I got 3 sets of S-Video cables for my SNES, N64, and Gamecube but they all seems to give me crap video. It's like trying to use RF cable hooked to a TV about 5 miles away. The original composite video cable worked far better. I took a look into the plug and I see this: If the pinout I have from Google search is right, that is pin 7, 8, 11, and 12 connected to the plugs. Those are luma, chroma, L+R (mono), and L-R (for stereo calculating) Seems like it's wired correctly for S-Video and not the cheap 1 wire from composite pin to Luma+Chroma pin that some eBay seller may try to sell (unknowingly or deliberately) The only thing left I can figure is there's no ground connection, could that cause really crap video?
I would say so, that is pretty bloody crazy lol! Also don't forget the different region's all got subtly different cables (eg PAL AV cable has resistor in cable whilst US doesn't).
I'll try a different S-Video from a different seller, one whose listed picture shows different brand to rule out cheap and badly made cable.
The plug is molded, it won't be easy to open it and add ground without breaking apart the other pins. I could add a jumper wire from inside the console to one of the ground shield of the cable but it'd look ugly.
Actually give splitting the plug open. On the AV cables they have a seam on either side. If you get a sharp stanley (I think other people call them utility?) knife, give it a few runs on either side, stick the knife in the seam and twist. It should come apart easy enough. Have done this pelnty of times modifying the generic AV cables for Australian consoles.
My friend has an official Nintendo composite cable which to be perfectly honest looks just as good as S-Video in some cases. I have no explination why the colours are so clean with this one particular composite cable but for whatever reason it is exceptionally good, enough to want to keep on to it. Perhaps you your self have one of these cables making the S-Video look worse than it actually is.
