To Scart or not to Scart - that is the question?

[kevin116]

Hi

I have the following setup
1. Satellite receiver "TV Scart OUT" going to FreeView box "VCR Scart IN"
2. FreeView box "TV Scart OUT" going to DVDR/VCR Combo "EURO AV2/DECODER Scart IN"
3. DVDR/VCR "EURO/AV1 Scart OUT" going to Plasma TV "EXT1 Scart IN"
4. DVDR/VCR "Phono AUDIO OUT" going to AV Amp "Phono AUDIO IN"

You can see a diagram of it at
http://www.widerworldbusiness.com/re...6-av-setup.pdf

Everything seems to work OK in that the satellite and FreeView are viewable when the relevant box is switched on and I can record them both but I obviously lose flexibility for recording and watching different channels.

So, my questions are:
1. Is there a better solution for loop throughs etc?
2. Would I be better using S-VIDEO OUT from the DVDR/VCR Combo to S-VIDEO IN on the TV (I don't understand anything about RGB, CVBS, S-VIDEO, composite etc!!!!) - would this give me better or worse quality?
3. What are the options for Audio via the TV as at the moment my audio is going from the DVDR/VCR Combo to the AV Amp so if I just have the TV on, audio only comes through the TV speakers. The TV does not have any audio OUT.
4. Do I have any options/benefit for using the COAXIAL digital audio out from the DVDR/VCR combo if my AV Amp does not have digital audio in (if that exists)

For reference, connections on my equipment are as follows
Philips 42PF3320 42” Plasma TV
> EXT1 Scart: audio, CVBS/RGB inputs AND audio, CVBS outputs
> EXT2 Scart: audio, CVBS/S-VHS inputs AND audio, CVBS outputs
> DVI: 19-pin and audio input
> “Side connections”
--> CVBS
--> S-VIDEO
--> L&R Audio input
Piccies of connections are on page 11 of the manual at
http://www.p4c.philips.com/files/4/4...10_dfu_eng.pdf

Daewoo DVDR/VCR combo
> L&R Audio output
> Component/Progressive Video Out (Y Pb Pr)
> EURO AV1: Composite output and RGB output
> EURO AV2/DECODER: Connection of an additional device
> COAXIAL (Digital Audio Out)
> S-VIDEO OUT

Durabrand Freeview Box
> TV Scart: audio output, CVBS output
> VCR Scart: audio input, audio output, CVBS output, CVBS input

Telestar TELEDIGI 1S Satellite Receiver
> TV Scart: CVBS or RGB output
> VCR Scart: CVBS input and output

Sherwood-Newcastle R325RDS AV Amplifier
> Phono IN
> CD IN
> AUX/TV IN
> VCR1 IN

Thanks for any advice you can offer to improve video and audio quality which is not too bad but I want to know if I can indeed make it better.

Regards
Kevin

[michaelT1888]

using component will make video of a higher standard(i.e blue, green and red)

[kevin116]

Thanks Michael

So do you mean I should connect the "Component/Progressive Video Out (Y Pb Pr)" of my DVDR/VCR combo to a connection on my TV? If so, any advice as to which connection - EXT1, EXT2, "side connection CVBS" or S-VIDEO?

Regards
Kevin

[GreenBars]

Your TV doesn't have component video inputs. I'd recommend you to look in to getting a decent scart switching box and make use of the RGB outputs and inputs on your kit.

Let me know if you need any more help.

[kevin116]

Hi GreenBars

Thanks for your reply.

When you say a scart switching box, do you just mean that this would add more scart sockets to my TV allowing me to connect each of the sources to a separate scart? Or is there some other advantage that I would get from this? Also, with a scart switching box, would this mean I would have to manually switch to the correct scart output?

Also, any views on what would be best for audio? I see 2 options
1. connect each of the sources (digibox, freeview & dvdr/vcr combo) to a different audio input on my amp OR
2. use a scart-to-phono lead to just have one audio output going from the TV to the amp

Thanks again
Kevin

[GreenBars]

What types of input/output are available on the AV2 of the DVDR/VCR combo? RGB? S-video?

Regarding the audio, both of the options you set out are viable. The benefit of the former is that the audio signal goes through less circuitry, though the improvement may be negligible.

[kevin116]

Hi GreenBars

Thanks for your reply.

The AV2 on the DVDR/VCR combo is a scart connection. I had a look through the manual but couldn't see any more information about it. I thought I had struck lucky when I found the Daewoo UK site with manuals on it but the one for my unit is the only one with a dead link
There is one at http://www.de-direct.co.uk/downloadb...vd/DH6100P.pdf which has the same basic info for AV2 that I posted originally i.e.
Daewoo DVDR/VCR combo
> L&R Audio output
> Component/Progressive Video Out (Y Pb Pr)
> EURO AV1: Composite output and RGB output
> EURO AV2/DECODER: Connection of an additional device
> COAXIAL (Digital Audio Out)
> S-VIDEO OUT

Thanks again for you assistance
Kevin

[GreenBars]

Kevin116,

I'll try to post my idea tomorrow.

[GreenBars]

This is the best I've been able to come up with - it means purchasing a few items:

• Buy one of these, or someting similar.
• Connect the DVDR/VCR's 'EURO AV1' scart, the satellite receiver's 'TV' scart and the Freeview box's 'TV' scart to the AV Control Centre's scart inputs.
• Connect the AV Control Centre's scart output to the TV's 'EXT1' scart.
• Connect the TV's EXT2 scart to the AV amplifier's 'AUX/TV' input.
• Make sure that both the satellite receiver & the DVDR/VCR are set to output RGB signals.

That should sort out your viewing and sound, now for the recording:

• Buy one of these, or something similar.
• Connect the satellite receiver's 'VCR' scart and the Freeview box's 'VCR' scart to the scart switcher's scart inputs.
• When recording, manually select which input you want to record from - satellite receiver or Freeview box.

[kevin116]

Hi GreenBars

I thought the Thanks button would give me an input box so here it is separately.

Thank you for spending time on this - it makes a lot of sense. All I have to do now is save for the extra items and spend a bit of time on the more-boxes-factor with my wife!

Thank you once again

Kevin

[GreenBars]

My pleasure.