Video Asylum

Question about DVI/HDMI cable...URGENT

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Redbook

Just had my satellite box/dish upgraded to HD; the contents of the box included a heavyduty long HDMI to DVI cable along with a shorter HDMI to DVI cable. By connecting the two together to form HDMI to HDMI(they do connect, the DVI ends)will I get the benefits of HDMI(video and audio) or just scrap it and invest in another straight HDMI/HDMI cable? My new 50" plasma TV, home theater system and base arrive this Saturday with the set-up guys in tow to connect everything; have already purchased an optical cable for audio from sat. box to home theater amp(has a built-in dvd player upconverting), along with HDMI cable from box to TV. As stated will I need to scrap beforementioned cable? I'm a two channel music audiophile and this is a new arena for me! Well aware that DVI carries video only by itself.
Thanks for any thoughts....
John

Follow Ups:

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - David Aiken 13:43:45 07/12/07 (1)
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
- RE: NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Redbook 07:59:42 07/13/07 (0)
  It seems to make sense to me, David; therefore I will use a 'straight' HDMI to HDMI cable to TV. Thanks for the input, guys! BTW....later on if I wanted to invest in a separate dvd player(like the overachieving OPPO that everybody is raving about)could it be utilized along with the amp part of the combo unit that came with my HT package? The plasma monitor has 3 HDMI inputs......oh well I'll have to cross that bridge when I get there. Anyway, thanks again......
  John
I should work - Jack G 08:40:21 07/12/07 (0)
But I wouldn't be happy with that extra connection in the middle. Use it for now, and get a new cable down the road.
Jack

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