Component vs. HDMI

logos424

Looking at High def satelite recievers and new dvd players and was wondering:

• What is the actual differance between Component (red,blue,yellow) and HDMI?

• Can you hook up an HD tv through component and still get 780p,780i,1080i,1080p or can you only get that with HDMI?

• Is Component Analogue and HDMI digitial?

• Someone told me that HDMI can carry sound is that true?

• I have everything hooked up through component as that is all my tv will take but to enjoy HDTV and HD DVD or Blue Ray am I going to have to purchase a bunch of new wires for HDMI when I get a new TV?

Only now looking at getting into HD tv and I am wondering about the hookups.

thehaens@cox.net

logos424 wrote:

Looking at High def satelite recievers and new dvd players and was wondering:

• What is the actual differance between Component (red,blue,yellow) and HDMI?

• Can you hook up an HD tv through component and still get 780p,780i,1080i,1080p or can you only get that with HDMI?

• Is Component Analogue and HDMI digitial?

• Someone told me that HDMI can carry sound is that true?

• I have everything hooked up through component as that is all my tv will take but to enjoy HDTV and HD DVD or Blue Ray am I going to have to purchase a bunch of new wires for HDMI when I get a new TV?

Only now looking at getting into HD tv and I am wondering about the hookups.

Component is analog...HDMI is digital. Using the HDMI input will enable you to have uncompressed audio/video. Therefore you will not have any loss between the digital to analog conversion.

Yes, HDMI can carry audio as well. The latest version of HDMI supports 8 channels of 192/24 Bit uncompressed audio, as well as SACD (DSD)

HDMI also supports 1080P, but there really isn't as of yet a huge following to this format. And from what I can see, unless you are sitting right at the monitor you can't really see a difference.

One of the advantages of the HDMI format is that you will not need a bunch of new cables. If your set up has all HDMI I/O then you will get all the video/audio over the single cable.

Hope this helps you a bit...

Scott

logos424

The main thing I was worried about is that I have everything with component now and just wondering if I could reuse my cables to still get 780p and 1080p signals.

Willow

Yes I use component and I get 480p 720p and 1080i.

logos424

So component is not capable of 1080P?

Willow

I am not sure, but I don't see why it couldn't. Unless it's some proprietery issue with HDMI. There is not a whole lot out there in 1080p

thehaens@cox.net

Component Video cables will pass 1080P, but why would you do that? You have uncompressed Audio and Video via the HDMI interface. NO need for the component video....

HMM - Here is a new one for me, imagine you want to send the A/V signal up to 100 meters? Or through your ethernet to another room...Component Video and Digital Audio via Cat-5

reeltrouble1

I am happy with component, guess I am a lowphile when it comes to video. If you have HDMI I would use it as you skip the conversion.

RT1

Toxis

why wouldn't you? Research a bit of the issues with HDMI. Video syncing has been a big deal. Personally, I'd rather have my audio match the video and just use Comp Vid. I'm a component video guy. Give me tried and true technology. What's better in audio? Analog or digital? How many people prefer Vinyl over CD? Tube amps vs. Digital path?

For all I know, I might change my opinion here soon. I ordered a DVI cable to test out the difference of 480p vs. 1080i from my Denon 2910 to my 34" tube (yet another tried and true analog technology). We shall see!!!

BTW, hdmi cannot pass SACD.

thehaens@cox.net

Toxis wrote:

BTW, hdmi cannot pass SACD.

I'll do some research on this, but I checked the IEEE and HDMI 1.2 does pass SACD...

Link in a bit.....http://www.hdmi.org/download/HDMI_Specification_1.2a.pdf too much reading on this one...

Here is a better one....http://www.hdmi.org/consumer/faq.asp

I am with you. I don't plan on using HDMI for a while. I have demo'd many a set at the local AV stores, and I am completely happy w/ using component video, and optical/digital audio. It isn't broke so I am not going to try and fix it......yet.

Scott

LuSh

HDMI is satan. What the laywers behind HDCP/HDMI protocol forgot to tell the public is that no current versions are backwards compatiable. Meaning John Doe that buys an HDMI switcher (or av receiver) can only pass the current HDCP build that repeater is set too.

An example, somebody with an HDMI switching AV receiver will never be able to switch between 1.1 and 1.2 and eventually 1.3 builds. Worse, they've already designed and built the 1.3 build even though most manufactures of hardware (both TV's and AV) have had to overhaul their product to get up to 1.2 spec. No problem, firmware upgrade right? Wrong. The entire IC tip has to be replaced on the board. Read expensive.

HDMI was built for one reason and one reason only. To control what YOU can and CANT record. The single wire, less conversion crap was just advantages thrown your way to give you the impression that it was built for your convience. IT WASN'T.

adam2434

Here are my personal experiences/thoughts on HDMI, based on the equipment in my signature. These only relate to picture quality.

1) I've had no compatibility issues so far using HDMI for my DVD player and HD cable box to my projector.

2) For HD cable, I don't think I can see any difference between HDMI and component. Therefore, I have not experienced the touted benefit of no A-D conversion with HDMI.

3) My DVD player's upconverted signal through HDMI is a significant improvement over 480i/p through component - smoother with less grain/noise. This is a benefit of the upconversion, not HDMI per se (based on my HD cable observations above). I believe the upconverted picture would be as good through component, if my player supported this (which it does not).

4) Compatibility with upconverted and HD/BluRay DVD is the only real reason for HDMI that I can agree with at this point. Most upconverting DVD players will only pass the upconverted signal through HDMI (this player is one exception I know of - http://www.projectorcentral.com/neodigit_hvd2085.htm). It's too early to tell if all/most HD DVD BluRay discs will be able to be played at full resolution through component.

Based on my experience so far, I would have to agree that HDMI is more about copy protection than picture quality improvement. As far as the convenience of carrying audio and video, too early to tell.

I'm excited about a high res DVD format (assuming they settle the format war). However, I think it would be a big mistake for the movie studios to only allow full resolution through HDMI, making it incompatible with older non-HDMI/DVI HD displays, which are the majority of HD displays in homes today.

drew spelts

I think LuSh has a great point because that was a big deal when i bought my Sony TV that it was compatible both ways with the DVI cable not to be confused with the HDMI.

RSTERN

I like firewire, but that died quickly because they cannot control what you can record. I have my mits hooked up to the hi def cable box with componet and firewire, I think there is a slight better picture with the firewire, but when you use the firewire you lose all the on screen info. so do not watch it that way very much.