New TV...DVI or HDMI?

[modman]

I have had a Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK plasma (780p) for about 7 years now. It is a fantastic TV, with such a high-quality image that I have rarely thought about upgrading to a 1080p model. Recently, I was in Sears and saw the highly-rated Panasonic TC-P50UT50 on clearance...for $500!!! Wow! I jumped on the deal and have brought the unit home.

Now...I have some questions.

1. Do you think I am going to see a big difference? It looked awesome in the store.

2. The original panel had only a DVI connection, so I have a 50-ft DVI cable from Cables to Go running under my house (my gear is across the room from my panel). I have a HDMI-DVI adapter at my receiver. I have never had one artifact or bit of noise from this setup. My picture quality has been stellar. The new panel has HDMI inputs only. So my question is this....run a new 50-foot HDMI -- or put a DVI-HDMI converter on the panel end?

Thanks

 

[Adam]

Congrats on the new TV!

1. Do you think I am going to see a big difference? It looked awesome in the store.

Hook it up and find out. Seriously - that's impossible for us to say. There should be a difference in the images, but without knowing your viewing conditions, eyesight, and attention to detail, no one can say if you'll notice a big difference.

So my question is this....run a new 50-foot HDMI -- or put a DVI-HDMI converter on the panel end?

IMO, try the DVI-HDMI converter first. That's the simplest solution, and if you're happy with it, then you're done.

 

[modman]

I guess I was just wondering if there is anything inherently inferior about the DVI, versus HDMI

 

[macddmac]

I guess I was just wondering if there is anything inherently inferior about the DVI, versus HDMI

I believe the dvi will only send video signal, so if you want audio to the tv, you'll have to run hdmi or additional cable for audio.

I have a 9UK and don't need audio ( no tuner or speakers ) so not an issue here.
Cheers, Mac

 

[BMXTRIX]

DVI, will carry all of the HDMI video signal just fine.

At 50', if you were to put something else in, I would use a HD-Base-T transmitter/receiver and use CAT-6 between the two end points. Much easier to run, and if you need to switch it out in another half dozen years with something else, you can just swap the end points with whatever comes next.

Still, I would just use what you have right now.

My biggest worry would be that perhaps you may not be able to carry full 1080p information across an older DVI cable that distance. Maybe. Gotta try it first to find out if you do have an issue, but I wouldn't expect you to have one.

 

[Blindf8th]

Good to know thanks...