HDMI connection?

Question

Hi guys,

1) On a 1366x768 panel, is it worthwhile to get an upscale dvd player (which can convert signal to be displayed on the panel at 720p) or just leave the job to the built in scaler on the HDTV? Will there be any difference in picture quality say using an upscale player compared to a standard player?

2) Is it necessary to use an HDMI in order to transfer the 720p signal onto the HDTV or would normal component cables do the job just fine?

3) My dvd player states it supports HDMI but how do I find out which version (ie 1.0, 1.3 etc)? Is it based on the system or cable?

Thank you so much.

Answer 1

1) Stick with the scaler in the TV.  The upscaling DVD players are a joke because it is not true 720p.  If you really want 720p, then invest in a BluRay or HD-DVD player.

2) HDMI will deliver higher quality video because component requires one more digital to analog conversion.  HDMI is digital, where component is analog.  The more conversions, the more likeliness you are going to see video artifacts.

The other guy is wrong about same resolution.  HDMI delivers up to 1080p, where component is limited to 1080i.

3) Yes, there are different standards of HDMI cables and the way they are tested.  Reputable companies will tell you what they are rated for.  As for the DVD player, you would need to look at the manufacturer's web site for specs.  Today's DVD players will either be 1.2 or 1.3.  If it is an older DVD player, it could be 1.0 or 1.1.  With upscaling DVD players, it will not matter.  The higher HDMI specs allows more bandwidth, which means higher quality video, audio and more color depth.  Right now, BluRay and HD-DVD would possibly take advantage of these options.  Forget regular DVD players.

Answer 2

AGP90, you do an OK job of an answer, but Techman200, You give the best!  However, there are two processes any TV/DVD do:

1. De-interlace the picture from 480i to 480p

2. Scale the image from 480p to the desired resolution.

Given that, if the DVD player is set to upscale to 720p, then the tv needs to scale 720p(1280x720p) to 1366x768.  In getting the best Video Picture, you want to AVOID scaling more than one time, or else the picture WILL get soft.  So here's my answer:

Let the DVD de-interlace to 480p, and then have the TV upscale 480p to 1366x768.  

Any US DVD player sold unless hacked/modified will only output up to 480p due to copyright laws.  So in order to get a HD resolution from an upscaling player you NEED HDMI.  This is great because it also avoids an Analog to Digital conversion.

The HDMI version does not make a difference unless you're connecting on HD-DVD and Blu-Ray for loseless Audio.  This does not apply for DVD.  

If you want the Professional Solution, you go for an Outboard Video Processor and have IT do all of your Upscaling, such as a DVDO VP30.  But these can run $1000 and up, so that's one thing to consider :)

Answer 3

The less work either processor(Scaler) will do, the better the result. You would be better off with the better source or the upscale DVD.

A component cable will carry the same resolution as a HDMI cable. The advantage of HDMI is that digital audio and some control and setting information is also transmitted with HDMI and not analog. Lastly, I have not heard of a variable on HDMI cables. I assume the format is within the player.

Answer 4

I don't know why the first guy even bothered to answer since he is mostly wrong. All hail to techman2000 for knowing all the info.

Answer 5

Sorry but you are being fed poor advice (and based on false information  ... which as usual on this site is given without references).

1) Upconverting DVD players can (I didn't say "will") give a better picture than letting the HDTV do the upscaling. The fact is that good upscaling players (not the typical under $100 models though) have better video processors than most (not all) HDTVs. See the article at the link.

In your specific case will it help? You don't provide model or size, so it's difficult to predict. A good upconverting player (e.g. Oppo 971 or 981) will almost certainly give a better picture than letting your HDTV do the processing, but whether it is worth the ~$200, and whether it will make sufficient difference, particularly if you have a smaller screen, I can't say.

A further consideration is where you sit relative to the screen. If more than about 2-2.5X screen size (7-8 ft from a 42" 720p HDTV) you start to lose the benefit of the greater resolution of the HD picture. At 10 ft or so you won't see any benefit to an upconverting DVD player ... in fact you wouldn't see much, if any, benefit to HD DVD or Blu-ray either.

If you feel you might benefit and wanted to test you could try to buy an upconverting player on condition the store let you return it if it doesn't provide a benefit (or consider buying an inexpensive HD DVD player (e.g. Toshiba HD-A3) --- which are actually good upscaling DVD players that also play HD DVD disks. HD-A3s are usually available for less than $200).

2) Until HDCP becomes an issue (once active in a couple of years HDCP compliant devices will down sample analog signals to sub HD resolution), component cables will support HD up to and including 1080p (not 1080i as claimed elsewhere). That said, most upconverting DVD players only output HD video over HDMI. So you may be forced to use HDMI to get an HD signal. However, there is no technical reason to not use component cables if your equipment supports HD analog output.

As to the supposed superiority of HDMI because it is digital. That isn't necessarily true, again depending on quality of the electronics component can actually be as good or better (See 2nd link). In the vast majority of cases -- particularly on a 720p HDTV -- there will be no perceptible difference in the picture.

3) The difference in the versions of HDMI (See the 3rd link) do not have any effect on your needs. Even HDMI 1.0 supported 1080p/60 fps video and multi channel audio. These days any cable will be at least version 1.2 compliant. Although in makes sense to buy good cable you don't need to spend a fortune of HDMI cables (see Link 4).

The HDMI version specifications defined details for connectors, bandwidth and bit depth and types of information (e.g. support for CEC, deep colour, HD audio formats, SACD, DVD-A) that must (mandatory) or could be (optional) supported.

So, bottom line. An upconverting DVD player could be beneficial (but may not be worth the cost). If you use one you may have to use HDMI to connect it. And you don't need to worry about HDMI versions.

Hope this helps.