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Home audio & video: HDMI vs. component connection
HDMI vs. component connection
by grdebauche - 2/14/07 12:32 AMI have a Panasonic 50" plasma with two HDMI inputs. I run one to the HD DVR cable box. My concern is this; Why is the picture quality better with the component connection? I bought Monster 800 series thinking it was the HDMI I already had but there was no difference. Could someone advise?. Thanks, Gary
OK, here's the bit...
by NM_Bill - 2/14/07 8:46 AM In reply to: HDMI vs. component connection by grdebaucheHDMI is the connector for the future. Presently, actual implementation by product makers has been problematic. What one needs to do in all fairness is try both HDMI & component & see which is better for their equipment.
I forget the link, but about a year ago Secrets of Home Theater HiFi tested some good components with both HDMI & component connections. Which was better? In real life it was about 50/50.
HDMI standards now keep moving with each upgrading release. Makers occasionally have admitted issues. Whether it was the maker failing to implement the HDMI standard to the highest degree, I don't know.
As to the Monster 800s, can you return them?
Reply to NM Bill
by grdebauche - 2/15/07 12:10 AM In reply to: OK, here's the bit... by NM_BillThanks for the info. I was able to return the Monster 800.
HDMI
by mstanwood - 2/17/07 6:56 PM In reply to: OK, here's the bit... by NM_BillI understand that HDMI 1.3 is on the way which will be a significant improvementover the current HDMI 1.1. My question is whether a current receiver that uses HDMI 1.1 will be compatible with HDMI 1.3. That is will the increased signal be recognized or simply downgraded to HDMI 1.1. Are there any TV's with this new format yet?
Thanks Murray
HDMI benefits
by Chuck1718 - 7/16/07 8:34 PM In reply to: OK, here's the bit... by NM_BillI bought a Panasonic 50 inch plasma (1080i) and noticed some blurring (big pixels) during fast action. Will a HDMI cable help the speed / refresh over the component that I current have?
Here is your solution!
by qsat - 2/15/07 12:20 AM In reply to: HDMI vs. component connection by grdebaucheThe Panasonic Plasma of late 2005 to end of 2006 have a software bug that affect quality of the HDMI port. There is a simple firmware update on this site ;
http://www.pasctraining.panasonic.com/SpecialApplications/ProductFirmwareDownloads/downloads1.asp
Scroll to your model and find the Picture Quality patch, If you are not comfortable with updating the firmware yourself, panasonic service center will do it for you, free of charge even if your waranty is out.
I have seen the difference on my father TV and it is really worth it.
BTW, stop buying monster products!!!! yes they are high grade, but if you go to any installer shops or ebay, you can have the same cables, made at the same factory for 1/4 the price! Monster cables are just a way for sellers to make money on TV even if they sell it under the msrp.
HDMI vs component
by bevillan - 2/15/07 7:58 AM In reply to: Here is your solution! by qsatIdeally, HDMI is better than component. A digital signal is always better than an analog one because there is no PQ loss risk via a digital signal (as long as your cable isn't malfunctioning), whereas analog signals can be the victims of long cable runs or electronic interference from other field generating sources.
HDMI also is much more convenient as both video and audio are in one cable.
The downside to HDMI is that 99.9% of AV receivers do not support HDMI 1.3 and the ones that support 1.1 or 1.2 have handshake issues with sources like sat/cable receivers.
Basically wait to invest in HDMI if you haven't done so already because once HDMI 1.3 sources are more available then you will see the support showing up in AV receivers along with the coveted DTS-HD and TrueHD(DolbyD).
Source means a lot
by tc1uscg - 3/28/07 7:55 AM In reply to: HDMI vs component by bevillanMaybe so but the picture is no better then the source. I've seen component input look better then HDMI (xbox 360 vs digital cable box)...
7 CABLE BOXES REPLACED IN ONE YEAR
by StoveGuy - 10/7/09 4:40 AM In reply to: Here is your solution! by qsatFolks, need some help here. Have had Cox Cable (Alexandria VA) replace my cable box, Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HD 7 times this past year. Cable box is connected to Samsung LN37A550 via HDMI. Had IR sensors connected using Harmony 1000. Cable box locks up every day in BOOT mode. Cox has tried to help numerous times. We disconnected IR, use Cox remote, swapped out HDMI etc. Have not moved cable box out of built in wall cabinet. TV is mounted around corner 8 feet away. Even checked signal strength etc. I also think it is stray power going from TV to cable box when TV is turned on because when I turn TV on using cable company remote, I first press TV, then power. I then hear cable box "click". This should only happen after I press the cable button, then the power button.
Here is another twist. I have additional cable box, same model in same location, supporting Samsung 52" in Sunroom 10 feet away. Have NEVER have issue with this configuration. Heat in cabinet is not an issue.
Would appreciate any and all suggestions. thanks!!
HDMI is best
by bobgilsonokc - 2/16/07 8:31 AM In reply to: HDMI vs. component connection by grdebaucheAssuming no compatibility problems with your equipment, there is a huge difference in the picture quality with HDMI over component. When I first bought a Mitsubishi TV, I had both DirecTV and Cable with HD service. I couldn't understand why the cable picture was so much brighter and crisper. Until I put both signals displayed side-by-side with picture-in-picture, I thought I might be imagining it. However, when I talked with tech support, they said to get HDMI. I thought it was 'just so much talk' to get me off the phone, but when both were connected with HDMI (the Mitsubishi has two HDMI inputs), both were great! I agree with the Monster Cable bash of an earlier post. I believe it was PC Mag or C/Net which did a test of various cables and showed essentially no difference between the Monster and regular cables. The only difference was slight when hooked up to a meter, but none of their reviewers could distinguish any difference in video/audio quality.
Depends on your TV and/or the source
by hothersale - 2/16/07 2:21 PM In reply to: HDMI is best by bobgilsonokcI have commercial Panasonic plasma, and I see virtually no difference between component and HDMI. My observations are based on pausing live HD TV, and then flipping between the two inputs to compare frames.
All else being equal, HDMI *should* look marginally better, but I think either one can look superior depending on your setup. You shouldn't just assume HDMI will automatically look best -- always let your eyes be the judge.
On a semi-related noted, you might find it interesting to know that many videophiles still use an S-Video connection to watch Standard Def material because it can actually provide a much better SD picture than either HDMI or component. I can't remember the exact reason why this works (fewer signal conversions or something?), but it is undeniably true -- at least with my equipment.
Good for you, but HDMI is far from being guaranteed as the
by NM_Bill - 10/14/07 8:07 PM In reply to: HDMI is best by bobgilsonokcbest in the real world. HDMI is the future but has had considerable implementation problems by the receiver makers, for instance. A year or so ago, Secrets of Home Theater Hi Fi did connection comparisons between HDMI & component with several popular equipment brands. Actual performance was better slightly more than half the time with component than HDMI connectivity.
New tech commonly has implementation glitches at first that are subsequently ironed out in future releases.
To know for sure in anyone's particular case, one must try & compare the two methods. Sorry, but that's the real skinny. And by the way, forget that Monster Cable marketing crap. Why pay more than any good set of cables? Monoprice.com is a popular source here, or otherwise, Sam's Club has perfectly good Philips brand HDMI cables for about $28. Why pay more?
If it looks good to "you" then go with it....
by ben53 - 2/17/07 6:56 AM In reply to: HDMI vs. component connection by grdebaucheI joined into the HDTV movement this past November. Also upgraded my DVD player and receiver and wanted to do it right. As they say, "I know just enough to be dangerous" So I had Best Buy set me up. The field support guys were great and honest. The cable installer who came in to update my converter box was help too! Both of their stories matched up as to what works. First the cable tech apologized that his company was behind with upgrading their converter boxes, (they had them just not enough to keep up with the demand) the one he installed didn't have an HDMI port so we had to use the component set up. He said from all of the installs he was doing to all kinds of HDTVs he didn't see too much difference between the two types of hook ups. As for the monster THX component cables $$ he said "They sure look pretty don't they? To bad they are hidden out of sight." He used a set of standard Phillips component cables and switched back between the two brands..... couldn't see any difference except for the big gap between the cost. I did use the HDMI cable to hook up the DVD player. Took back the "opened" blister pack of monster cables, and to their credit Best Buy refunded without question. Plasma/LCD? I guess it all depends which works best with the set up "you" have and how it looks to "you".
hdmi poor?
by jaybee37 - 10/13/07 3:16 AM In reply to: HDMI vs. component connection by grdebauchelike the person who started this thread, i too have bought a panasonic 1080p plasma, with a upscaler. it is connected with a hdmi, but my picture quality is actually POOR!, its grainy, and not pin sharp, like i was expecting, in fact my older dvd player which was just a standard dvd player, gave a significantly better picture (which incidently was connected by component cable) i will be going back to component cable when when i move home, as the cables are cemented in the wall, i really hope this remedies the picture, as i feel i have been ripped off, paying a premium price for so called "latest technology" WHICH IS POORER PERFORMANCE!
Component better for upconvert DVD player?
by jamesbdudley - 12/20/07 6:23 AM In reply to: hdmi poor? by jaybee37I just purchased a Vizio 37" LCD and really like the video quality. Before my Dish Network 622 HD receiver arrived, I hooked up via component video a recently purchased (and very cheap I'll admit) Phillips upconvert DVD player. The picture looked really sharp and I was amazed how good the upconversion looked. Today, the 622 arrived and I hooked it up to the TV with HDMI cable...great picture and no complaints. I then changed the connection on the DVD player from component to HDMI thinking it would improve even more. No dice, the picture looked "blocky" and an annoying green line appeared at the bottom of the video. I'm going to try the DVD again with component video and see what happens. In the defense of HDMI, it certainly is much easier to hook up and the cabling web is avoided, however a degraded picture is just that.
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