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RE: HDMI or component video cables for HD cable box to HD TV?

Posted by Winston Smith (A) on April 29, 2008 at 23:07:16

In Reply to: HDMI or component video cables for HD cable box to HD TV? posted by WoodyWW on April 29, 2008 at 09:49:00:

Hi Woody!

HDMI cables are ALL different, and NONE provide 'perfect' information transfer. Not even close. The use of ferrites on the cable will improve the video image dramatically. For an incredible value, Blue Jeans Cable's HDMI is superb for $30 bucks. A "Big Blocker" ferrite on the TV end and you'll be in hog heaven, rest assured. Also, use a 193M Hammond choke for ultimate color saturation and detail. A Quantum Symphony in parallel at the outlet will just take it all to a whole new level, as well. I have a post in the 'Tweaks/DIY' section from just a few days ago which goes into this in detail in talking with cheap-Jack. As he makes clear as well, every HDMI cable has a different look and performance level.

But as for perfect video, it is akin to CD's 'perfect sound forever' claim: wishful thinking at best. In fact, as I said in my other post, I spoke to an engineer/designer at Better Cables (another excellent HDMI cable, for about $90), when I tried to DIY an HDMI cable. He agreed with my assessment that the design of HDMI was exclusively for convenience (surround just has too many wires for most folks to deal with), as it puts ALL those cables into ONE! Bad! Very bad! (I have down loaded the HDMI patent application to do the DIY I wanted, so I have some idea of what these cables are doing.)

But you can't escape the drawbacks of the HDMI format, because the design of HDMI uses a multiplexing of the signals for both audio and video down a single conductor. Yes, you heard right: the audio and video are sent down the SAME CONDUCTOR! Again, very, very bad! DVI was MUCH better in design for video information transfer, but it means lots of surround cables to run the audio separately. But by having the video on its very own cable, the Better Cables guy said, the DVI will pass the video stream with less interference than an HDMI. BUT, the HDMI signal carries VASTLY more signal information than what the DVI format is capable of.

Accordingly, folks erroneously believe that the HDMI cable ITSELF is a 'better' design than DVI. Not true at all. If you took that 1080p video signal and kept the audio out of it it, both your audio AND video would improve by eliminating interactions between them. (THAT'S what I was trying to do with the DIY HDMI.) Meaning that the design of keeping these signals separate, and not together for consumer convenience, yields greater benefits than squishing them all together and hoping they don't interact.

Dog, how I wish all HDMI cables were the same, or better yet, they all actually DID lossless transfer of video information. That would be great, no doubt. But the manufacturers are pulling the same shit on us that they did with so many other products: they tell tall tales of the performance levels of their products that they cannot come close to fulfilling. The HDMI format is spectacular, true. But just imagine what it could be if it was implemented properly! WOW!

And as for component vs HDMI, BrianA just nailed it when he said no comparison. HDMI CRUSHES component in video performance. Besides, component CANNOT DO 1080p HD! I believe it can only do 720. So again, BrianA is 100% correct. I

f you follow the good advice of both of BrianA and myself, you'll get a Blue Jeans HDMI cable, a ferrite, a Hammond 193M choke, and maybe a Quantum Symphony, and my friend, you'll be in video heaven! Guaranteed!

Hope this helps you out, and best of luck. Happy watching!

WS

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