HDTV and Home Theater Podcast #270 - Movie Downloads and HDMI vs. Component

[The HT Guys]

We receive emails all the time from listeners asking us about cables. Many ask what they would be missing of they were to use Component cable instead of HDMI. From a picture point of view your not giving up too much. From an audio point of view you would need to run eight RCA cables to bring in Dolby True HD or DTS MA sound tracks. Eight cables for audio and three for video. That's eleven cables to do the work of one HDMI cable. So with such a big advantage in cable management alone, we found it interesting that professional installers preferred to use component cables.

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[dabhome]

The other big advantage for HDMI is the use of good upscaling DVD players (such as the Oppo Digital). If you don't use HDMI you can't upscale more then 480p.

[akirby]

Unless you have a native 480p CRT for viewing SD DVDs. Then you don't need to upscale.

[Richard]

If the structural wiring is to be sealed up without any future access I always run both component and HDMI for the client; been that way since DVI was available. Not doing so borders on professional negligence... analog component will be shut down altogether, it's just a matter of time and now the hand writing is already on the wall with some blu-ray players being released with HDMI only.

[dabhome]

I agree. My brother only had component put in. At the time I asked why component instead of HDMI and the installer told me HDMI was not always reliable. Unfortunately, at the time I did not know enough to argue with him. So now my brother is paying the price.

However, the system put in with component looks so much better then my brother's previous setup he doesn't even realize it could be better and I suspect doesn't care much. <sigh>

David

[emondragon]

I have my Sony DHG-HDD500 DVR connected to my Toshiba 26" HD LCD TV via component cables. SD TV programs seem alot clearer and the picture was spread across to the widescreen automatically. Additionally, the TV reports the signal is at 1080i. I did have the Sony connected to the TV with HDMI using a HDMI switch. Also, I receive my HD TV programs using Comcast cable, and the picture was plagued with heavy pixelation on the HD programs. The problem seemed to correct itself by switching to the component cables and by-passing the HDMI switch. It could have been I was using an inferior HDMI cable (which I corrected) or the HDMI switch box may have been the problem.

The HD programs seem as clear using the component as it did with the HDMI cable. My audio is using the TV speakers and didn't need the digital audio setup. I am not saying the pixelation was caused by my HDMI setup; it could have been that Comcast cleaned up their act by correcting the signal at the same time I made my switch to component. The Sony DHG-HDD500 seems to have been designed to lean more towards component cable usage; so I just left it with the component setup because it seemed as clean and was automatiic. It seems you can get an upscale picture using component, if the equipment is designed for it.

[Richard]

Broadcast will be the last service to shut down analog component but this has already been a problem in the form of DVD players and this year, some blu-ray players.

To be clear, I would not run HDMI/DVI only in a sealed structural wiring application either! You want both!

[dabhome]

The HD programs seem as clear using the component as it did with the HDMI cable.

I hooked up both HDMI and component and then switched using the TV. The image looked better with HDMI so that is what I use. You may want to do your own test.

It makes sense that HDMI looks better then component. Especially, if your cable system is all digital (like mine.) To go by component it has to convert from digital to analog (component) and then back to digital. Any conversion will cause a reduction in image quality. Also analog (component) can introduce artifacts from the cable.

It seems you can get an upscale picture using component, if the equipment is designed for it.

Only DVD players can't upscale using component due to licensing restrictions. Other devices, such as a cable box, can upscale.

One thing you mentioned is that your cable box upscales, but so does your TV. And it probably upscales better then your cable box. The normal advise is to have your cable box pass thru the signal and let your TV upscale.

The reason for using upscaling DVD players, even through the TV will upscale, is that DVD players typically do a much better job of upscaling then your TV.

So most devices today (DVD, Cable, Audio/Video Amplifier, TV) will convert the signal. The question is which one will do a better job. The typical order from worse to best is Cable, TV, DVD. Audio/Video Amplifiers are all over the place. But, your mileage may very so you have to do your own testing.

David

[akirby]

I hooked up both HDMI and component and then switched using the TV. The image looked better with HDMI so that is what I use.

That's not a very scientific test. What was the source (cable, SD DVD, HD DVD, BD, satellite)? What input resolution? What's the native display resolution? It's more likely the differences were due to using different inputs (and most likely different user control settings) rather than analog vs. digital.

HDMI is a necessity for HDCP and upscaling but with the right setup you can get great video performance from component as well.

[dabhome]

Sorry I didn't make it clearer. I made sure all the settings were the same on the TV for both inputs. The source was my cable box. I tested both SD channels (480i) and HD channels (1080i). The TV is a 1080p 65" Mitsubishi DLP rear projected TV (WD-65734).

Since the cable box is a DVR, I was able to record some shows and play the same section over and over again. I also paused the image and then switched the TV inputs. The cable box outputs to both component and HDMI simultaneously.

Consistantly, the HDMI image was better. However, I did not have the absolute best component cable, but it was a decent 3ft cable. I did not do a blind test. And I did not calibrate the input sources to known signals. Therefore, there is always a possibility I got the wrong result. But, it was good enough for me.

David