Question:
Hello, Big Picture Big Sound,
I have been reading your site and the responses to questions from readers, so I thought I would post my question and hope you can provide me with the hookup info I need.
I currently have a home theater that has a ceiling-mounted Dwin 500 CRT projector that died 3 months ago that will be replaced by a new JVC DLA-RS1. The Dwin video input was connected to a Faroudja line doubler via component cables with audio output via fiber optic to a Lexicon preamp.
I will not be using the Faroudja with my new JVC projector, but will be using existing audio connections, which are fiber optic.
I have also bought an HD-DVD player and have upgraded to the DIRECTV HD DVR, both of which have component and HDMI outputs. I have read that component video over 15-25 foot lengths is more stable and delivers a higher quality HD picture than HDMI cables.
I am aware that DIRECTV maxes out at 720p/1080i and my HD DVD outputs 1080P, although I am not sure if 1080P24 which the HD-DVD can output is relevant in the questions I am asking.
My question is can I use the existing component cables for either HD device without any degradation of picture quality and if there will be a degradation of picture quality, which would be worse, the DIRECTV or the HD DVD.
Thanks for all input.
-Ben S.
Answer:
Hi, Ben,
Well this is the first time I've heard the suggestion that component video is better than HDMI at certain lengths, and I'm not sure I'd agree with that. Signal degradation is more likely to occur at long lengths with analog cables than with digital. Though it is true that poorly made HDMI cables can have trouble in lengths greater than 2 or 3 meters, the same can be said for component video. Generally speaking, it's best to keep the video signal in the digital domain as long as possible from source to display, and this means HDMI.
With high quality construction techniques, it's possible to manufacture passive HDMI cables that can support the full 1080p HDTV bandwidth in lengths up to about 50 feet. Lengths over that generally require an active repeater or amplifier to be inserted into the chain to boost the signal. But if you're keeping it under 5 meters (16 feet), any HDMI-certified HDMI cable, made by a reputable manufacturer, should be perfectly up to the task.
One thing that you need to consider is that HD-DVD players require HDMI in order to pass a full 1080p signal to a display. If you use component video cables for the HD-DVD player then your output from actual HD-DVD discs will be limited to 1080i, and your output of standard (upconverted) DVD titles will actually be limited to 480p. So definitely use HDMI for the HD-DVD player if possible. For the HD-DVR, since its output is limited to 1080i max, high quality component video cables should be perfectly acceptable, though even there you could see a slight improvement in HDMI (vs. component) on high quality 1080i source material.
Another thing to consider is that the latest next generation surround sound formats on HD-DVD (Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD) cannot be carried over standard fiberoptic digital cables. They can only be carried digitally over HDMI cables (or via multi-channel analog cables). Your Lexicon probably does not support HDMI audio processing, though, so if you really want to take full advantage of these new audio formats, you'd need to upgrade your processor to one that does. If you use standard fiberoptic (TOSlink) cables to carry the audio signal then your HD-DVD player will actually down-convert the higher quality audio signals to a legacy Dolby Digital or DTS signal that your processor can handle.
But the other benefit of upgrading your processor or receiver is that if you buy a newer processor or receiver that supports HDMI switching, then you can shorten the lengths of your HDMI cables, using 1-meter or 2-meter cables between your source devices and receiver, then just use a single high-quality HDMI cable between receiver and projector.
There are a few options available - you could just keep the exact configuration you have now with component video for everything. But to get the best performance out of your HD-DVD player, you're going to want to use HDMI as the connection format for that.
Below are some links to high-quality component video and HDMI cables from Impact Acoustics ("Cables To Go"). You can save 20% on all orders using coupon code "BigPic" at check-out. This can get you a high-quality 5-meter HDMI cable for about $40 after discount:
Regards,
-Chris
