Hdmi component question?

Question

i have a 1080p enabled tv with 1 hdmi port and it is occupied by my ps3 and i have a dish hd that has hdmi but is connected with component cables is hdmi a big difference cuz the dish hd doesnt even suport 1080p so should i get an hdmi switcher

Answer 1

Well, it's one of those "it depends" situations.

What you are doing is fine if it is working fine ... and it sounds like it is.

But under certain circumstances you might benefit from HDMI.

For example, if you want to have the audio from the Dish HD go to the TV speakers (and it is output via the HDMI port) you would eliminate the separate audio cable. But it probably wouldn't make sense to have to buy a switcher to be able to retire a cable you already have.

In the longer run (probably 2 years or so) you will have to switch to HDMI cables for all HD connections because of HDCP (See links). Currently inactive for TV, this is a protection scheme that will encrypts HD signals so they can't be copied. Eventually, an HD signal will only be transmitted over an HDMI cable if connected between two "HDCP Compliant" devices (e.g. HDTV, HD cable or satellite receiver, HD DVD or Blu-ray player, A/V receiver, upconverting DVD player). If either is not HDCP compliant the signal will be cut off (or if connected with an analog cable (e.g. component) will be downsampled to sub-HD resolution).

So ... while it doesn't effect you now ... you should be aware that the days of analog HD connectivity are limited and that any future HD capable equipment purchases should be HDCP compliant.

Answer 2

If your component cables are of good quality then you don't require hdmi. However if you have a very good hdmi cable (and the present component cable is bad), then it makes sense to buy hdmi switcher.