DVI vs Component?

[Mark512]

I just recently bought a new panasonic plasma, and am now looking at a new dvd player. I found out that my new plasma does not have dvi input but the dvd player that I am looking at does. Does DVI transmit video and audio better than componet cables? I think I have heard that DVI is a pure digital signal, while component converts to analog and then back to digital....something like that? Can someone explain the difference and tell me which is better?

 

[Buckle-meister]

Does DVI transmit video and audio better than component cables?

DVI, or at least the particular DVI port you have, only passes digital video; not audio. An HDMI cable passes both.

tell me which is better?

I would say that it depends. Some people say that a DVI/HDMI, i.e. digital, cable gives a superior picture, whereas others either can't see any difference between DVI/HDMI, or prefer the picture from using Component cables. I suspect that it depends upon the two components that are being connected, and whether or not they have been calibrated correctly.

Regards

 

[westcott]

Actually, HDMI can also carry 12 bit RGB information, DVI is limited to 8 bit RGB signals. A good DVD player can carry 10 bit information with the right video chip.

"This can significantly reduce the contouring artifacts that are commonly associated with digital displays. A lot of this may depend on the internal processing of your display though too. This is one of the gripes I’ve had with DLP based projectors and displays. Most are DVI- based and only incorporate 8 bit processing internally. So contouring in gray ramps is quite evident. You’ll also usually see it in skies and underwater scenes. If you are lucky enough to have a display with an HDMI input, and with high bit processing, this is pretty much eliminated."

Quote from Secrets of the Home Theater

 

[edwelly]

I hooked up my DLP tv via HDMI and was disappointed with the picture when I compaired it to the component cables. However, I had my TV ISF calibrated and that made a HUGE difference and I can see the HDMI being better now. My understanding is that HDMI and DVI are the same (as far as our eyes can tell) but HDMI carries video and audio, DVI is only video.

 

[Mark512]

why do you think dvi or hdmi connections are not standard on HD plasma tvs?

 

[driver]

From what Ive heard if your picture quality looks bad on your display when using an upconversion DVD player via hdmi or dvi it is due to the fact that the scaler on the dvd player is not better than the scaler on the display . This would be true on the entry level upconversion dvd players such as denon's dvd 1910 ( I have it ) . In this case I went with the component cable in stead and lost the artifacts that I was getting via hdmi-dvi . If you have a dvd player that has a better faroudja chip set such as a denon 3910 then a connection like hdmi or dvi would work great .

 

[tedmjr2]

Mark512, I think you probably purchased a monitor. The new HDTV Panasonic monitors require you to buy the optional HDMI or DVI board (around $150). The new Panasonic plasmas (non-monitor) have HDMI inputs.

 

[Mark512]

I realize that I do have 1 HDMI connection, but it will be used for the HD cable, and I do not have one available for DVD. I guess I will have to use component cables. Do you guys think it is worth it to pay for the THX certified type cables? I know Monster cable has some out there.

 

[MDS]

If you really want to use HDMI for both cable and dvd, but have only 1 input, then you can buy an hdmi switcher from the likes of http://www.gefen.com.

Using component cables instead would be easier of course. The Monster THX 'Standard' cables are reasonably priced (about $20) but I don't know if they actually sell HDMI versions of the standard line. The exorbitant prices for their so called higher end line are definitely not worth it.

 

[Tritonman]

HDMI vs Component vs DVI.

They are all the same but different. It all depends on the output source and the receiving source. In one instance one could be better than the other.

The main diff between them is of course HDMI carrying audio..and then the distance restrictions of HDMI and DVI.

 

[majorloser]

More Confusion

Remember there are 3 forms of DVI:

DVI-D - True Digital Video
DVI-D format is used for direct digital connections (like DFP or P&D-D (EVC)) between source video (namely, video cards) and digital LCD (or rare CRT) monitors. This provides a faster, higher-quality image than with analog, due to the nature of the digital format. All video cards initially produce a digital video signal, which is converted into analog at the VGA output. The analog signal travels to the monitor and is re-converted back into a digital signal. DVI-D eliminates the analog conversion process and improves the connection between source and display.

DVI-A - High-Res Analog
DVI-A format is used to carry a DVI signal to an analog display, such as a CRT monitor or an HDTV. Although some signal quality is lost from the digital to analog conversion, it still transmits a higher quality picture than standard VGA.

DVI-I - Both DVI-D and DVI-A
DVI-I format is an integrated cable which is capable of transmitting either a digital-to-digital signal or an analog-to-analog signal, but it will not work transmitting a digital-to-analog or analog-to-digital signal. DVI-I contains both the digital and analog connections, (DVI-D + DVI-A) , it's essentially a combination of DVI-D and DVI-A cables within one cable.

Digital and Analog are not Interchangeable
Like any other format, DVI digital and analog formats are non-interchangeable. This means that a DVI-D cable will not work on an analog system, nor a DVI-A on a digital system. Make sure that you know what format each part of your equipment is before you purchase any DVI cables. Only equipment with a DVI port labeled 'DVI-I' will accept both a DVI-D and DVI-A source signal. Also, a DVI-A or DVI-I can be converted directly to a RGB D-sub 15 connection.