Ed's View - Connections

[Ed Milbourn]

I continue to be amazed at the growing number of input jacks one finds on the back (and front) of today's HDTV sets. This all started in the mid 1980's with the advent of the first audio/video components such as VCR's and early videodisc players. These devices gave rise to the "monitor/receiver" with one or two sets of composite (Right, Left, Video) RCA jacks. With the introduction of S-Video, another jack was added along with audio output jacks for the rising audio receiver market. The final addition to the analog complement was the "component" inputs (Y, Pr, Pb or YUV). This interface allowed the coupling of the wider bandwidth video information

[url=http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/articles/2006/03/eds_view_connec.php]Read the Full Article[/url]

[homerbr]

>>>The final addition to the analog complement was the "component" inputs (Y, Pr, Pb or YUV). This interface allowed the coupling of the wider bandwidth video information from DVD players to pass directly to the display, resulting in sharper pictures. However, because of the possibility of being able to copy high definition video via this interface, very few, if any, external HDTV decoder boxes use component connections.

So does this mean that since my new costco 'economy' HD LCD Screen doesn't have digital inputs that I am S.O.L. when it comes to viewing HD content on my TV?? Currently my cable provider (Charter) doesn't provide an HD option, but I will be moving to an area covered by Comcast and i had looked forward to getting the few HD channels that are available...

Homer Brown

[peter m. wilson]

Hi,

I was under the impression that DVI and HDMI were equal in the video area
but while reading a DVD player shootout I read this,

Aside from the macroblocking issue, the Faroudja continues to be one of our favorite de-interlacing/scaling solutions. It is one of only a few true 10 bit video processing chips available, and its diagonal line processing is still the best in the industry. Since the S77 has an HDMI output, it can deliver a true 10 bit video signal if the output is never converted to DVI. There is a common misconception in the electronics world that DVI and HDMI are identical except for HDMI

[Richard]

The final addition to the analog complement was the "component" inputs (Y, Pr, Pb or YUV). This interface allowed the coupling of the wider bandwidth video information from DVD players to pass directly to the display, resulting in sharper pictures. However, because of the possibility of being able to copy high definition video via this interface, very few, if any, external HDTV decoder boxes use component connections.

Hi homerbr,

Not sure how this happened but the last line is incorrect. While I could speculate on what he meant it is best Ed provide the explanation.

At this time and likely for the next few years the component analog outputs of broadcast related HDTV set top boxes will pass HD video so you should be just fine with any cable or satellite service and also OTA, over the air, HDTV. Analog outputs are still alive and kicking for broadcast HDTV content.

At some point though it is expected that those connections will be down rezzed and per past articles from about 2-3 years ago all these boxes have always had this capability and all is needed is for the provider to send the data to make it happen for ALL. To be clear this is an ALL or NONE software switch so the industry pretty much expects it won't happen anytime soon until the vast majority of analog only HDTVs and analog only receivers have been retired. The fact that analog input only displays continue to be sold is only putting off that unkown date...

This does not reflect HD-DVD or Bluray HD movies hitting our shores as I write. Please check out Shane's HD DVD primer article...

http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/articles/20 ... primer.php

...and the upcoming Rodolfo Report for Bluray news.

I have recommended for the last 2 years that any new display purchase must come with DVI/HDMI inputs or do not buy it. This is to protect yourself from potential future problems and also provide you with all available source options like upscaling DVD players which are exclusive DVI/HDMI for the most part like the very popular Oppo DVD player...

viewtopic.php?t=5548

[peter m. wilson]

Hi,
Richard, I'm not sure if you agree with the advice/opinion I've been giving with regard to "long runs" of digital cable.

In Toronto I have knowledge of a firm which makes custom lengths of an analog "Belkin" component cable with choices of termination for reasonable prices but at this stage no custom lenghts of DVI or HDMI.

In anycase my advice has been that long and potentially expensive lengths of hdmi to dvi cables are a waste of money in the long term since hdmi will soon be the norm. If someone must have a long stretch of digital cable it should be the best hdmi he/she can afford with the appropriate dvi to hdmi plug to tide them over.

Even less expensive is either to do something that will either shorten the run of cable or stick with component video and coax or opt audio and make sure their display is ISF calibrated.

Since I'm still convinced that the only technology that can give the venerable CRT a challenge in the PQ dept is the "still expensive D-Ila or it's sister LCOS I've just purchased a sercond CRT HDready display (while they last) for my wife a 30" Panny which has both component and HDMI outputs. Michael TLV HQ'd chez mois during his recent Ontario & Quebec ISF tour and fortuneately for me attended my purchase of the Panny just to make sure he could get into the appropriate calibrating menus with the remote. Had he not been able to it would have been a "NO SALE".

The SA8300hd hd decoder/pvr supplied by Rogers cable in Toronto has an active HDMI out and I connected the Tosh SD5109 dual tray dvd player. You may remember that the 5109 is the first ever prog scan player sold in NA and BTW for any of you who still use this player and have not tried DVD-R or +R which were perhaps not in existance in 2001 they seem to work.

Richard in your ISF travels if you've run accross an DAYTEK units(Costco) and have kowledge re accessing calibration menus, I'd appreciate it if ou could PM Michael with the info.

Peter M.

[Dale]

A comment in Ed's last article regarding the analog component outs for set top box makers has been clarified and Ed re-state his intent in the following e-mail:

"Yes, most set top boxes DO have, and will continue to have analog outputs - but in the future for SDTV, not for HDTV. It is the strategy of decoder box manufactures to "down-rez" all analog outputs - even component outputs - in order to mitigate the HDTV "analog hole" relative to copy protection. Ed"

So, one would think that acquiring a HDTV set today limited entirely to analog inputs would be unwise. _Dale

We thank Richard for pointing out the need for clarification. dc

[Richard]

Hi Peter,

The best advice from my experience out in the field is make sure the infrastructure wiring to the projector or display remains accessible either by simplicity of having access or putting in large conduit to and from so the cables can easily be changed out. This is the gravest error seen in many home theater installations. I would also add make sure your equipment is easily accessible for service; another grave error by installers since stuff still breaks.

As for length, HDMI versus DVI terminations and using adapters your advice is not unreasonable provided you have kept in mind the fact that adapters in nearly all cases will detune the impedance of the connection. This may or may not have an effect, The length of the run and type of cabling is the determining factor. Simply put it either works, hooray, or it won