Component vs HDMI

[sammick]

What has been the experience of the users of Series 3 with component vs HDMI?

[gwsat]

I asked the same question in an earlier thread because my older HDTV’s DVI port is incompatible with HDMI devices. Thus, I had to connect my S3 via component. The consensus among those who contributed to my thread (which I am too lazy ot look up at the moment) was that there is no difference in PQ between component and HDMI. I concur.

[sammick]

Since there is no difference in picture quality--is there less aspect distortion with component going from an HD source to regular T.V. that is not being broadcast in HD?

[TydalForce]

Technically speaking, HDMI is a Digital signal, while Component is Analogue...

Their closest counterparts in computer-speak, HDMI is like DVI and Component is like VGA.
HDMI has the advantage of also carrying a digital audio signal along the same cable

Most people don't see a difference in picture quality between the two. I seem to recall someone posting screenshots of the same video via Component and HDMI to compare, and there was a difference... but I can't find it.

My advice, if you've got the cables, is to try both. Play some video, pause some video. Try a few different ones, and see if you can spot the difference.

If you can't, then pick whichever one is more convenient. If you can, pick the better one ;-}

I went with HDMI. Only one cable. I like the idea of the digital connection. And I'm running out of places to plug things into my TV... (TiVo is the only HDMI device I have)

[hookbill]

I too went with HDMI because it is digital, but I can't say I see any differnece.

Some say you have to be a real videophile. Others say it works better on certain types of TV's. I have CRT.

[nhaigh]

I was using HDMI but changed to component. Visually on my 1080p TV I cannot tell the difference with the TiVo's 1080i source but I can tell the difference with a 1080p source which I guess makes sense.

I use Conponent for Video and TOSLink for audio and I don't think HDMI gives me any better with 1080i.

[Flyin_Taco]

I asked the same question in an earlier thread because my older HDTV’s DVI port is incompatible with HDMI devices. Thus, I had to connect my S3 via component. The consensus among those who contributed to my thread (which I am too lazy ot look up at the moment) was that there is no difference in PQ between component and HDMI. I concur.


couldnt you use this to connect to the s3 hdmi

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10231&cs_id=1023102&p_id=2286&seq=1&format=2&style=

[Maeglin]

I was using HDMI but changed to component. Visually on my 1080p TV I cannot tell the difference with the TiVo's 1080i source but I can tell the difference with a 1080p source which I guess makes sense.
Since component can't do 1080p, you were actually comparing two video resolutions there. That would indeed make a difference.

[Dssturbo1]

to the OP-calibrate your inputs and then see which looks better to you. usually any difference is in the display settings for each input and not in the cable type used.

[Dssturbo1]

Since component can't do 1080p, you were actually comparing two video resolutions there. That would indeed make a difference.
hope you mean the S3 does not ouput 1080p over component. as there are component cables capable of carrying 1080p.

if his 1080p display is correctly handling the 1080i then it should look the same.

[russwong]

In theory, if your TV has HDMI, it means it's a digital tv, so it's recommened to use HDMI to minimize the number of conversions, as each conversion has to have some loss of signal.

So the S3 is digital if you go component, it's converted to analog, then the TV takes the analog signal and converts it to it's digital display.

With HDMI, the S3 gets the digital signal, outputs it digital via HDMI to the TV, which takes the digital signal and displays it on the digital display. This keeps the chain of video all in digital and in theory is better for the signal.

Will the loss of signal quality be visable to you? That's up to you to decide, but in general the recommend videophile thought is to do as few conversions to the signal.

[tgibbs]

The only difference that I've seen is that my CRT-based HDTV occasionally generates artifacts if there is too much white on the screen (for example, the intro to Numb3rs). Using the DVI input instead of analog eliminates this problem.

[randywalters]

What has been the experience of the users of Series 3 with component vs HDMI?I've checked it on both my TVs and i've found that with HDMI the images look a teensy bit crisper/sharper but color is a teensy bit less natural. The difference is so slight that if i hadn't compared both connection methods back to back it would not have made a difference to me, and i have a critical eye. Others on AVS have noted the same effect, but this also revealed that some people prefer a softer image over a sharper image and liked Component better, and i'm in the other camp where i like a sharper image and i prefer using HDMI.

Both my 26" LCD and 42" Plasma TVs are 768p but i send both of them a fixed 1080i signal for everything as the image to me is crisper and sharper on both TVs. When i output my various DVRs at 720p-only, the image becomes noticeably softer which i do not prefer.

On one of my 8300HDs however, i also have 480i selected as Speedchannel seems to look a tiny bit better than it does at 1080i, probably because the TV is doing all the scaling instead of the 8300HD and the 8300HD switches resolutions WAY faster than my S3 when i had it set to 1080i Hybrid, so i leave the S3 on 1080i Fixed for much quicker channel changes from SD to HD or HD to SD channels. Ok so now i'm rambling . . . . . . :rolleyes:

So in the end it will depend on your particular TV, your eyesight, and your preference, but my personal preference is to use HDMI and leave my DVRs set to 1080i. Have you tried both connections on your TV?

[bareyb]

I've always been told that it's best if you start digital to STAY digital if at all possible. Using component cables creates an analog conversion state that you avoid with HDMI. I also like neat wiring and those HDMI cables do eliminate alot of wire clutter and are easier to run (under the house and up the walls in our case) than component cables.

[Dssturbo1]

...With HDMI, the S3 gets the digital signal, outputs it digital via HDMI to the TV, which takes the digital signal and displays it on the digital display. This keeps the chain of video all in digital and in theory is better for the signal.

Will the loss of signal quality be visable to you? That's up to you to decide, but in general the recommend videophile thought is to do as few conversions to the signal.
some hdtv set take the hdmi digital signal and turn it into analog, so much for theory.

and it is what the display does with the signal in real life use on screen to the viewers eyes that counts not the theory of getting a signal from source to display.

and each set does differently that is why it is best to calibrate the inputs with the source used and then see what looks best to the viewer.
IF you haven't done this and then you did and noticed a better PQ on BOTH hdmi and compoent what does that tell you about the difference in cables??....it wasn't the cables it was the display and how it was setup.

[sammick]

I've tried both connections--and perhaps there may be subtle differences, but I can't see them--it is soooo sujective.

I set my Tivo to native and I think the picture with HD at 720P is the same on my 720P set, but there is significantly less distortion with regualr T.V. programing

[jbowden]

I changed from HDMI to Component and cannot tell any difference. When 1080p kicks in you will need HDMI according to my video technician.

[nlowhor]

I recently bought a S3 and assumed that the picture would be better through HDMI. I have a RP CRT TV with a DVI input. For this particular display, the component was distinctly better than the HDMI/DVI connection. The HDMI seemed softer. I assume this is because of fewer conversions with component in this case since a CRT is inherently analog.

So your display might be different, but in the case of this particular TV(Toshiba 46H83) and the S3, the component connection was clearly better.

[Dssturbo1]

I changed from HDMI to Component and cannot tell any difference. When 1080p kicks in you will need HDMI according to my video technician.
so when does your video technician think 1080p will kick in with the S3???? :rolleyes:

[rczig]

The component is much better than the HDMI. THe HDMI suffers from slight 'banding' during dark passages. The component has no such problems. I would prefer HDMI because it's a single cable solution, but am using component to avoid these artifacts.

I think it depends greatly on the devices and displays involved when determining which is best.

[davecramer74]

When 1080p kicks in you will need HDMI according to my video technician.

Considering the xbox HD DVD is 1080p and they dont even make a hdmi cable for it, id have to say its time for you to find a new technician? lol

You were misinformed, componant displays 1080p. The main advantage your going to get out of HDMI right now is less cables.

Your best bet is to try both and see what you think looks better and use it.

here's a good read on hdmi/dvi vs componant

http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/122868.html

[gwsat]

couldnt you use this to connect to the s3 hdmi

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10231&cs_id=1023102&p_id=2286&seq=1&format=2&style=
Nope. I ordered an HDMI to DVI cable from Monoprice and it wouldn't work. My DVR (the old one, an SA 8300HD) displayed an error message that the DVI input device was incompatible with HDMI. Quite clearly, my 2003 RCA DLP, HDLP50W151, is incompatible with modern HDMI devices. I had to return the cable to Monoprice for credit, along with another couple of parts, and eat the shipping as part of the bargain. Too bad, but there it is.

The good news is that component cable connections from my S3 to my TV provide first class PQ.

[seattle_s3]

Here is another good write-up on this subject. Also, I've ordered a few cables from this company and they work great.

http://www.cobaltcable.com/pdfs/component_vs_dvi_hdmi.pdf

[astrohip]

You were misinformed, component displays 1080p. The main advantage your going to get out of HDMI right now is less cables.
You are correct. I think the reason some people believe component does not support 1080p is that some HD-TVs only support 1080p over HDMI, and not their component inputs. Hence, "component doesn't support 1080p" claims.

I have a Sony Bravia 40XBR3--it supports 1080p over HDMI, and 1080i over component.

[Squonk]

Visually on my 1080p TV I cannot tell the difference with the TiVo's 1080i source but I can tell the difference with a 1080p source which I guess makes sense.

I use Conponent for Video and TOSLink for audio and I don't think HDMI gives me any better with 1080i.


Uhh, and what 1080p source are you watching? There is no broadcast HDTV currently outputting any 1080p. Do you already have a Blu Ray HD DVD player? That is the only 1080p source I am aware of.

[2farrell]

Nope. I ordered an HDMI to DVI cable from Monoprice and it wouldn't work. My DVR (the old one, an SA 8300HD) displayed an error message that the DVI input device was incompatible with HDMI. Quite clearly, my 2003 RCA DLP, HDLP50W151, is incompatible with modern HDMI devices. I had to return the cable to Monoprice for credit, along with another couple of parts, and eat the shipping as part of the bargain. Too bad, but there it is.

The good news is that component cable connections from my S3 to my TV provide first class PQ.
I had the same issue with my Samsung and SA8300HD but it works OK with the S3.
It seems to be the crappy DRM software that SA use in their Cable Boxes.

[CraigHB]

I'm going a little off topic here, but this thread reminded of something. I was in Best Buy the other day and took a peek at the AV receivers they have on display. Boy those are nice, but they're pretty expensive. Anyway, all you need is one HDMI connection to your TV and everything else goes into the AV receiver via whatever medium you like. What a clean solution. One box controls everything and has every input/output type you would possibly need. The cheapest box I saw with full HDMI support is a Sony STR-DG1000 for $800. There are cheaper ones with HDMI, but you gotta make sure they're not just switchers. Those can't grab the sound off an HDMI input. Anyway, one of those is definitely in my future. Sure would get rid of that rats nest behind my entertainment center. It would also solve the problem I have with only one HDMI input on my TV.

[Maeglin]

The cheapest box I saw with full HDMI support is a Sony STR-DG1000 for $800. There are cheaper ones with HDMI, but you gotta make sure they're not just switchers. Those can't grab the sound off an HDMI input. Anyway, one of those is definitely in my future. Sure would get rid of that rats nest behind my entertainment center. It would also solve the problem I have with only one HDMI input on my TV.
Cheap, perhaps, but it is a rather nice one for the price. The HDMI support is the only thing I'm not currently using in mine (that I plan to use eventually, which at the moment rules out XM), but that's only because my current TV isn't HDMI-capable. When I take care of that, though, everything will be there.

The nicest part about the video side of that box as well is not only the advertised conversion of any of the video inputs up to HDMI, but conversion between any of the different types of video connections as well (as long as the resolutions are compatible). It does a decent job of converting the composite video from my VCR to component so that I only have to deal with one input on the TV.

[davecramer74]

id like to correct my statement on componant and the xbox360. It will only do 1080i. We just tested it last night. You have to use the VGA to get 1080p. But i stand by my statement that componant will do 1080p.

so for the poster who said you will need hdmi for s3, he is probably correct If the s3 softwawre is not allowing componant to upconvert to 1080p, then its not going to work. Its in the same boat as the xbox360.

[astrohip]

so for the poster who said you will need hdmi for s3, he is probably correct If the s3 softwawre is not allowing componant to upconvert to 1080p, then its not going to work. Its in the same boat as the xbox360.

Huh? The S3 outputs what you tell it, up to 1080i. It outputs it identically over component & HDMI (and at the same time, actually). You do NOT need HDMI to watch HD on an S3. Your middle sentence makes so little sense I'm not even sure how to respond. "If the s3 software is not allowing component to upconvert to 1080p, then its not going to work."

[tgibbs]

I recently bought a S3 and assumed that the picture would be better through HDMI. I have a RP CRT TV with a DVI input. For this particular display, the component was distinctly better than the HDMI/DVI connection. The HDMI seemed softer. I assume this is because of fewer conversions with component in this case since a CRT is inherently analog.

There's only one conversion in either case. The difference is presumably a reflection of which component, the TiVo or the TV, is doing the D-to-A.