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any good guides about HDMI -v- Component ?
JasonWatkins
24-09-2009
Basically the reason I ask is that somewhere down the line, i'd be interested in getting a blu-ray player.

my tv is a proline 32" HDTV but it only has a single HDMI port, which is currently occupied by my Sky HD box.

It also does have a component connection as well so I wanted to do a bit of research to see what the best option would be.

I'm not some hardcore audio/video-phile so the finer points of 1080i against 1080p or anything like that wouldn't really matter to me.

i'd just want a decent quality HD output overall - much like I get with the Sky Box.

I can connect that to the generic surround system i've got and it's all fine - pretty happy with it.

So if anyone knows of any idiot guides or a good place to start reading then i'd be most grateful - cheers
Deacon1972
24-09-2009
I don't think any BD player will offer HD over component, HD content is downscaled to SD over component to protect it from being copied. HDMI is the only way.

If you only have one HDMI and you don't want to plug/unplug cables then an HDMI switcher will do the job - something like this....

http://www.hdcable.co.uk/auto-switch-2-pro2.html

There are probably cheaper ones about, just make sure it's HDCP compliant and of reasonable quality.
JasonWatkins
24-09-2009
Thanks for that.

I don't mind getting a switcher if i absolutely have to, but in a sense, i'd rather make use of the connections I have.

Might actually have a play around with the Sky box and see what that looks like on component.
chrisjr
24-09-2009
Just been looking at a Sony Blu-Ray manual online. There is a table on there giving the various formats it can output via it's video outputs.

Fairly obviously HDMI does the whole range. Component can do 720p and 1080i (but not 1080p). So Component can do HD resolutions, however there is a "But" (isn't there always!)

A footnote to the table states that Protected DVDs output at 480p and protected Blu-Ray at 576p.

http://pdf.crse.com/manuals/4116400121.pdf

Go to page 68 for the table. I rather suspect Sony are not alone in this.
Deacon1972
24-09-2009
Originally Posted by JasonWatkins:
“Thanks for that.

I don't mind getting a switcher if i absolutely have to, but in a sense, i'd rather make use of the connections I have.

Might actually have a play around with the Sky box and see what that looks like on component.”

So you have an early Thomson box that has component, I thought you were referring to the TV when you said it also has component.


In that case connect the Sky box via component and the BD player via HDMI. The Sky box outputs 720/1080i via component.

PQ should be nigh on identical using component over HDMI, but then it all depends on how well your TV deals with component/HDMI - try it out, if you're not happy go the HDMI switcher route.
Nigel Goodwin
24-09-2009
I agree, use the Sky box via Component, same resolution, and just as good as HDMI - some people even find it better than HDMI (and some find it worse). But regardless, there's nothing in it.
JasonWatkins
24-09-2009
Originally Posted by Deacon1972:
“So you have an early Thomson box that has component”

no, i'm actually talking out of the back of my neck .. i just assumed it had a component connection and it doesn't.

it's an amstrad HD box y'see ..

it might have to get a switcher in the end - i know you can get a two-port auto switcher in argos for about £20 quid.
Deacon1972
24-09-2009
Originally Posted by JasonWatkins:
“no, i'm actually talking out of the back of my neck .. i just assumed it had a component connection and it doesn't.

it's an amstrad HD box y'see ..

it might have to get a switcher in the end - i know you can get a two-port auto switcher in argos for about £20 quid.”

Options will be.........

Unplug/plug the cables - pain in the arse.

HDMI switcher - cheapest option.

AV receiver with HDMI switching (video only/audio&video) - expensive option.

Looks like it's Argos then.
JasonWatkins
24-09-2009
Originally Posted by Deacon1972:
“Looks like it's Argos then. ”

or aldi ...
gemma-the-husky
24-09-2009
component/hdmi are indistiguishable in my opinion - as long as the proper signal is being processed
Helicase
25-09-2009
Originally Posted by chrisjr:
“Just been looking at a Sony Blu-Ray manual online. There is a table on there giving the various formats it can output via it's video outputs.

Fairly obviously HDMI does the whole range. Component can do 720p and 1080i (but not 1080p). So Component can do HD resolutions, however there is a "But" (isn't there always!)

A footnote to the table states that Protected DVDs output at 480p and protected Blu-Ray at 576p.

http://pdf.crse.com/manuals/4116400121.pdf

Go to page 68 for the table. I rather suspect Sony are not alone in this.”

Component can carry 1080p. It's just many TVs don't accept it through that connection.
chrisjr
25-09-2009
Originally Posted by Helicase:
“Component can carry 1080p. It's just many TVs don't accept it through that connection.”

I was quoting what Sony say about a specific model in their range. Not what Component generically can and cannot do.
Helicase
25-09-2009
Originally Posted by chrisjr:
“I was quoting what Sony say about a specific model in their range. Not what Component generically can and cannot do. ”

Ok - at least we clarified that.
Nigel Goodwin
25-09-2009
Originally Posted by Helicase:
“Component can carry 1080p. It's just many TVs don't accept it through that connection.”

What does it matter?, the only HD source is an old Thomson HD box, which is 1080i only - BluRay players are the only 1080P source, and don't have Component anyway.
chrisjr
25-09-2009
Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin:
“What does it matter?, the only HD source is an old Thomson HD box, which is 1080i only - BluRay players are the only 1080P source, and don't have Component anyway.”

Someone better tell Sony then

The BDP-S360, BDP-S550 and the BDP5000ES all have component video sockets on the back.
Nigel Goodwin
25-09-2009
Originally Posted by chrisjr:
“Someone better tell Sony then

The BDP-S360, BDP-S550 and the BDP5000ES all have component video sockets on the back.”

Do they?, I've never noticed

But more importantly, do they output HD? - rather kills the point of HDCP if they do?.
chrisjr
25-09-2009
Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin:
“Do they?, I've never noticed

But more importantly, do they output HD? - rather kills the point of HDCP if they do?.”

They do but only if the disk is unprotected. Which I rather suspect will be something of a minority. Otherwise they drop down to SD resolutions.
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