S-Video and Mini-DIN Cables

What S-Video adds, and which mini-DIN plug you have

S-Video separates brightness from color onto two wires inside a 4-pin mini-DIN plug, which gives a sharper, cleaner picture than composite and avoids color bleed along edges. It is still standard definition (480i or 576i) and carries video only, so audio needs a red and white cable. The 7-pin mini-DIN socket on some graphics cards and laptops accepts a 4-pin S-Video plug, and its extra pins carry composite or component signals when a special adapter is used. Other mini-DIN plugs, such as the 6-pin PS/2, are not video connectors.

Adapters, lengths and listings that are not video cables

Male-to-male S-Video cables connect a source to a TV or capture card, and longer runs lose sharpness. A simple S-Video to composite adapter works in one direction, from an S-Video output to a composite input, and gives up the sharpness advantage. Some listings in this category are spare parts for printers or rugged laptops, and a few are optical network cables, so confirm S-Video and the plug type in the title.

Questions about S-Video and Mini-DIN Cables

Is S-Video better than composite?

Yes. Because brightness and color travel separately, S-Video shows sharper detail and less color bleed. Both are still standard definition, so neither can show an HD picture, and both are analog.

Does S-Video carry sound?

No. S-Video is a video-only connection, so sound needs its own route. Use a separate red and white stereo audio cable, or a digital audio cable, between the same two devices.

Will a 4-pin S-Video cable fit a 7-pin port?

Yes. The 7-pin socket takes the standard 4-pin S-Video plug, and the extra pins carry other signals when a special adapter is used. Make sure the output is set to S-Video in the device settings.