HDMI vs Component Video

Should you be using hdmi or component video cable for your home theatre? Which one is better?

I’m using component video cable with my HD projector (Panasonic PT-AE700) and HD satellite receiver. The picture quality looks outstanding.

I upgraded to an HDMI DVD player (Panasonic DVD-S97) and wondered how much better the picture quality would look if I used HDMI cable instead of component video cable. It is difficult to tell but I feel that the HDMI picture looks a little crisper with my home theatre set-up.

The results in this photo from Hi Fi Writer shows that the HDMI image is sharper and brighter.

BTW, if you’re looking for affordable cables in your home theatre set-up, I recommend Blue Jeans Cable. They are a lot cheaper than Monster cable and the quality is just as good.

The Blue Jeans Cable website also has a good article on DVI and HDMI versus Component Video which might provide a few answers for you.

GreatHomeTheater.com has another take on the HDMI/component video debate that involves an anti-piracy measure known as High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP). This only affects HDMI cables and possibly the video quality of the signal.

Most of the articles that I’ve looked at don’t have a simple solution to this debate. I think it all comes down to personal preference. Try component video cables and HDMI cables with your home theatre setup to determine which looks better to you.

Posted in Home Theatre at 4:58 PM