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General discussion

Are HDMI cords better than componet cables?

Aug 4, 2005 11:01PM PDT

Im setting up my new TV and I'm trying to decide which cords I should use. Any advice would be apprieciated.

Discussion is locked

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YES!!! {nt}
Aug 5, 2005 12:09AM PDT

nt

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HDMI is the best for video
Aug 5, 2005 1:51AM PDT

Hello,

You may want to look at:
www.computercablestore.com

They have very reasonable prices.

Take Care,

Shawn Mosqueda
WireSmart LLC
shawn@wiresmart.com

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HD cables
Aug 5, 2005 5:13AM PDT

There are advantages to both. With HDMI you get one small wire that does it all video and audio. With Component you need 3 fat wires just for the video. A separate wire or wires are used for audio (either a pair of RCA wires, or a Toslink cable, or a digital Coax (which looks like an RCA to me)). The drawback to the HDMI is that the audio isn't 5.1 compatible. It's only stereo. Now the new Panasonic TH-42px500u has the RCA audio input with the HDMI input so if you have DVI (which is a video only signal) you can buy an adapter and still use the HDMI for the video input. I haven't tried HDMI yet, but I will as soon as the new wires I ordered come in. I assume that the picture with either HDMI or Component will be equal. The other thing about HDMI is that most AV systems don't incorporate it yet (only the Denon 5805 seems to offer HDMI switching). Right now I'm still using Component for my High Def. The only drawback to that is the jungle of wires behind the AV equipment.

Spencer @
Fireside Camera
2117 Chestnut Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
!(415)567-8131

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d.v.i cables made my hi-def awsome I learned the hard way
Aug 5, 2005 5:39AM PDT

When I had my DISH 811 hi-def satillate installed to my new SONY kp-wv600 hi-def t.v. they used componit vidio cables and the picture was nasty so I called SONY and the DISH NETWORK and they told me the picture should look great, well the next day I installed a d.v.i. cable and bam beautiful picture, Then I noticed my d.v.d picture looked terrible using componit vidio cables so I bought a $500 DENON PLAYER ALSO WITH COMPONIT CABLES , no help after spending all that money I had to buy another DENON with d.v.i. output and a GIFEN d.v.i switcher and now I have a movie quality picture from my d.v.d player and satellite I still cant figure out why componit vidio cables gave me such a louzy picture , but it did good luck to you stewart norrie

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Strange
Aug 5, 2005 7:09AM PDT

I've been using component cables for 3+ years and the picture is incredible. Viewing HiDef looks like looking through a window. The only time it didn't was when the Component was miswired. As long as the right cable is in the right socket---WOW. If not, the colors are messed up. I've shown my HD content to many, all say the picture is fantastic.

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heh
Aug 5, 2005 9:18AM PDT

HDMI video & DVI video are both DIGITAL video interfaces/protocols. You will be hard pressed to ever introduce noise into the signal. Component video is analog.

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Yes but...
Aug 5, 2005 2:21PM PDT

HDMI is a very nice way to transfer digital video and audio from one point to another. Someone previously mentioned on this thread that it does not support multi-channel audio, i.e. 5.1. This is incorrect. HDMI does support digital video and multi-channel audio and all on one cable too.

There are however limitations and cons to these apparently wonderful pros.

First of all, the connector itself is really quite poor in terms of its mechanical ability to maintain a secure connection. If you have an articulating arm, for example, on a plasma TV and you move that TV about quite a lot then you may wiggle that cable loose. This is unlikely to be the case for DVI or component.

Secondly, HDMI has distance limitations. Long cables will introduce little white flecks into the background of the picture if it exceeds ''X'' length. I won't be specific on that length because it differs from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Basically you've probably spent a good chunk of change on your new set up - so do yourself a favor and splash out on a decent cable to feed your fancy new system. Remember a chain is a strong as... well you get the idea.

DVI also has a similar limitation but withstands greater distances and component can run pretty much anywhere in your home without concern, (Mr Gates if your reading this please disregard!)

Finally, and most trickily, is the matter of the digital to analog conversion. Imagine you are viewing a movie from your fancy DVD player connected by HDMI which, as we know carries digital video to your, for the purposes of this example, kind of cheap TV. The TV will then take the digital video from the HDMI and convert it to an analog signal, ready to be displayed. How well that digital to analog conversion, (DAC), is done is the subject of many an A/V purists nightmares. DAC's come in many varieties and flavors - some cheap, some expensive. Not all do a great job.

Chances are whatever piece of equipment in your set up is relatively the most expensive, for our example the DVD player, then that piece has the most expensive and therefore most accurate DAC.

What the hell does all that mean?

Here goes! Figure out which is the best quality component, (our DVD player), and let that do the DAC. How? Connect using component cables, which carry analog video, to your display. This way you force your pride and joy DVD player into doing the conversion instead of your relatively cheapie TV.

This CAN have similar implications for resolution but I figure you brain's already fried or just plain bored so I won't go into that right now.

The bottom line is that HDMI is great for the right applications but know where to use it. As a foot note my own company only installs component cables, with a few exceptions. Partly this is a business decision but it's meant to illustrate the point that even pro's put their faith in component cables.

Terry
CEO/Owner
Beyond Home Theater
www.beyondhometheater.com

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STRANGE BUT TRUE
Aug 13, 2005 9:23AM PDT

Hi this is stewart norrie, and its true my sony kp-65wv600 looked nasty using componit vidio cables and no one has been able to explain to me why componit vidio cables would not work for me I know you are rite because watching hi-def t.v.s. in stores the picture always looks great and they always use componit vidio cables

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Are HDMI cords better than componet cables?
Aug 6, 2005 3:51AM PDT

Well, If you have HDMI connections on your HDTV and DVD player then get a HDMI cable. If you don't then use component.
In order of quality. John
HDMI
DVI
Component Video
S-Video
Composit Vodeo
RF

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HDMI?
Aug 8, 2005 4:58AM PDT

Your average Joe is going to have a hard time defferentiating between a component connection and a digital (HDMI/DVI) connection. Most issues with picture quality stem from the quality of the signal source.

Usually, this all boils down to the number of inputs your set has. In my situation, I used a DVI to HDMI cable so I could use the two component inputs for my DVD player and game console.

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actually...
Aug 13, 2005 5:13PM PDT

I'm not sure that list up there is correct. First of all, DVI video & HDMI video are the same thing, just different plugs. They use the same protocal & all. AND RF might be bumped up on the list; think about this... the digital broadcasting you get from OTA, DISH, or cable comes to your receiver on an RF cable... whoopdie doo that it runs the remaining 6 ft into your TV on overpriced component moster cables. Happy

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Coaxial source
Aug 15, 2005 2:27AM PDT

The signal carried to your TV or set-top box from the satellite dish, OTA antenna, or cable source via RG6 coaxial cable is unconverted. It will carry whatever is fed from the transmission source without error; its a pure source feed. When it gets to your STB then mode of delivery comes into question. The only way to take advatage of the RG6 feed is to go straight into your TV with the original feed and let your set do the converting.

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Looks good to me
Aug 13, 2005 11:03AM PDT

When I got my plasma and had the Dish HD box installed, I used the component cables and the picture was just great. Because I had to use the component progressive input for my DVD player, I switched to a DVI connection on the HD box. I truely could not see any difference in picture quality.