Joytech RGB Scart (Scart Lead)

Member Name: DoctorDee

Product:	Scart Lead
Date:	03/06/01 (3721 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None

Disadvantages: Didn't work, contravened trade descriptions act, waste of money

I figured that the perfect accessory to go with MTV Music Generator 2 would be an RBG scart lead. Instead of the many small characters in the program interface being made illegible by colour creep, they'd all be nice and sharp. At least that was the theory.

So I asked my Girlfriend to pick me up an RGB scart lead while she was out. I re-iterated that it MUST be RGB, maybe a few times too many. But she returned with a lead that claimed to be RGB, so I guessed that my iteration and re-iteration had been worthwhile.

Stuck the thing in the back of the PS2, and in the back of the telly, which was pretty much what the intructions advised. Then I fired up MTV MG2. Same creepy, crappy graphics as before. Got out the instructions for my TV, and discovered that only Scart Socket one was RGB enabled, the other two being YC. So I shuffled stuff around so that the DVD and VHS were in different sockets, and the PS2 was in socket one... no difference. Turns out that even though it says RGB in big letters on the nicely designed box, the JoyTech RGB Scart lead for PS2 is actually just a composite scart.

Quick trip to Curry's where the assistant clearly didn't understand the difference between an RGB and a composite signal. Neither did his two mates or the manager he called over. Atypically for me, I remained quite calm. Eventually, the guy in their repair shop was consulted. He implied that I was clueless or a liar, until he tried it. Then he ate his words, his hat and some humble pie for good measure!

After 30 minutes of pratting about they refunded us for the lead, then off to EB where we bought an official Sony EuroConnector lead... and here's the rub, while the JoyTech lead was £9.99, the Sony one was £34.99. The picture's great, rock-steady and dead sharp, though. And while £35 is a bit of a rip-off, I'm not too upset.

But the thing is, on most TVs, if the AV socket does not detect an RGB signal, it will fall-
back to Composite. So if you have purchased an RGB scart, and you don't think there's much in the way of picture quality improvement, it probably isn't an RGB scart at all, and you're just getting the same crappy composite signal down a flashier lead.

Remember though, RGB scarts are great. My opinion here is specifically about the JoyTech lead, and any other composite scarts masquerading as RGB!

Summary: