Component vs. HDMI

mccawgomets

I know I'm probably beating a dead horse. In a very recent thread component conectivity was preferred over HDMI for Direct TV satellite HD and HDMI was the preferred hookup for PS3.

I have an Onkyo A/V receiver THX certified/7.1 surround, a Panasonic 42" plasma with HDMI and component options, a new PS3 and Time Warner cable HD box with HDMI or component hookup.

If I follow the above recommendation, I would be connecting PS3 to receiver via HDMI, cable box to receiver via component and receiver to TV via HDMI? Let me know if this is correct.

And I would love a little explanation as to why.

Thank you very much,
MIKE

JMS

Just keep it simple and use HDMI for everything. The only reason not to use HDMI from the cable box is if that output is not active, and in that case you would have to use component. And in that case, you might have to run component to the TV from the Onkyo if it doesn't transcode component video to its HDMI output.

mobiushky

In your case, why not use HDMI across the board? You will probably see no difference between the HDMI and component in either case, but HDMI is one cable versus 5 for component with audio (4 if you use the optical for audio).

I would hook it up with HDMI from PS3 to Onkyo and HDMI from cable to Onkyo. Then one HDMI from Onkyo to TV. Total you are looking at 3 cables, which you can get at monoprice for less than $20 total.

If you don't use HDMI on the PS3 you will lose the HD audio capability of Blu-rays. Unless you are running out of room on your HDMI inputs for the Onkyo, there's little compelling reason to not use HDMI in your case.

__________________
DRM is roughly the equivalent of poking you in the eye, repeatedly.
----------------------------------------------------
Main Setup:
Pioneer PDP-5070HD
Pioneer VSX-80TXV
Dish Vip622
PS3 (120Gb, w/BC) Like a BD player can play games too, how silly.
Logitech Harmony 1000 remote
All Klipsch speakers

Bedroom Setup:
Sony KDR-40XBR4
Dish Vip622
PS3 Slim (120Gb) I think I have too many PS3s.
Sony Commander RM-AV3000

mccawgomets

Thanks for your advise. Two further questions. One, I've heard from a number of sources (non retail) that the video quality of the HDMI connection is noticeably better for than component. Is there a general consensus among the "techno gurus" regarding this matter?

Question two, as far as the audio issue with blue ray, there is an optical audio output on the PS3. Couldn't you use a component video cable and optical audio cable and still get the appropriate sound from the blue ray?

Thanks, Mike

Loves2Watch

Absolutely not! For all intent and purposes they deliver the same high quality HD signal.

No. the newer HD audio (Dolby True HD and DTS Master HD) are only available via HDMI.

Hope this helped.

__________________
Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's or Blu-ray players.
Main HT Room - Panasonic PT-AE4000U, Draper Premier 119" 16:9 Projector Screen, Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player.

mobiushky

Picture quality is not really going to be noticeable honestly. Component is an analog signal, but the distances we are talking about see no noticeable degradation in the signal. So it's really a wash. It's the other areas that really matter.

This ties into the above, no, plain and simple you cannot get HD audio from an optical cable. Toslink is not capable of passing either encoded HD audio data or decoded loseless audio. Only HDMI is capable of that. Besides, you have to buy the sony approved component cable if you do it that way. If you use HDMI, ANY HDMI will work.

The only down side to component is that you limit the audio to less than loseless. And there are more cables which can get spaghetti bowl looking. HDMI is one cable and can be fairly thin.

__________________
DRM is roughly the equivalent of poking you in the eye, repeatedly.
----------------------------------------------------
Main Setup:
Pioneer PDP-5070HD
Pioneer VSX-80TXV
Dish Vip622
PS3 (120Gb, w/BC) Like a BD player can play games too, how silly.
Logitech Harmony 1000 remote
All Klipsch speakers

Bedroom Setup:
Sony KDR-40XBR4
Dish Vip622
PS3 Slim (120Gb) I think I have too many PS3s.
Sony Commander RM-AV3000

ECHAT

Over the summer I purchased all the components to for my new HDTV, surround sound system. I've seen a lot of differing opinions on types of cables to use, but want to confirm before I start pulling those through the wall. This is what I have (all 1-3 months old):

AT&T Uverse digital cable box
Onkyo TX-SR607 7.2 A/V Receiver
Samsung Blu-Ray disc player
Sony 52" LCD TV (KDL-52Z5100)
Sony CD Disc changer (CDP-CX355)

I have a 5.1 JBL surround sound speakers, and want the ability to get component audio through all speakers including sound from the Sony CD changer. I'm thinking digital optical cable only for that CD player to the Onkyo.

The main question I have is the digital optical cable. Is that needed between all components, or is it unneccasary if I use HDMI cables only in to my Onkyo receiver? I'm thinking HDMI only out from A/V receiver to Sony TV, but not sure if I need that digital optical cable as well.

Thanks in Austin

Bigloww

The Onko TX-SR607 is a true 1.3a HDMI receiver and not passthrough. So if you are connecting your Uverse STB and BD player to the receiver via HDMI (and I assume you would), the single HDMI cable for each is all you need.

__________________
Commit to the Indian..

In Loving Memory of Junkie, The Rizz, Eagle and the Boys.. They are gone (wasted in fact) but not forgotten..

ECHAT

Thanks for the quick reply Bigloww! I'm was thinking I was on the right track, but I started to read too much online and got confused about the purpose (or necessity) of digital optical cables.

I think you've answered my questions, and I appreciate that.