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General discussion

Component Cables Are Better Than HDMI....

by Psych Doc Dec 13, 2005 12:42AM PST

...Interesting but that seems to be what I'm hearing. Not only from a few posters here, but from some friends of mine and even one individual who does custom Home Theater installations.

In a way, it makes perfect sense as you have many times the "amount" of cabling conducting the signal. Three for the video signal alone.

Maybe this whole thing with HDMI is really overplayed and most of us would be far better off sticking with component cabling.

Discussion is locked

9 Posts
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CRAZY DOC.
by stewart norrie Dec 13, 2005 3:04AM PST

Whats up Doc, stewart calling This subject of h.d.m.i vs componit cables keeps coming up And in my case componit cables from my dish 811 and d.v.d. player to the hi-def Sony I own looked terrible, So I had to replace my d.v.d. player to a Denon 2910 with d.v.i. output then I added a Gifin d.v.i. switcher now the sat system and d.v.d. picture look stunning jawdropping, And yess Every time I check out hi-.def tvs in stores they seem to all be hoked up with componit vidio cables and the picture always looks good I have asked a million people why my Sony looked crappy using componit vidio cables but no one has been able to answer this happy holidays to you Mr. pro. please reply cadillacstew@aol.com

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hmm interesting...
by masterying01 Dec 13, 2005 3:52PM PST

most stores use component cause hdmi is so new and they already have a bunch of component cables laying around with outputs somewhere to put a signal to all tv's.

the reason why they look better in stores is cause they actually have a hd feed going to the tv's whereas if you're watching dvd's at home...the resolution you're getting rather its upconvert or not is only limited to 540 lines thats what dvd's come in and you can't make more lines out of nothing. for actual HD broadcasts...i have yet to see the difference but hdmi in my opinion is still very early.

there is still a lot of unused bandwidth in hdmi cables so i'm sure as the technology comes along, it'll be a lot better. aka...controlling different devices that are hooked up with hdmi just with one remote without having to go through the hassle of programming a universla...or some other stuff.

my 2 cents.

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My Opinion
by Esw88 Dec 13, 2005 10:25PM PST

As I posted on another thread, I just hooked up the HDMI yesterday, 12/12/05. The picture is the same, I think, but I have noticed a difference when I switch channels. It takes a number of seconds (annoying) for the next channel to kick in. Anyone else experience this? Also what happens if I try to hook up a receiver in to this setup. How do I still use the HDMI (cable box to TV) and the receiver? Assume the receiver has no HDMI connection.

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HDMI v. Component Cables
by SHW5353 Dec 18, 2005 2:04AM PST

I have gone around and around between Time Warner and Samsung on the HDMI connection issue with their tier-2 technical support folks.

Samsung and some --honest-- TW tech support reps agree that HDMI is the way to connect for ALL sourced video. A 0ne-stop-shop for all broadcast types. I have not gotten there in the Cincinnati TW area.

1st 8300 Scientific Atlanta Box...
-- HDMI connected but had to scroll TV source to activate it between channels
-- The screen did go BLACK and wait when switching between HD broadcasts
-- Eventually the HD picture went to ALL GREEN when HDMI was connected. This was corrected by switching the HMDI cable out for the RGB component cables that came with the box.

2nd 8300 SA Box ...
-- HDMI was detected by the TV as a source, but it would not connect. Got an error message ''No source Signal or Week Source Signal''
-- Samsung said the TV is working because it detected the HDMI source (cable connected) and it detects/connects with the S-Video input and Component input just fine.
-- Samasung (NOT TW) had me go into cable SETTINGS to ensure that the 1080i - 720p - 480p resolutions were toggled ''on''. Initially only the 720p was on.
-- After all of this tweaking the HDMI still doesn't work and I am convinced it is not in my TV.
-- TW told me ... ''The setup wizard has been bypassed with a hard software code that allows the box to automate the setup based on the TV''. That's when the buzzers and warning lights whent off for me. Who bets with me that the genious who wrote the code can't spell HDMI?
-- I have TW sending a service rep to my home Monday.
-- Anyone like to wager on the success of this call?

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Component Cables Are Better Than HDMI
by jcrobso Dec 14, 2005 12:09AM PST

Well I feel that HDMI is NOT necessarily better than component.
There are alot of things involved.
Lets stop and refelect back on USB,,
USB 1.0: realy slow, some what unreliable.
USB 1.1: 12mb transfer rate, reliable.
USB 2.0: 400mb transfer rate very reliable.
HDMI is going throught the same process, most of what we see on components today is HDMI 1.0 the spes for HDMI 1.2 are out will be showing up on the streets soon. By the time HDMI gets to 2.0 it will be very good.
The down side is if a TV has HDMI you can't find out what spec it is. The push for consumer DVD and TVs to have HDMI is realy in the copy protection that is in HDMI spec. John

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More info,,,. John
by jcrobso Dec 14, 2005 12:14AM PST
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Beginning To Agree
by Esw88 Dec 17, 2005 1:11AM PST

After about a week with the HDMI cable hookup, I am getting ready to switch back to Component. I don't think the picture is any better and in fact it might be worse. When I switch channels the screen goes black and I have to wait a few seconds before the new channel appears. Sometimes it never appears and I have to power off the TV and power on again. Very annoying!!!

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maybe the compression
by ikjadoon Dec 17, 2005 1:52AM PST

I know that HDMI inputs are one of the only inputs that are not compressed, meaning squeezing more into less. Maybe thats why the channels take longer to load, but I'd think it'd be the other way around. It can't be all about compression, because techincally it is still from the same input; your cable box or whatever. I gotta agree with the USB comment. Maybe HDMI isn't as finely tuned as it will become. I think all the hpe is because it not's compressed and is exactly outputing what you put in; compression-wise.

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EITHER YOU FOLKS ARE NUTS OR MABEY I'AM
by stewart norrie Dec 17, 2005 3:44AM PST

Bet you nice folks can'figure this one out? 2 years ago I bought a Sony KP65WV600 3 tube 3 ton rear project set next day Dish Network installed there 811 hi-def sat system using monster componit cables and the picture was terrible I called Sony and the Dish Network and was told componit should work fine next day I replaced with d.v.i problem solved then my Sony progressive scan d.v.d. player also looked nasty So I had to replace it with a Denon 2900 player with d.v.i. output and a Gifin d.v.i. switcher now the picture is stunning OK GUYS YOU KEEP SAYING COMPONIT VIDIO IS AS GOOD AS H.D.M.I OR D.V.I. So my question is Why doesnt componit vidio work for me? please reply cadillacstew@aol.com

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