HDMI Cable vers RCA Options

[Jimbo1]

I am not much of an expert to things as this and mabey someone could explain this to me me.

I have a HD 60 Sony TV and using the cable box from Cox, I am using the rec video connections, so what I need to know is

1. What is the differance of using RCA video cable from the cable box to the HD TV or

2. What is the differance of using the HDMI cable from the cable box to the HD TV ?

Cox cable does offer HD Channels, so this is why I am asking the question.

Jimbo1

This post has been edited by Jimbo1: Dec 21 2010, 04:38 PM

[Tomk]

I don't know a lot about this... but here is how I understand it...

Using the RCA cables you are actually sending an analog signal to your TV. With the HDMI you are sending a digital signal. In theory... the Digital signal will be sharper. In reality... who knows. I've known those who claim to see a HUGE difference. I've known those who think they saw a little difference. I've known those who can't see any difference. And I've heard those that say that there signal was better with the component cables.

It seems to me that those with 720p sets universally don't notice a difference. I've heard that there is a greater chance that you will see an enhancement with 1080i sets, and typically those with 1080p are the ones who claim to realize the greatest difference. I have no firsthand experience so have no recommendations.

[terry1966]

hdmi is favoured but use either.
i never noticed any difference between hdmi and my other connection types but like tomk mentions my tv is only 720p tho.



This post has been edited by terry1966: Dec 21 2010, 11:11 PM

[Jimbo1]

This is why I am here I don't know if their is a differance but from what you are saying here:

It seems to me that those with 720p sets universally don't notice a difference. I've heard that there is a greater chance that you will see an enhancement with 1080i sets, and typically those with 1080p are the ones who claim to realize the greatest difference. I have no firsthand experience so have no recommendations.

Cox cable in the normal channels are using 720p single, when you switch to the HD channels they are in 1080p, so which brings us back to this point.

So If Using the RCA cables you are actually sending an analog signal to your TV again I am not sure but then if you switch to rca you would not be full digital, in hence not true HD.

But With the HDMI you are sending a digital signal. In theory... the Digital signal will be sharper and hence the word true HD Right?.

Done some reading yesterday but not getting a straight foward answer which is true HD RCA or HDMI ?

[Tomk]

Again, I'm discussing things that I don't know about... but I think "True HD" is one of those terms that is used more in marketing than in reallity. I believe that to get "true" HD, you need to send the data to the set on basically a pixel by pixel basis. The only way this can be done is if the pixels on the set matches in size and shape to the "original" picture. As I understand it, 1080p is the only setup that can actually achieve this but there is still the variable of the components that "convert" the signal to the picture. The variable exists in the set and in the cable box. I've heard that if you want to see just how good your setup is capable of... get a blu-ray player connected with HDMI and see what you get.

[Jimbo1]

get a blu-ray player connected with HDMI and see what you get.

I did and wow it blew me out of the water.

Going to hook up the hdmi cable tonight, Cox cable is using fiber optic's here in town and they are broadcasting in digital and if in fact that RCA bumps it down to anlog, then the quality of the picture will not be that great, so If true digital will be recived by hdmi then I should see the differance.

Jimbo1

[Jimbo1]

Info I found on a tech spot, we shall see:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r21166690-HDMI-vs-RCA-JACKS

If you are using Component Cables with RCA plug ends colored Red, Green, and Blue, (plus a white and red for left and right channel audio) maybe not so much of a difference by going to HDMI. Some people say there is no difference at all.

Biggest advantage to me is that video and sound is carried over that one cable with HDMI using one plug end a bit bigger that a USB connection. Audio is also surround sound signal not just stereo as with the white/red audio cable.

Also, Component cables are analog in signal, so your cable box or others, convert a digital signal to analog, sends it out over the Component cables, and your TV has to reconvert them back to digital. Any time there is a conversion done you have the "chance" to degrade the picture.

HDMI cables are all digital and no need for conversion. Also since they are digital they work or they don't. No difference between a Monster $100 plus HDMI cable and a $10 HDMI cable from places like monovision.com. With Component cables being analog there is some credence to getting what you pay for as there are better grades of Component cables and of course they cost more.

HOWEVER if you are using a yellow RCA video cable, and the white/red for audio.... HDMI IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE !!! In fact using the yellow RCA ended single video cable is not capable for carrying an HD picture at all.

This post has been edited by Jimbo1: Dec 22 2010, 10:35 AM

[Jimbo1]

Component Cables with RCA plug ends colored Red, Green, and Blue, (plus a white and red for left and right channel audio) maybe not so much of a difference by going to HDMI.

Well I went and tryed using the HDMI cable and was I suprised, in fact the pitcure was not really that great, was a bit blured and not looking good at all, the sound was fanstatic, but pitcure was less, I went back to Component cable and the picture was far better.

Don't know if the box from Cox on the output side of hdmi is not working right nor good that gave me a bad picture, so sticking with the cable the HD side is great and not going to complain.

Jimbo1