Video Asylum

Posted by David Aiken (A) on July 12, 2007 at 13:43:45

In Reply to: RE: Question about DVI/HDMI cable...URGENT posted by Redbook on July 12, 2007 at 08:35:18

HDMI carries video and audio. DVI carries video only. The video in both is compatible so a HDMI to DVI cable carries video only. It may be hooked up to the audio connections at the HDMI end but there is no audio connection at the DVI end.

If you hook a HDMI to DVI cable to a DVI to HDMI cable, the only signal that is going to pass through the whole length of the joined cables is video. You won't get audio so it isn't going to be the same as a longer HDMI to HDMI cable.

If all you want is video and you're running separate connections for audio, it may work but the connection in the middle may prove to be a problem. It isn't good having the connection and theoretically a single cable would be better, but digital video involves handshake issues. I don't know whether such a connection will adversely affect handshaking between source and wherever the connection is going but it may. If it does, that will cause video problems and perhaps result in no video at all because the connection simply doesn't get made due to handshake failure. That aspect of things is going to be a 'suck it and see' issue, but satelite boxes have been prone to handshake problems via HDMI so I'd be wary.

If you really want the full benefits of a HDMI to HDMI connection you do need to get a HDMI to HDMI cable or you will lose the audio connections.


David Aiken