RGB SCART
RGB SCART Output
RGB over SCART is the gold standard for standard-definition PlayStation 2 output, especially in Europe and other PAL regions where SCART-equipped televisions are common. Instead of combining the colour information into one muddy signal, RGB keeps the red, green, and blue channels fully separate. The result on a good CRT is a razor-sharp, vividly coloured 480i/576i picture with none of the dot crawl or colour bleed seen on composite.
How it works
The PS2 multi-AV port outputs RGB along with a composite sync signal. An RGB SCART cable routes these channels into the SCART block, which also carries the audio and a switching voltage that tells the television to display RGB rather than composite.
A SCART cable is not automatically an RGB cable. Many SCART leads only carry composite video through the connector and look no better than a yellow RCA cable. Confirm the cable is wired specifically for RGB and that your TV's SCART socket accepts RGB input.
Region and sync notes
- RGB SCART is most useful on PAL displays; many NTSC-region TVs lack SCART entirely.
- The PS2 supplies composite sync, which the vast majority of RGB CRTs accept directly.
- RGB carries the interlaced signal only; for 480p progressive you must switch to component or a digital mod.
For an NTSC-region player wanting comparable quality, component is usually the more practical route. But where SCART is available, RGB delivers an image that is essentially indistinguishable from component at standard definition.