Or so they say. DVD content manufacturers are taking advantage of the extra room on a DVD disk for added content. In The Matrix DVD, for example, you can choose the normal theatrical version of the movie, watch it with commentary from some of the crew, or watch it with the music track only. The colors are sharper, but line resolution is the same as VHS videotape. But DVD also offered substantial enhancement of the picture with an S-video cable outlet.
Component video requires three cables running from the DVD player to the television.
Again, your television must be equipped for component video before you can take advantage of that feature. And that is the disadvantage of DVD for many people. The pitfalls of buying a DVD player can be quite subtle, and many people will not learn of the problem until they bring their new DVD player home. In ignorance, they'll purchase something like a base-line Toshiba, Sony or Panasonic DVD player, expecting the added picture quality and sound. The problem is that they won't have a television or stereo on the receiving end of the signal that's capable of reproducing the enhanced output from their new player.