickerson]

j_factor, out of curiosity, which brands of s-video cable have you been trying? I've started thinking about an s-video hookup, and I'd like to know what to avoid.

[Aussie2B]

It's a shame that it's so hard to find now. I feel lucky that I bought one when they were still sold online by Nintendo. Now I wish I had bought a spare just in case. Good luck in your search for one.

[BlastProcessing402]

I've got a first party one I bought from Babbages during the SNES days, and I've never noticed a bit of difference between that and any of the various third party (multisystem) cables I've since acquired over the years.

[Sabz5150]

I picked up a used set of s-video Monster (yeah, I know) cables that I use with my SNES. Very sharp image, looks hoss on my 40". They're also like 10 feet long! Best thing is they were listed as generic third party cables, so they only ran me 1.99 plus tax at your local GeStapo. I also have a set for my PSOne, same place, same price.

[j_factor]

j_factor, out of curiosity, which brands of s-video cable have you been trying? I've started thinking about an s-video hookup, and I'd like to know what to avoid.

This current one, I don't know the brand of. It was sold to me as a generic cable, and doesn't say anything on it. Same thing with my previous one (though the two are not the same, as they look a little different). But my first one was a Mad Catz.


It's a shame that it's so hard to find now. I feel lucky that I bought one when they were still sold online by Nintendo. Now I wish I had bought a spare just in case. Good luck in your search for one.

Well, I also wish I'd bought a Gamecube component cable from them when I could have. :p

[theclaw]

Perhaps Nintendo only sold a SNES s-video cable in stores for Japan, like the Gamecube component cable? We know its Japanese box looks like this:

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/S-Terminal-Cable-SF-Parts-JP-GAME-/00/s/NDgwWDY0MA==/$(KGrHqV,!hUE6cefp35+BOn3YsUbgg~~60_3.JPG

But I've never seen a US or Europe SNES box, or an N64 or Gamecube branded box from any region. (even Japan...)

[Mitch]

I have a boxed 1st party SNES S-video cable. I use it for the SNES and N64. If I remember later I'll take a pic and post it.

Mitch

[Kitsune Sniper]

Most generic Gamecube / SNES S-Video cables suck. They add a ton of interference for some reason.

The best ones are the official Nintendo ones (hard as hell to find on eBay, most people will sell cheapy generic Chinese ones) or the Monster branded ones (usually overpriced, but the quality's perfect.)

[j_factor]

That's two people saying the Monster ones are good. No luck with first-party, so I just bought a Monster cable off eBay. I noticed it does not have a yellow composite plug on it, which is probably a good sign. All three of my Nintendo s-video cables did, while my s-video hookups for other systems (Saturn, PSX, DC, PS2, Xbox) never have.

[BlastProcessing402]

Perhaps Nintendo only sold a SNES s-video cable in stores for Japan, like the Gamecube component cable? We know its Japanese box looks like this:

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/S-Terminal-Cable-SF-Parts-JP-GAME-/00/s/NDgwWDY0MA==/$(KGrHqV,!hUE6cefp35+BOn3YsUbgg~~60_3.JPG

But I've never seen a US or Europe SNES box, or an N64 or Gamecube branded box from any region. (even Japan...)


As I said a few posts before yours, I bought one at a Babbages (later merged into GameStop). Not sure if I still have the box somewhere or not, but it was fairly typical of Nintendo's american SNES stuff.

[kedawa]

The one I have has a purple AV connector and no composite.
It works great and has no noticeable interference.

[jwmollman]

I actually bought a third-party S-Video cable for my SNES not too long ago from Amazon. It's this one (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NBWRBQ), and it's extremely cheap, but it's built very sturdy and does the job. I've noticed a tremendous difference in video quality.

Here's a picture of mine (http://ompldr.org/vYXl0bg/Photo0012.jpg). That picture makes the connections look rusty, but they're not at all. They're very clean and in shiny condition.

It says it's for the GameCube and Nintendo 64, but I figured since they all have the same Multi Out AV connection, it should work with the SNES, and it does. The colors are very vibrant with no color-bleeding as they were with the composite connection. Text is very sharp, too. The cable also comes with a composite video connection to fall back on if you're on a TV that doesn't have S-Video. That's pretty handy.

[Mitch]

Here's a pic of my SNES S-Video cable and package.

Mitch

[BetaWolf47]

I use a 3rd-party one that has connectors for SNES/N64/Gamecube, PS1/PS2, Xbox, and Xbox 360. It looks great, with no distortion, but the pins on the s-video cable are sort of flimsy. I use it on my N64 and PSX.

The one I have has a purple AV connector and no composite.
It works great and has no noticeable interference.

Purple AV connector?

[Drixxel]

I picked up 3 different third party SNES s-video/AV cables in a lot of assorted gaming hook-ups on eBay some months back and all but one of them gave a bunk, interference-riddled picture. The single success of an s-video cable features a multi-out connector of semi-transparent plastic, although that's not much to go on. While there's no branding on the two shitty cables (which are practically identical, aside from slightly different colouring inside the s-video connector), I'm fairly certain these are from Pelican after having poked around for comparison photos. As if their being an s-video/AV combo cable wasn't warning enough, should anyone find a set of these, avoid them:

http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/2218/p3083004r.jpg

Anyone had experience with the Innovation s-video cables? Reviews on Amazon paint them to be legitimate, although the build quality is said to be on the low side. http://www.amazon.com/Gamecube-S-Video-Cable/dp/B000P6R46W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319781203&sr=8-1

[j_factor]

So just an update, I got the Monster cables, which are in fact purple. Works great -- no meshing, and a definite improvement over composite. Now if only N64 and Gamecube supported RGB.

[Kitsune Sniper]

I picked up 3 different third party SNES s-video/AV cables in a lot of assorted gaming hook-ups on eBay some months back and all but one of them gave a bunk, interference-riddled picture. The single success of an s-video cable features a multi-out connector of semi-transparent plastic, although that's not much to go on. While there's no branding on the two shitty cables (which are practically identical, aside from slightly different colouring inside the s-video connector), I'm fairly certain these are from Pelican after having poked around for comparison photos. As if their being an s-video/AV combo cable wasn't warning enough, should anyone find a set of these, avoid them:

http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/2218/p3083004r.jpg

Anyone had experience with the Innovation s-video cables? Reviews on Amazon paint them to be legitimate, although the build quality is said to be on the low side. http://www.amazon.com/Gamecube-S-Video-Cable/dp/B000P6R46W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319781203&sr=8-1

Those were also sold at Gamestop, as Gamestop-branded cables. I bought those. Then I threw them out.

Then I saved up money to buy the Monster ones.

[kainemaxwell]

I have a third-party set, no problems. But always up to get a better set.

[Sneak613]

Interesting. I've always been curious about the option of S-video for the SNES. I've always just used the standard A/V cables, but now that I've seen this thread, maybe I should get in on some of this "S-Video Action" ... ;)

[Peonpiate]

Interesting. I've always been curious about the option of S-video for the SNES. I've always just used the standard A/V cables, but now that I've seen this thread, maybe I should get in on some of this "S-Video Action" ... ;)

It looks great on the SNES, much better than composite obviously. I also had the Monster cables [purple] and they didn't dissapoint. GC games benefited the most from it vs SNES. TV quality is another point. If you have a good CRT tv it will only look that much better once its hooked up.

I got my cables at Gamestop aswell years ago, for $10. They were used and listed as generic. They are extremely sturdy and well made, the cable itself is thick like a Ethernet cable. Compare that to the pic someone posted of a Pelican cable and its no wonder the Pelican cable sucks - the cable thickness is tiny and it feels flimsy, it also likely has no shielding [hence interference] since its so small.

[Aussie2B]

The older the system is, the less it benefits, if you ask me. SNES gets a nice improvement, but if you're playing a N64 and GameCube with composite, then that should be the real reason to pick up an s-video cable. N64, PS1, GameCube, etc., they all look like mud on composite.

[j_factor]

The older the system is, the less it benefits, if you ask me. SNES gets a nice improvement, but if you're playing a N64 and GameCube with composite, then that should be the real reason to pick up an s-video cable. N64, PS1, GameCube, etc., they all look like mud on composite.

I think anything from Genesis up benefits about equally. Hell, there are people who claim that you shouldn't use s-video on N64. Of course I don't agree with that...

Then again, N64 is the main reason I picked up this cable, because SNES supports RGB and N64 doesn't. Gamecube is secondary, as it also doesn't support RGB (except the PAL unit), I'm not paying $90 for a component cable, and I only use it for a few imports and the GB Player anyway.

[Aussie2B]

I wish the Genesis supported s-video out of the box, considering it has pretty poor composite output. I think the difference would be more striking than with the SNES since, relatively speaking, it has pretty good composite, although this is just conjecture since I've never seen an s-video modded Genesis in action. I'm not interested in mods myself, but I'll always try to take advantage of the best that a system supports naturally, even if the difference isn't that significant.

[BetaWolf47]

Found the ones I use. They're Madcatz.
http://di1-4.shoppingshadow.com/images/pi/a5/de/70/96167963-450x450-0-0_Mad+Catz+Universal+S+Video+Audio+Cable.jpg

They work as they should. No interference. Crisp, clear video. Plus, they work on PSX, PS2, Xbox, and Xbox 360 as well. But like I said before, the pins in the s-video connector are a little flimsy.

[Leo_A]

Found the ones I use. They're Madcatz.

They work as they should. No interference. Crisp, clear video. Plus, they work on PSX, PS2, Xbox, and Xbox 360 as well. But like I said before, the pins in the s-video connector are a little flimsy.

There are other varieties of this cable out there. Before the 360 was released, their design just had the standard Nintendo connection, the standard Sony connection, and a Xbox connection.

Then, they did what you said when the 360 was released. And when the Wii and PS3 were released, they did a redesign that eliminated everything except the three connections for the current gen consoles.

And they also had a component version of all three cables (Although you could just use the optional composite connection when you had it plugged into a GameCube or PSOne).

These are what I've bought to upgrade many of my consoles with due to being so cheap and I've been pleased (Component for my Xbox and Playstation 2, s-video for my PSOne, and s-video for my SuperNes and Nintendo 64, and for a time, my GameCube). They get the job done with no apparant problems, although I sure wouldn't want to plug and unplug these very often. Bent a s-video pin on one of them the very first time I tried to plug it in since they're so fragile.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Found the ones I use. They're Madcatz.
http://di1-4.shoppingshadow.com/images/pi/a5/de/70/96167963-450x450-0-0_Mad+Catz+Universal+S+Video+Audio+Cable.jpg

They work as they should. No interference. Crisp, clear video. Plus, they work on PSX, PS2, Xbox, and Xbox 360 as well. But like I said before, the pins in the s-video connector are a little flimsy.

Are you kidding me, those are just as bad as the Pelican ones!

[Leo_A]

Their build quality is poor, but I see no apparant problems with the video signal. And since they're not being constantly plugged and unplugged, how cheap they are hasn't became a problem for me. Five of my consoles these cables or variations of them with no problems, including no sign of the common mesh effect some people notice with cheap s-video cables on the SuperNes and N64.

[Ace]

If you see a mesh pattern in S-Video, it's because the cable itself is not actually passing Chroma/Luminance into the S-Video plug. They're passing COMPOSITE on the Luminance pin instead. If you were to take a multimeter to the Composite plug and to one of the top pins of the S-Video plug(not too sure which), you'd hear your multimeter beep, indicating there's a connection between the Luminance pin on the S-Video connector and Composite. A lot of dual Composite/S-Video cables are like this(I was burned by one of those cables, but it was for the Dreamcast), though my MadCatz Super NES/Nintendo 64/GameCube/PlayStation/Xbox dual Composite/S-Video cable actually passes true S-Video into the S-Video connector(I can confirm this as I don't get any video when using the S-Video plug on my A/V modded Top-Loader NES, AV Famicom or Super Famicom Jr., none of which output S-Video), however on my Super NES, it induces some video noise in the audio signal which is typically almost inaudible on the Super NES when I use standard Nintendo Composite cables.

At this rate, you might as well just get one of those off-brand cables, open it up and wire up your own Composite and S-Video cables(or rewire those already on the cable). This will only work on cables with all the pins in the plug.

[William_the_Saint]

Racketboy has some cheap S-video cables ($5.99) that work well for me. Saturn as well.

http://www.racketboy.com/store/