I am going to order a Panasonic TH-50PHD7UY 50" Plasma display. The unit comes without speakers, and I will use it strictly as a monitor. It comes with BNC-style component inputs but I can order additional inputs: RCA Component ($105), DVI-D w/HDCP ($150), HDMI ($250).
I plan on hooking up a Comcast HD feed and an HD-upconverting DVD player to the display. The DVD player I am looking at (Yamaha DVD-C950) only does the upconversion via HDMI. I know you can get HDMI/DVI cables at a slight premium to HDMI/HDMI cables. Since I do not need audio to the display, it seems more cost effective to get the DVI-D input and the HDMI/DVI cables, rather than a straight HDMI connection. My first question is: holding cost aside, will the picture quality be the same with a HDMI/DVI connection, or would the picture be better with a straight HDMI connection?
Second, I am very unfamiliar with BNC-style connections, and I am not sure what I should do with the HD cable feed. Will the Comcast STB output RCA component, BNC component, HDMI and/or DVI-D? Will the picture be better with component outputs, or should I replace the BNC component input on the display with another DVI-D input? If the STB outputs RCA component but not BNC, would it be cheaper to buy BNC adapters, or replace the BNC component input with an RCA component input?
For "future-proofing" I would go with HDMI, which seems like where the market is headed. The picture quality would be identical between HDMI and DVI, however.
As far as BNC vs. RCA, you can always order cables with the connectors you need on each end...
Video on HDMI and DVI is identical, I'm not sure about the bandwidth on HDMI though. If the bandwidth is greater, then that means greater resolution on the video down the road. It would be worth it to go with HDMI.
BNC and RCA are cable ends. Component is the signal type. It is like having two identical car keys, one with a blue keychain and one with a red keychain. It doesn't change the key from working.
You can pick up RCA to BNC adapters at Parts Express or on eBay easily and inexpensively, or if you are having RG-6 cables run for your video, they can be terminated directly to BNC at your display. The BNC connection is fine though and does not need to be upgraded or changed.
NOTE: If you have more than one HDMI/DVI device you will still need an outboard HDMI/DVI switcher if you want to use them both that way without having to change cables manually.
NOTE: If you have more than one HDMI/DVI device you will still need an outboard HDMI/DVI switcher if you want to use them both that way without having to change cables manually.
He can buy interchangable input boards for his display, so in effect, he'd purchase 2 hdmi/dvi boards
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You can get rca->bnc adapters for about $2 at radio shack.
I bought the DVI input board. I stopped using it because I thought the component looked as good or better and it seemed to have more flexible aspect ratio's. I have to qualify that comment though because I never did find out exactly what was going on. I could not get the plasma to zoom the DVI input to full screen if the source was adding its own black bars, very frustrating.
I heard from another poster that the DVI input board was not as flexible as the HDMI board. I don't know but it may be true. The HDMI board is newer and only fits the 7 series plasmas. the DVI is compatable back to the 6 series.
If you do need two HDMI sources then you will need two HDMI boards, or an outboard switcher, or a receiver that switches HDMI (very rare until now).
The prices you quoted on the input boards was considerably more than what I paid (25-30%). You might want to look around.
You can get cables with any combination of DVI/HDMI plugs you want for very resonable prices (12$). Unless you are running very long distances I would not spend a lot for premium cables here, it is wasted money.
Finally, if you buy input cards for HDMI/DVI, check first to see if the board comes with cables. The DVI card did and I ended up with an extra set.
-mark
...The prices you quoted on the input boards was considerably more than what I paid (25-30%). You might want to look around...-mark
I used www.pricegrabber.com to find internet deals, and the prices I quoted were all-in, included sales tax and shipping, where applicable. You are probably correct, I can probably do better finding a place that carries them, and stopping by to pick them up myself.
...or if you are having RG-6 cables run for your video, they can be terminated directly to BNC at your display...
BMXTRIX - thanks for the help, I'm realizing there is a lot I don't know about. I am not familiar with RG-6 cables. Is that something I would use instead of component video cables? Is it one cable, or 3 cables that would be run? How does the picture quality compare with component? Sorry if these questions are really basic, and thanks for your help.
I used www.pricegrabber.com to find internet deals, and the prices I quoted were all-in, included sales tax and shipping, where applicable. You are probably correct, I can probably do better finding a place that carries them, and stopping by to pick them up myself.
RG-6 is a coaxial cable specification for coaxial cables. RG-59 is another type. RG-6 has higher bandwidth than RG-59 and is better suited for video applications. All good component video cables are constructed with RG-6 coaxial cables, like the Belden 1694A.
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thanks for the link on the hdmi input. That was the only one pricegrabber.com couldn't come up with a price on, as none of the dealers they track had it in stock. In fact, techdepot shows 0 in stock as well. The only places I have seen on the web that have that one in stock have a higher price. If you happen to find the hdmi board in stock somewhere for $135-$145, let me know.
I also read one of your posts on another thread, and it seems your recommendation is to go with component video from the comcast HD set-top box to the standard bnc component input on the plasma using the rca-bnc adapters from radio shack?
One more question, since you have the same display I am looking at. I have read some posts indicating that a lip-sync feature is import when buying an AVR for use with a non-CRT display. Do you find the audio and video out of sync with the Panasonic plasma? Do you have an AVR with the lip-sync or audio delay feature, and does that adequately correct the problem?
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