I have been using the stock S-Video to RCA converter that came with my Dell Inspiron 3800 for a couple years now. It’s a cheap little converter that’s hardly shielded and barely 1/16th of an inch thick. I replaced it with a cheap cable from Radio Shack, but after a year that cable broke and the color information ceased being transmitted.

Parts Express had a deal last week selling 10 feet of Monster Cable S-Video for $10. It was too cheap to pass up. I have been pleasantly surprised with the quality of the video on my 27″ analog television with the new cable. It’s likely anything with adequate shielding would’ve been an improvement, but the difference is definitely noticeable. Sadly the cable is back up to $30/ea, so I won’t be getting another.