Register / Login

Audio Asylum Thread Printer

Get a view of an entire thread on one page

FAQ / News / Events

Register / Login

Video Asylum

HDMI connections and picture quality

104.49.244.10

TGT

For the past few weeks I noticed intermittent bursts of digital noise on my HD TV. Geoffrey Morrison of CNET described it as sparkles. I assumed it was coming in on the feed from my cable provider (U Verse) but since it was intermittent I hesitated to call tech support. I did some research on the web and one suggestion was to check my cable connections. I didn’t think this could possibly be the cause because I did have a picture, and I believed with digital technology you either have a picture at its maximum quality or have no picture. But I did check and found two plugs on my HDMI cables connected to the TV that were plugged in (obviously) but not all the way. Well, after pushing them in all the way the sparkles never reappeared and the picture quality improved.
As an audiophile, I know that cable quality can have an effect on analog signal transmission but I didn’t think that was the case with HDMI cables since they transmit ones and zeros. Well evidently, a poor connection can affect that sequence of ones and zeros.

Follow Ups:

that is right... - cloudwalker 20:39:07 01/22/15 (6)
I believe HDMI is un necessary and was not designed well. Component cables (red, blue, green) also support 1080p
- Wrong..... - Linkster 08:37:41 01/23/15 (5)
  Component video cables cannot carry a full HD signal (i.e., 1080P) as they only carry analog video.
  - Actually, component video can carry 1080i. - Markw* 08:48:35 03/24/15 (0)
    My old Motorola cable box from Comcast does it quite well.
  - Not that anybody probably cares... - cfraser 12:59:19 01/24/15 (3)
    but component video cables can definitely support a 1080p signal. The real issues are:
    -do you have a source that can output 1080p component?
    -do you have a display that can support 1080p component?
    The first is "illegal" (HDCP). Due to that, the second is not *typically* made available in most consumer displays. I can assure you that BD players that put out 1080p component are available, just as but less commonly as region-free BD players are (also technically "illegal", but easily available outside the U.S.). There are (were?) numerous "consumer" displays that will accept 1080p component. The ones I know of were not cheap, such as the Pio 141, and presumably other related "non-TV" models.
    Edit: I should say that it's hard to imagine anybody nowadays would use/want 1080p component, but 5+ years ago there was still some demand.
    
    Edits: 01/24/15
    - well there are many internet sites that say "yes it can" - cloudwalker 11:18:15 01/25/15 (2)
      just out of curiosity I tried HDMI and component routes. I could tell no difference.
      - RE: well there are many internet sites that say "yes it can" - cfraser 10:57:52 01/26/15 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: well there are many internet sites that say "yes it can" posted by cloudwalker on January 25, 2015 at 11:18:15
        
        I know for a fact it works, who needs internet sites to say it? (They're so accurate and reliable.) :) Did you understand what I wrote, maybe I was too obtuse or wordy?
        
        I doubt *you* will be able to do it though, because it is almost guaranteed that somebody who wants to do it in the U.S. would *not* have the required equipment just *by accident*. IOW you have to go a bit out of your way to get it, though it's possible monoprice has a gadget that would assist (some of their stuff is a bit legally "sketchy" in the U.S.).
        
        It is not even "legal" to put out any component video in any resolution from new BDPs now, least in the U.S.
        
        Like I said before, your first prob is getting a source that will do it, there never were that many of them over here, if there isn't some monoprice etc. gadget to convert the video. The next and vastly more expensive problem is finding a display that accepts 1080p component.
        
        can you tell me if it is? - cloudwalker 06:41:06 01/27/15 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: well there are many internet sites that say "yes it can" posted by cfraser on January 26, 2015 at 10:57:52
        
        All I know is it looks pretty good to me. I have a Yamaha S661 DVD player (with HDMI, component and coaxial out) and a Phillips 55" PFL flat screen HDTV. I used component out because I did not want audio signals going to the TV also. My video signal goes directly from the DVD player directly to the TV and the audio from the DVD to the receiver. I got a Blu-Ray player for Christmas but never had the need for it until I accidently ordered some Blu-ray discs from Amazon. The video was sharper (I had to use HDMI for the video signal to the TV and still coax for the audio to the receiver). So I tried HDMI for the DVD video signal but it was the same, so I switched back. I just assumed Blu ray discs were superior. Can you tell me if my video is 1080p?
RE: HDMI connections and picture quality - Jack G 04:35:41 01/22/15 (0)
HDMI is notorious for having bad connections. One of the advantages of buying better HDMI cables, is that they have better connectors, gripping the pins tightly so they don't come loose.
Jack

Post a Followup:

FAQ

Post a Message!

Forgot Password?

Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
	Remember my Moniker & Password (What's this?) Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:

Message:	(Posts are subject to Content Rules)

Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:	Automagically notify you when someone responds.

To view your new posting or follow-up, click on the RELOAD or REFRESH button on your browser.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Atma-Sphere Music Systems, Inc.