Benefits(?) of HDMI vs Component in the high-def consoles

[Deusp]

You continue to change the argument. What do you define as rare? What do you define as being an early adopter? What do you define as a poor buy decision?

I'm not aware that my position has changed significantly. My general point is that HDMI > component. I'm not sure when it became HDMI > component in all cases, period. Perhaps I took the wrong approach to this debate, but that position was not my intention.

It should be the case that, even with significant deviation from the average case, HDMI will be better than component. Only in outliers will this not be the case.

 

[Deusp]

I guess that just makes me, um, "super rare?"

I'm a relatively early adopter of HDTV. I happen to have 2 CRT HDTVs. (One with, and one without HDMI). I purchased both of them being fully informed of their specs and capabilities, btw.

They both funtion perfectly well and deliver a great picture. I have zero reason to replace either of them....and likely won't until they either break-down or we re-design our rooms and get new furniture.

There's too many other things to spend money on.

Well anecdote is not good evidence.

If you were to buy an HDTV now, you will definitely find a use for HDMI. Seeing how most of the HDTV adoption curve is in front of us, that should mean that you are in fact, an unlikely case.

 

[Joe DeFuria]

Seeing how most of the HDTV adoption curve is in front of us, that should mean that you are in fact, an unlikely case.

This does not mean anything of the sort.

First, see thread title. Note, this isn't "Which is preferable, HDMI or Component." This is about the relative merits / value of HDMI in the context of today's "high-def" consoles.

If, as you assert, most of HDTV adoption curve is "in front of us", that means that then the majority of the current installed base are the so-called "early adopters." This means, any of the following: lack of HDMI port, lack of ability to either display true 1080p, or even accept a 1080p signal.

At This point in time HDMI has realtively little to no value to the installed base / early HDTV adopters that are also early adopting consoles. Over time the value of an HDMI port will increase, particularly with high-def movie playback. The value of HDMI for video games (which is the primary function of these devices) will still remain questionable at best. 1080p with 60 FPS (primary benefit of HDMI for games) is certainly the exception, not the rule, of video game performance.

 

[Deusp]

This does not mean anything of the sort.

First, see thread title. Note, this isn't "Which is preferable, HDMI or Component." This is about the relative merits / value of HDMI in the context of today's "high-def" consoles.

That's something of a strawman. It was about HDMI vs. component, not anything else. Maybe with regards to the consoles right there's more of a discussion, but as long as PS3 has Blu-ray and 360 has the HD-DVD add-on, then HDMI vs. component has direct merit in the console forum.

If, as you assert, most of HDTV adoption curve is "in front of us", that means that then the majority of the current installed base are the so-called "early adopters." This means, any of the following: lack of HDMI port, lack of ability to either display true 1080p, or even accept a 1080p signal.

Early adopters are not a monolithic group. There's the really early adopters and then there are late early adopters, and there's people in the middle. Only people who bought CRT HDTVs won't benefit much. LCD and Plasma HDTVs should benefit. As of right now, the latter are the majority, since most HDTVs are not CRTs and have been for a while. So among the mid to late early adopters, HDMI has value. From here on out, HDMI has even more value for just about everyone.

There's also the side issue of sound, since HDMI transmits audio too, and uncompressed PCM audio at that. Audio quality should improve too, for those with systems that can enjoy it.

At This point in time HDMI has realtively little to no value to the installed base / early HDTV adopters that are also early adopting consoles. Over time the value of an HDMI port will increase, particularly with high-def movie playback. The value of HDMI for video games (which is the primary function of these devices) will still remain questionable at best. 1080p with 60 FPS (primary benefit of HDMI for games) is certainly the exception, not the rule, of video game performance.

I'm pretty sure that component, for most HDTVs, can't transmit 1080p in any form. So there is some value there. You do bring up the question of why the 360 Elite needs an HDMI, since it doesn't have HD-DVD built-in, and it's merit is somewhat diminished. For the PS3 however, there's every reason for them to have it.

 

[-tkf-]

What's your audio equipment that you're making great use of this great lossless audio and can hear a clear difference?

Is your surround calibrated also?

Right now it´s the old AC-3, DTS. Still waiting for that "HDMI" solution to rear it´s head, i got the Sony TAE-9000 for decoding and the TAP-9000 for basic 5.1 Analog in (DVD-Audio etc). Rotel 990BX for the fronts, Crown K2 for the 21´inch sub and a RB-981 for the surrounds. The speakers are custom build. But in my current setting this is total overkill, i can crack the ground socket on my house Im planning to scale down everything just need the right buyer and the right HDMI solution, but it´s a tough move when your used to endless depths and sound preasure.

 

[RobertR1]

Right now it´s the old AC-3, DTS. Still waiting for that "HDMI" solution to rear it´s head, i got the Sony TAE-9000 for decoding and the TAP-9000 for basic 5.1 Analog in (DVD-Audio etc). Rotel 990BX for the fronts, Crown K2 for the 21´inch sub and a RB-981 for the surrounds. The speakers are custom build. But in my current setting this is total overkill, i can crack the ground socket on my house Im planning to scale down everything just need the right buyer and the right HDMI solution, but it´s a tough move when your used to endless depths and sound preasure.

Check out Paradigm line up if you like more of a natural sound than just sheer loudness. Right now I got the Monitor 7 fronts, CC 370 center, ADP 370 surrounds and a PW-2100 sub all in a 14x11 room and it sounds very clean. The studio series are the next step up with the Signature series reigning at the top. But honestly for me, who mainly uses it for movies, my setup is more than enough. I'm getting by with a Panny SA-XR57 receiver till the new HDMI 1.3 with atleast 4x1 switching receivers come out. Then, it's time to waste a grand! The joys of technology....

 

[scooby_dooby]

You do bring up the question of why the 360 Elite needs an HDMI, since it doesn't have HD-DVD built-in, and it's merit is somewhat diminished.

Other than the fact they'll become a major HDTV download service provider in the next year or two?

 

[crazygambit]

I know this is a very noobish question, but don't laugh at me, I'm probably not the only one technically challenged person wondering this. If HDMI carries both sound and video and I connect my (hopefully soon now) PS3 to my HDTV through it, am I stuck with the sound of the TV speakers? I wanna get a somewhat decent set of 5.1 speakers, how would I connect them? Do I need a receiver? I hear those can be very expensive, but would I need one just for gaming and Blu-Ray movies? I appreciate any answer.

 

[-tkf-]

Check out Paradigm line up if you like more of a natural sound than just sheer loudness. Right now I got the Monitor 7 fronts, CC 370 center, ADP 370 surrounds and a PW-2100 sub all in a 14x11 room and it sounds very clean. The studio series are the next step up with the Signature series reigning at the top. But honestly for me, who mainly uses it for movies, my setup is more than enough. I'm getting by with a Panny SA-XR57 receiver till the new HDMI 1.3 with atleast 4x1 switching receivers come out. Then, it's time to waste a grand! The joys of technology....

I don´t know Paradigm, but i will check it out. One of the reasons my stuff was custom build was to get loudness without the attached "POWER" sound but still retain dynamic crisp sound even at high sound levels. In the future i was thinking about getting something from Dali like http://www.dali.dk/us/page245.aspx?sub=266&prod=263 being a danish product the price is excellent. And as you i´m waiting for HDMI that "works", i hope someone will introduce a pure digital amp, something like the Sony TA-DA9000 (no it doesn´t need to be a Sony product ), if i could i would buy Tact Audio stuff, but i´m not rich

 

[-tkf-]

I know this is a very noobish question, but don't laugh at me, I'm probably not the only one technically challenged person wondering this. If HDMI carries both sound and video and I connect my (hopefully soon now) PS3 to my HDTV through it, am I stuck with the sound of the TV speakers? I wanna get a somewhat decent set of 5.1 speakers, how would I connect them? Do I need a receiver? I hear those can be very expensive, but would I need one just for gaming and Blu-Ray movies? I appreciate any answer.

Optical out from the PS3 carries the standard DTS and AC-1, so you can buy a cheap! reciever and get the 5.1. I wouldn´t be surprised if you can find some dirt cheap 5.1 speaker solutions that includes a AC-3, DTS encoder. So HDMI and Optical Out both carries the sound, HDMI however also supports the new stuff. The new stuff being HD-DVD and BluRays sound formats which i think we will live with the next 10 years.

 

[Diamond.G]

Optical out from the PS3 carries the standard DTS and AC-1, so you can buy a cheap! reciever and get the 5.1. I wouldn´t be surprised if you can find some dirt cheap 5.1 speaker solutions that includes a AC-3, DTS encoder. So HDMI and Optical Out both carries the sound, HDMI however also supports the new stuff. The new stuff being HD-DVD and BluRays sound formats which i think we will live with the next 10 years.

Does the PS3 turn off the optical output when using HDMI?

 

[[maven]]

Does the PS3 turn off the optical output when using HDMI?

Nope. I use HDMI (-> DVI) together with the optical out. Although you have to enable it first in the system settings.

 

[-tkf-]

Does the PS3 turn off the optical output when using HDMI?

Nope i use it that way..

 

[DuckThor Evil]

But what will you do if you want to use the more advanced sound modes. Connect it to your amp with HDMI and another cable from the amp to telly or straight to telly and then another HDMI cable from you telly to the amp? Are those the options?

 

[Arwin]

But what will you do if you want to use the more advanced sound modes. Connect it to your amp with HDMI and another cable from the amp to telly or straight to telly and then another HDMI cable from you telly to the amp? Are those the options?

I think the most typical options would be

PS3 to HDMI splitter -> {HDMI splitter to TV | HDMI splitter to Amp}
PS3 to Amp HDMI in -> Amp HDMI out to TV

In my case it is PS3 to TV HDMI in -> RC out to Amp, as my stereo is a Dolby Surround Pro Logic II (bought that new in 1992 for $500 ... )

 

[Diamond.G]

I think the most typical options would be

PS3 to HDMI splitter -> {HDMI splitter to TV | HDMI splitter to Amp}
PS3 to Amp HDMI in -> Amp HDMI out to TV

In my case it is PS3 to TV HDMI in -> RC out to Amp, as my stereo is a Dolby Surround Pro Logic II (bought that new in 1992 for $500 ... )

Does the HDCP like being split like that?

 

[DuckThor Evil]

I think the most typical options would be

PS3 to HDMI splitter -> {HDMI splitter to TV | HDMI splitter to Amp}

That sort of setup is slightly clumsy, sure it works, but the need to use separate splitters is a bit inconvient. Imo it would have been better if a new sound carrying interface would have been introduced as well.

In my case it is PS3 to TV HDMI in -> RC out to Amp, as my stereo is a Dolby Surround Pro Logic II (bought that new in 1992 for $500 ... )

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/Darth Vader