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Cable Box to TV, DVI or component video?

791 Views 12 Replies 7 Participants Last post by MacG5, Jun 12, 2004

jeffw_00

Discussion Starter · Jun 6, 2004

Sorry if this is discussed elsewhere, I looked.

I am connecting my HDTV COMCAST box to my HDTV. I can use Component Video or DVI-D. I know that for the future, DVI is better, but I also know that, in the future, DVI cables will be cheaper (and I may even need an HDCP to DVI cable at some point). So for the present, with a 12' run. is there any noticable picture degregation if I use Component Video? Will DVI be better? (as it's 2.5x the cost per foot)

Thanks!

/j

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DoubleDAZ

· #2 · Jun 6, 2004

Jeff,

There are plenty of mail-order places to get cheaper cables. Here is just one to give you an idea of prices:
http://www.national-tech.com/cgi-bin...text=dvi+cable

Of the folks who have tried DVI vs Component, most generally do not see any (much) PQ difference between the two with an RP HDTV. DVI seems to make a difference with the DLP, RP LCD, and other digital displays though, so the type of HDTV you have can make a difference in the answer to your question.

I have a 65" Hitachi RP HDTV and I've toyed with getting a DVI cable too. I keep putting it off until someone comes along who says it makes a difference on an HDTV similar to mine. Then too, you need to make sure that the Comcast box you have supports DVI. Even if it has the connector, it make not have DVI enabled in the firmware.

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jeffw_00

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 6, 2004

Good point about the DVI connector possibly not connected. anyway - my TV is a 32" Direct-View HDTV (Sony). Sounds like component is sufficient...

thanks

/j

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spike4

· #4 · Jun 6, 2004

Ok, below single link supports 1280 x 1024. What does component support? Is it close and that's the reason most don't see a difference? And to add, if your display can only go 1280 x 768, is there no difference between single link and dual?

The DVI-D (as well as DVI-I) format is available in either Single or Dual link connectors. These cables send information using a format called TMDS (transition minimized differential signaling). Single link cables use one TMDS 165Mhz transmitter, while dual links use two. Single link can support up to 1280 x 1024 whereas dual link can go up to 1920 x 1080 resolution.

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jeffw_00

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 6, 2004

My cable box and TV support DVI-D. Still - I can't see (no pun intended) the reason to spend the extra money over component If component supports 1080i I should be ducky..

/j

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jeffw_00

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jun 7, 2004

anyone know a good place to buy cables (good prices) that ships from the EAST coast? (NE even better)

thanks

/j

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cyberbri

· #7 · Jun 7, 2004

I use DVI for my HDTV/regular cable. My three component inputs are used by DVD player, PS2 and Xbox, so I couldn't try component cables for cable anyway.

But in reading, I have noticed a lot of people saying how much better DVDs look through DVI cables (special DVD players) than component cables. This may be partly due to regular DVD players only outputting up to 480i through component cables, but if you are looking for the best PQ available, I'd go for the DVI cable.

The DVI cable lets the cable box output the digital signal, as-is. Going through component cables, the STB has to convert the digital to analog, push it over the component cables, and then the TV has to reconvert it into digital, just as with S-video and composite cables. By getting rid of this conversion process, you can avoid artifacts, etc. (although component cables do give an outstanding picture).

For me, it was more necessity (having all three component inputs already taken), and I'm happy with my DVI cable.

BTW, I have a Samsung DLP 4365W and a Comcast Motorola 6200 box (San Jose area).

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shrag2

· #8 · Jun 9, 2004

I just switched to DVI with a 6200 Comcast box and a Sony LCD RP TV, I think the PQ for the SD channels seems to be worse than with the component cables. Has anybody else noticed this?

The INHD, INHD2 channels PQ seem to be the same as with the component cables -can't see much of a difference. However the other HD channels PQ was not great, maybe because the broadcast was not in HD then?

Anybody know why this is the case.

I am in the Fremont (SF bay ) area.

Thanks,

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jadziedzic

· #9 · Jun 9, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by jeffw_00
anyone know a good place to buy cables (good prices) that ships from the EAST coast? (NE even better)

thanks

/j

Forum sponsor RAM Electronics is located in New Jersey; their prices seem very fair, the stuff that I've ordered from them arrived quickly, and the cables seemed to be of good quality.

Tony

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jeffw_00

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jun 9, 2004

Actually - the best prices are on Ebay - just ordered as 12' DVI-D cable for $15 shipping included

/j

(PS - what I don't get - they certainly could have added 4 prongs to the DVI-D cable to carry audio, what's up with that?}

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cyberbri

· #11 · Jun 9, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by shrag2
I just switched to DVI with a 6200 Comcast box and a Sony LCD RP TV, I think the PQ for the SD channels seems to be worse than with the component cables. Has anybody else noticed this?

The INHD, INHD2 channels PQ seem to be the same as with the component cables -can't see much of a difference. However the other HD channels PQ was not great, maybe because the broadcast was not in HD then?

Anybody know why this is the case.

I am in the Fremont (SF bay ) area.

Thanks,

I live in San Jose, and have the 6200 connected to my Samsung DLP with DVI (answered a few replies up).

I have my 6200 set to (turn power off, hit Menu) 16:9, 1080i, and Override to 480p.

Note that I used to have my override set to 480i, and non-HD channels looked really bad on my TV through DVI (on-screen scroll bar looked funny as well), so I was using S-video to watch them. But now I have override set to 480p and watch everything through DVI.

When you are viewing TV, you can tell if a channel is coming through in HD (for me, 1920x1080) because the on-screen scroll bar is in the middle of the screen only. Other stations, it switches to 720x480 override, and the on-screen bar stretches across the full length of the screen.

Now, the ABC/NBC/CBS (184-186) channels have some programming in HD, and this should fill up your screen (sitcoms, dramas, Jay Leno, sometimes sports events, etc.). Commercials and all other programming on these channels will only be displayed on the middle of the screen, with black bars on the side. I've noticed the PQ here is better for regular shows than their 3-7 counterparts, because it's coming through a hi-quality signal.

The only other HD channels, besides 184-186 and INHD 1&2, you could check are some shows on KQED, and ESPNHD 193(?). Sometimes ESPNHD sports shows are in HD (tickers, scrolls, scores around the screen), but the content they are showing (golf, baseball, etc.) is not necessarily filmed in HD.

If you have the HBO/Showtime/Cinemax HD channels (need to subscribe to the digital channels to get them in HD), you can check those as well. I had them for one evening by mistake, when I had a technician switch out my box for a new one, and movies there looked great (Harry Potter, Britney Spears in her underwear in Crossroads, etc.).

However, I haven't used component cables to watch them - couldn't anyway, as the 3 component inputs on my TV are used by my DVD player, PS2 and Xbox.

HTH a little.

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MacG5

· #12 · Jun 12, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by jeffw_00
Sorry if this is discussed elsewhere, I looked.

I am connecting my HDTV COMCAST box to my HDTV. I can use Component Video or DVI-D. I know that for the future, DVI is better, but I also know that, in the future, DVI cables will be cheaper (and I may even need an HDCP to DVI cable at some point). So for the present, with a 12' run. is there any noticable picture degregation if I use Component Video? Will DVI be better? (as it's 2.5x the cost per foot)

Thanks!

/j

Here is a place to get two different brands that work well over 12' for a DVI-D Cable! And they are not over priced because they do no advertising on these brands.

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MacG5

· #13 · Jun 12, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by jeffw_00
anyone know a good place to buy cables (good prices) that ships from the EAST coast? (NE even better)

thanks

/j

hookupaudiovideo.com

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