What is HD Component and how does it differ from Standard Definition Component? How does it compare to HDMI?

Question

I see High-Definition component connections on my HDTV and am confused--because a component connection is classically standard definition analog. And what's the point if HDMI is the quintessential HD connection?

Answer 1

In many forms of ways. Like pizza is different then burgers.

Answer 2

HD component is much better than standard definition component because you don't get an hd signal with stand definition component. HDMI is the best.

Answer 3

HD component video is certainly capable of carrying 1080i to your TV set just fine.  Most set top boxes I have seen are not capable of outputing 1080p, so for Digital TV there is no performance difference.  For 1080p you must use HDMI, and the only reason for that is copyright protection for the movie industry.  The cable would be able to more than likely, but manufacturers of electronics do not permit an analog output of 1080p for fears that everyone would pirate the movies at high qualities.  So for your set top box, use whatever you like, but for blu-ray you must use HDMI.

Answer 4

standard def is "standard" high def is way better. we have time warner dvr, and they cut us some kind of deal where we get free hd channels too

Answer 5

HD stands for 'high definition" and gives you a higher resolution (quality)  picture than standard definition.   In order to utilize HD you need to make either a component video (Red/Blue/Green cable) or HDMI connection.  Component video will give you the highest quality analog video connection and you need to connect a separate cable for sound which can be analog or digital.  If you use HDMI instead (assuming your source provides  it) you will get a digital connection that carries both video and audio in a single cable with a simpler connection.  Quality of component video is comparable to HDMI as long as cable used for the connection is not too long.

Answer 6

Just a little primer on connections you might see on the back of your TV.  They go from worst to best.

Composite: analog - 1 pin - Standard Def - usually a yellow RCA connector

S-Video: analog - 4 pin - brightness and color are separate.  Better than Standard def, but not by much.

Component: analog - 3 pins (cables) - this can carry HD signals, but not usually used.  Labeled as Y Pb and Pr

HDMI: digital - 19 pins - this cable will support the current HD standards (up to 1080p) and also carries a digital audio signal unlike the other connections listed.  This is currently the best and the easiest as it's just one cable for both audio and video.

If both your source (cable box or satellite box) and your display (TV) have HDMI connectors, by all means use them.

If not, just go backwards down the list until you find a matching pair of connectors.

To answer your questions directly, HD video signalling is different from SD signalling in that it is usually digital (HDMI) and is capable of displaying an image of much higher resolution 1080 lines of resolution vs. 480 lines in SD.

Hope this helps - reply back if this didn't answer your question.