NEVER EVER EVER buy an HDMI cable at Worst Buy. They'll say anything to get you to fork over 100+ bucks for one of their overpriced Monster cables. Get it for less than 20 at Monoprice.com. As for whether or not HDMI cables are necessary, for a Time Warner cable box, it doesn't really make a difference. But you'll need one if you're gonna upconvert SD-DVDs. A lot of them are flagged so they don't upconvert over component. HDMI cables also come in handy should you take the HD-DVD/Blu-ray plunge and want to listen to lossless audio. You can also use analog cables though, so they're not a necessity when it comes to audio(unless you're using a PS3 as your Blu-ray player).
component is video only, so you'll still have to use either composite analog (white and red) or a digital connection.... hdmi audio is digital, so it'll sound better compared to an analog audio signal.
If you dont have 1080p then component really isnt much different picture wise. ESPECIALLY considering that its just from the cable box to TV. Look on ebay though, there is a guy selling HDMI's for 7bucks. I bought a fiber optic cable from him recently. If interested Ill give the name.
HD Cheapskate tip regarding component video cables: they are RCA type (coax) cables ... so they are the same as stereo rca cables (red,white) or rca composite video cables (yellow), or rca digital coax cables (orange). These are all the same, just colored differently. basicly, component cables are 3 rca coax cables colored red, green, blue. If you don't have component cables, you can use any combination of 3 rca coax type cables to do the job - just make sure that you're directly connecting red-red, green-green, blue-blue from one device to the other (it really doesn't matter what the color of the cable is). The colors are just to help audio/video noobs to "safely" connect stuff properly (eg: you don't want to accidentally connect red to green) Having said that ... if you're the "paint by numbers" kind of person .... I say do this at your own risk. Always double check your connections before turning on your device(s).
Gummi- I was using component cables for my PS3 before I decided to buy an HDMI cable and I thought there was a big difference in picture quality. Not sure if the same will go for cable, but I definitely could see a difference with my PS3. With that said, DO NOT pay big bucks for a HDMI cable, especially for the one they sell at Best Buy. I got a Zen brand cable that retailed for $200 for $40 online.
RCA < Digital RCA (red/white)*Stero/mono audio Digital Coax (Orange) * Dolby 5.1, DTS, etc... I was under that impression. Am I wrong?
Digital Coax (orange) = RCA coax stereo/mono they are physically the same cable .... coax with rca plugs at the ends.
I used to work at Best Buy. If you're making a big purchase like a television or large appliance, you can usually get all the extra connections and stuff thrown in if you are just persistent. Really helps if you bring your attractive girlfriend...All two or three of ya
To clarify: the type of signal being sent may be different (ie, digital vs analog), but the cable is the same. An analogy would be how TV stations can transmit both analog TV and digital TV using one method (RF - radio frequency) over the air. What's really important is the source being able to transmit a signal and the target being able to receive and decode the same signal.
I just went through this on Sunday. I would say on a scale from 1-10, 10 being the best. The HDMI is a 10....the component cables are an 8.5 There is a difference, although it's slight. I would think, the bigger your tv, the more of a difference it would make. Here's my 2 cents.....if you're going to spend 2 grand on a tv, then why cheap out on a cable. Get the best one you can. I found a 3 ft HDMI at CrapBuy, open box for 20 bucks. Not too bad, and it works perfectly. Oh, and as long as the cable/sat box is right underneath....it will be long enough. I would say ebay for sure on the cable........but go HDMI.
What if the TV only has 1 HDMI input and you have to decide between whats going to use the port -- Upconverting DVD or Cable Box? I would use component cable for the cable box.
there can be 'handshaking' issues with HDMI. I have a SONY TV and a Time Warner HD DVR and the HDMI input works sometimes. Its the Time Warner box, cause my DVD player with HDMI works perfectly.
The component cables are good, but HDMI is better, IMHO...Don't buy $100 cables...go on-line or even at FRy's...I got mine for like $20...
If you have HDMI, buy it, but you don't have to get it from the same store, unless you have a rush... even then, you can return it once you see that other stores' similar cable costs cheaper or the same and it looks better. Oh... so WE'RE the Nerds and we're the ones NOT falling victims, huh? Thanks. Did I just hear you say "Worst Buy"? That's MY NAME for that store. Did you know I had trademarked that name? jk. You can use it. Others I own: Connvict's Circuit Pity Smears Office Deplop Homes' Depot Wally Martínez
Use the HDMI cables for upconverting your high quality DVDs. You WILL notice a difference. As was pointed out above, you can get an HDMI switcher if you don't have enough HDMI inputs/outputs. Time/Warner's HD cable box should have an HDMI output. If it doesn't, take it back and demand one that does. There shouldn't be a problem getting one. Oh, and as was also pointed out, you don't have to buy the Monster cables. They're rediculously expensive!
Well first of all, I hope you didn't "hear" me say anything on this messageboard. If you did, you better get back on the medication. And secondly, if you really wanna claim "Worst Buy" as your creation, you can have it. But I'm the one who came up with "Circuit Sh-tty".
on my cable box to tv i think the component and hdmi looks exactly the same. either way $100 is a complete rip-off and you definitely should return it.
Does anyone of an audio switching device that has 2 inputs (2 optical or 1 opt and 1 coaxial) that outputs via coaxial connection? I know its a little confusing...
Ok this might be a stupid question but how do you know if you DVD upconverts? and if I'm understanding correctly if I have a 1080p HD set it would be worth my while to invest in HDMI cables
