I dont have a sync stripper. I suppose you are using luma and a sync stripper? The way I understand it, a Sync Stripper is not necessary if the cable has CSYNC based on this video
. Which makes me wonder now, should I go for a CSYNC SCART considering that I dont have a stripper (see option A). Or would a sync on Luma suffice (option B)?
The cables in question are these (see specification tab):
Option A:
https://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk...-ps1-ps2-rgb-scart-cable-composite-sync-CSYNC
Option B:
https://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk...-playstation-1-2-ps1-ps2-rgb-scart-cable-lead
You're right. I only use Sync Stripper for consoles that I've yet to purchase a special DIY CSync cable for. Once I buy one, then I no longer use the stripper. For the PS1, I never bothered to purchase the official Sony SCART cable because PS2 can output better looking PS1 games anyways, so I just bought a DIY cable from Germany.
Now, a small disclaimer. What I'm about to tell you is my speculation, NOT my opinion as I do not have any experience with either of those cables. I've purchased some cables from her (PCEngineFan) store, but only Sega Mega Drive and Saturn, not Playstation.
For classic gaming consoles, we normally use four types of plugs.
RF = video color, color sync, audio all in one pin
Composite video = Video color, color sync all in one pin
S-Video = Luminance signal along with sync in one pin, Chroma (color) signal in another pin = total two pins
RGB = Red color signal in one pin, Green color signal in one pin, Blue color signal in one pin, Sync signal in one pin = total four pins
RF is the dirtiest as everything including even audios in one single pin. We normally try to avoid RF for a reason.
Composite video is better as it ditches audio, but still, every video information is in one single pin. Hardcore enthusiasts also try to stay away from composite video.
S-Video seperates video into two pins, chroma (color) signal and Luma signal. Sync is contained inside Luma signal though.
RGBS is the most pristine type for enthusiasts as it now offers three seperate color signals along with independant unmolested sync signal which is also called composite sync. (Not to be confused with composite video)
Unfortunately for the PSX, while it can output pure R,G,B signal fine, it cannot output S signal, meaning we're loosing out on the composite sync. So we have to be able to tap it from somewhere. And there are three choices.
1) Simply tab into composite video as a substitute since composite video already has the required sync signal anyways. This is how the official Sony SCART RGB cable operates btw. The SNES official SCART cable works in a same way too. However, it's not ideal as composite video signal is filthy with other color informations. So the next two alternatives are better.
2) Extract composite sync from composite video
3) Extract composite sync from luma signal of S-Video
And the two choices you're contemplating with is just that.
The 20 pounds (the more expensive one) one is option 2)
The cheaper 15 pounds one is option 3)
The 20 pounds one taps into composite video to extract composite sync. While she could have done it cheaply, she has spent more money on independant hardware sync stripper device inside cable for improved compatibilities with various upscalers. That's why it's more expensive. But it also means it has identical PQ as simply connecting official Sony RGB SCART cable into a standalone Sync stripper device such as Sync Strike. Same procedure.
The cheaper one taps into S-video to extract composite sync. It does not go overboard with trying to cram in an extravagant sync stripper hardware as the 20 pounds one, but it does its job fine anyways. My cable purchased from Germany is also of this type.
Now think about it. Composite video has more video informations crammed together than one single S-Video pin. In order to extract composite sync from a composite video, you would have search through all video signal including all color signals. S-Video is better because you only need to tap it from the Luma channel, not chroma channel. While not as good as RGBS for entirely independant color and sync signals, S-Video is still the better compromise than composite video because the sync signal is only lumped together with luminance signal, not color signals.
That's why I've purchased my PS1 cable for S-video luma type, not composite video type. And in my opinion, the PQ is extremely supreme! While not as good as true composite sync, it gets closer to RGBS than Sync Stripper solution. When I was using crappy TVs with crappy cables, I always thought the Sega Saturn is more vibrant than Playstation. But having used Luma cable along with Sony BVM has changed my opinion. Very impressed with results. I've also done my share of researches and the guys and gals at Shmups have said the same thing. Luma is better than composite video. But you may want to double check with the lady before heeding my advice. I may be wrong on a few accounts.
