Quote Originally Posted by Widowmaker
BTW, when I do get around to ordering my component video cable, should I order to more expensive "high bandwidth" variety or should I just stick to a basic (cheaper) one?
No, no, no, no, no, and NO! To call a coaxial video cable "high bandwidth" is pure, unadulterated marketing bullsh*t. All that's necessary is to get a well-constructed cable with adequate shielding (IF you happen to live where RFI is a problem - most people don't).
Such cable(s) are available at reasonable prices ... do NOT get suckered into buying an exotic cable with the promise that it will make a "night & day" difference in your picture quality ... it won't.

Regarding your experience with the 25' S-video cable, I concur with everyone elses POV that it was somehow defective. The length of it was NOT the deciding factor, IMO. The degradation of video signals over long runs of cable is real, but 25' is NOT considered a "long run".

Hope this helps you