Video Asylum

HDMI or Component connection?

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I recently changed the hookup from my Denon 3910 to my Panasonic plasma tv from DVI/HDMI to HDMI/HDMI. I am told that the 3910 upconverts DVDs to 720P with either configuration. Strangely, it seems as if the picture is darker, and less highly resolved with the HDMI/HDMI connection. Any comment?

Also, I recently changed the hookup from my DCT/PVR from HDMI to Component for video and ICs for audio. I expected audio to be a bit better, but the improvement in video is a surprise - it is noticeably better on SG, Digital and HD (particularly HD). The question that I have to accompany this ramble is: Am I likely to get a better picture using component between my DVD player and TV, taking into consideration the apparent apsampling with the HDMI connection? I know that all I have to do is try the hookup, but I am curious about anyone who has tried this.

Thank-you for any insights that you can provide.

Follow Ups:

RE: HDMI or Component connection? - dbphd 13:05:10 07/11/07 (0)
It's a bit difficult for me to say, given that when I switched to HDMI from component I also switched from a Sony 36 XBR CRT to a Sony 40" LCD monitor, but the LCD recognizes the output of the Sony 9100ES DVD as 1080i, and good DVDs do indeed look very like HD. Output from the HD DVR may also look a bit better, but that's a tougher call. For me, going from 3 component cables to a single HDMI cable was a big win, because I want to be able to roll the LCD out of the way for front projection of films and special programs. I'm very pleased with an Octava HDMI switcher that accepts 3 HDMI inputs and has 2 HDMI outputs.

db
RE: HDMI or Component connection? - David Aiken 06:09:21 07/11/07 (0)
I got my first components with HDMI in July last year, a Loewe LCD TV and a high definition settop box for off air TV stations here in Australia, and soon followed them up with an upgrade to a Denon 2910 DVD player. The TV only has 1 HDMI input and 1 component input and my NAD receiver didn't handle either so I did a bit of experimenting to find out whether I thought HDMI or component looked best so I could connect the DVD player to the TV in that way. I thought HDMI had a slight edge so that became the DVD connection. I subsequently upgraded the receiver to one with 2 HDMI inputs so I could get HDMI switching and now everything is connected by HDMI. I don't do any upscaling in the DVD player, settop box or receiver. All upscaling gets done by the TV since none of the other components can upscale to the TV's 1366 x 768 resolution.

My only reservation about HDMI is a slight hiccup with audio but not video between the settop box and both the receiver and TV. The TV does not recognise the audio component of the HDMI connection from the settop box at all, though it handles audio via HDMI fine from the DVD player. The receiver does recognise the audio component from the settop box but the audio signal drops out every now and then for a second or less every now and then at some times of the day with the receiver, usually during the evening news. I don't notice this problem at all at other times. It's a real but relatively minor annoyance.

I don't think the difference with video is big but I do think there is a small but subtle difference in favour of HDMI in my system. Part of that could easily be cable quality.

As an added advantage, the HDMI connections have certainly simplified the connections and I think that is a another plus in HDMI's favour.

David Aiken
It's never been a slam dunk in my system that DVI was superior to component.... - oscar 20:21:28 07/10/07 (0)
But then again, my component cable connection is actually quite a bit more expensive than my DVI cable connection (both run 50+ feet to the projector). I imagine a "better" DVI cable would change the answer but I'm loath to spend $500+ to find out when I have other component issues to work out (e.g. a new HDMI-capable Pre/Pro, new amps, DTS HD MA-capable source player, 1080p display (or 2), 2nd subwoofer etc....).
RE: HDMI or Component connection? - Jack G 12:24:02 07/10/07 (0)
Some gear has issues with going from DVI-> HDMI, so changing to HDMI-> HDMI may look different-you may have to recalibrate. In theory, going digital straight to the TV should be better, but sometimes component looks better. You aren't the first to say that. There are lots of variables involved.
Jack

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