Screenshot Samples from Grounded S-Video [Cables] for the Super Nintendo

Writing about the comparison in quality between Composite and S-Video, the attention has garnered lots of curiosity in terms of what the cable can deliver.

Some of you clicked on this page, disregarding this writing and skipped over to the screenshots, but it's okay. I'll just provide more information for those with a high attention span.

Ask yourself: why do you need this exclusive, third-party S-Video cable? Why spend on something when you can go all-out upgrading to razor-sharp RGB quality? What do you need it for, and what will its high quality do for your video gaming? "Because I need it, Kris, geez man, stop asking," says the unreasonable one.

For me, I record my video gameplays for editing (post production). Also, if something crazy has happened, or any glitches I exposed, I have it in recording in clear, crisp quality. Video gaming via live streaming? That's different but open to possibility. It's like purchasing a $5,000 video camera, but not to record any of your family/friend gatherings, but to produce high-end videos and/or films. This was why I had to scour through popular auction websites and did research to find top-quality S-Video cables I can get without venturing out to modding. Okay, well, I have one system modded, and that is my NES toploading system.

Once again, the cables I picked up was from a third-party seller located in Sweden who makes them by hand (store no longer active). I personally don't know the man, but give him some praise for all that hard work. I couldn't have done it better myself. (The cables I have, the left and right audio jacks says "enBeat" on it, and the S-Video cable has "DESCARTES" imprinted on it.)

Opening story for Super Mario World:


Title screen of Mickey Mouse Magic Wands via Super Game Boy:


Opening story from Mickey Mouse Magic Wands:


Here's a video sample of the grounded S-Video in action—Super Mario All-Stars: Super Mario Bros. - The Lost Levels on Level C-4:



(Note: Due to the interlacing in the original video, you may see a little bit of jagged interlacing due to MPEG StreamClip's attempt at de-interlacing the video, explaining why Mario "disappeared" in the video.)

Since this article isn't a review per se, I'd say the cables bring out the richness and deep, colorful gradients from the game. It's like watching hand-drawn pixel art in motion. To someone who has lived with coaxial and analog for a good while, I find this to be excellent and pleasing to my eyes.

Not bad, wouldn't you think? Just remember: unless you live in Europe, ordering these solid-quality S-Video cables will take about 3-4 weeks, depending on your location and shipping speed. Also, read the seller's description very carefully, making sure you're looking for the right cable(s).

(As you know, this cable is also compatible with the GameCube and the Nintendo 64. Big-time fans of those consoles will surely see a boost in quality.)

Without spending hundreds on devices in giving you perfect audio and video, this is best for those who don't want to break the bank. Also, many modern TVs seem to slowly ditch the S-Video connection, so if you still have those flat-screen tube TVs, or the older plasma/LCD TVs, you may want to hang on to them as long as you're video gaming. What about an S-Video to HDMI convertor? I don't even want to try; I'm running out of time here.

Kris Caballero

Founder of KCU Network and KCU Plus, Kris has been writing since he managed a personal blog made back in late 2005. Officially back to doing computer programming (software development) and video production, Kris enjoys reading books on Mathematics, Quantum Computing, Philosophy, playing old video/DOS games, digital video archiving, and listening to sports, public radio and classical music.

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