HDMI or Component Cable

[studog100]

Which do you use? I have a HR20-700 and I currently use HDMI but a tech guy told me I should use component. Anyone agree?

[Carl Spock]

If you have an HDMI input on your television, you should at least run the video directly to the TV through that cable. That way your video will always stay in the digital realm. Depending on your home theater receiver, you could run the HDMI through it. That may be why the tech guy told you to go component. It may not be HDMI compliant. What HT theater receiver are you using?

[bgartz]

It really does not matter, but I think most people would prefer HDMI.

[kylebj]

I'm running comp out of one and hdmi out of the other. Can't really tell that much of a difference as both look fantastic.

[techrep]

I don't see much difference and have 1 box connected via component to avoid "issues" with a BluRay recorder.

[smiddy]

I am using all conncetions except for S-video. There isn't any difference between the HDMI and Component video. HDMI puts all your video and audio over one cable, which makes it neat and tidy.

[Carl Spock]

^ That isn't exactly true.

Using a HDMI cable, the video stays digital. It is never transfered to analog.

Component video is analog. Very, very good analog, but still analog.

I can see an improvement with HDMI. To me it isn't slight but then I hear a lot of difference between hook up cables in general. If this thread is any indication, most people don't see a whole lot of difference between the two. I definitely see a crisper picture using HDMI.

[phat78boy]

I can't tell the difference, but it is a personal choice. Hook both up to your set and use what looks best for you.

[K4SMX]

To a large extent, this depends upon your TV. You should try both and see which you prefer. Additionally, the only TV's which are digital displays are some projection TV's, e.g., DLP's and SXRD's.

See this article on the Bluejeans Cable website for more information: HDMI versus Component Video--Which is Better? (http://www.bluejeanscable.com/articles/dvihdmicomponent.htm) They are also a source of reasonably priced component and HDMI cables of good quality.

[donshan]

I suspect you were told to use component cables as sometimes the HDMI does not properly handshake the digital connection to some HDTVs due to the HDMI in the HDTV- saves call back problems. If you received a HDMI cable with your HR20-700 ( I did) I would definitely test that it works OK with your HDTV, just to be sure your HDMI connections on both ends are functional while you still have warranty coverage.

Another issue in favor of HDMI is that for a number of years Hollywood has threatened to require downrezing of some HD content over component cables as they worry about copying the analog signal. All HDMI licensed products also have HDCP ( High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection). The industry has spent hundreds of millions of dollars developing this system to prevent copying of their high value HD content. This system allows the content provider to set an Image Constraint Token ( ICT) that will down rez content on component outputs. So far the industry has not implemented this copy protection system, but at some point in the future they may do so. For now component cables are safe from this down rez issue. However to future proof your system so it will display HD content, the safe course is to have all new equipment connected to the display by HDMI ( with HDCP).

See this link for some background on HDCP and ICT.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDCP

My view is that since most of the early HDTV sets did not have HDMI inputs, implementing the ICT down rez now would outrage millions of customers. However, all new HDTVs now have HDMI and eventually these old component input HDTVs will be in a sufficient minority that the ICT will be implemented, probably with Congressional approval to protect copyright holders.

This is just my opinion, but as I look over the movie titles released on the new HD and Blu-ray and all the really great high value movie titles are conspicuous by their absence. Once the ICT is implemented to block component cable HD outputs, I expect we will see Hollywood's best movies released in 1080p DVD, and resolution of many movies on HD channels will improve too because they are intentionally not at full rez yet.

[toneman]

Also keep in mind that with some (many?) displays that have it, the built-in CC decoder will not display CC info if your HR10- or 20- HD-DVR (maybe the H- series HD receivers too?) is connected to your display via HDMI; you have to enable/turn on CC via the menu option in the HD receiver itself if you want to view CC. For some/many, that may not be a big deal...but it is an issue/shortcoming nevertheless.

I do know for a fact that w/ my HR10 (and now, HR20) connected to my Panny PX50U plasma via HDMI, CC will not display even if I enable it via the Panny setup menu.

[Shawnn]

I think HDMI has a better picture as it is digital. Sometimes the HDCP is a pain with some AV receivers, if you use an AV receiver to switch your audio and video such as a DVD, HDDVD and Sat receiver. I find the HDMI switching slow and some devices will not work through an AV receiver that switches HDMI, such as Motorola cable box. I have a Pioneer VSX-84 and I have to use component video from my Cable box as the cable box using HDMI sees the Pioneer VSX 84 as recording device and shut down the cable box. So I’m not sure if all the hassle with HDMI/HDCP is worth the very small bit of picture quality HDMI offers.

[hilmar2k]

I think the HDMI vs Component is akin to Ginger vs Mary Ann. It all comes down to personal references. Me, I'll take Mary Ann and HDMI. ;)

[techrep]

I think the HDMI vs Component is akin to Ginger vs Mary Ann. It all comes down to personal references. Me, I'll take Mary Ann and HDMI. ;)

You have got it wrong. Ginger is HDMI and Mary Ann is component. ;)

[funhouse69]

As said by many this is really personal preference. For me I think that HDMI is great as it is a single cable solution to provide both Audio and Video.

In my setup I have Component connected directly to my TV and HDMI connected to my Sony Surround Processor and the HDMI out of the processor connected to the HDMI on my TV. This allows me to watch TV without the using my Sony Receiver however I have noticed more audio sync issues with this set up (through the receiver). It seems to get cleared up when I pause and restart but sometimes that will take a couple of tries.

[Michael D'Angelo]

It does not really matter. I think the PQ is just about the same.

I am use HDMI on some receivers and component on other receivers. It just depends on what looks the best to you.

One thing I noticed on my new Sony XBR is that I have a small over scan problem with component that I don't have with HDMI. So you may want to look at that.

Also connected with component cables the channels change faster. With HDMI it needs to do the hand shake thing and it takes longer to change.

[gully_foyle]

Also connected with component cables the channels change faster. With HDMI it needs to do the hand shack thing and it takes longer to change.This is more important to many people than some small potential PQ improvement.

[toneman]

Also connected with component cables the channels change faster. With HDMI it needs to do the hand shack thing and it takes longer to change.
Since the topic of HDMI handshaking was brought up, I thought I'd throw in my two cents worth regarding my own experience w/ it--back when I had my HR10-250 connected to my Panny PX50U plasma via HDMI...whenever I turned off the Panny and the HR10 (okay, placed the HR10 in Standby mode) w/ the display video input still set to HDMI, then power on only the Panny (video input still set to HDMI)--I find that I am unable to change the video input (e.g., switch to another input so that I can watch DVD) on the Panny right away...probably because it is trying to handshake w/ the HR10 which of course is still in Standby. Eventually (after about 20 seconds or so) it times out and only then am I able to change video input--very annoying, to say the least; I'll have to double-check but IIRC I noticed that this anomaly doesn't happen now that I have swapped out the HR10 for the HR20...