HDMI vs Component cable...what do you recommend

[SMM]

My home theater is under construction and I want to pre-wire for the projector (Plan to buy InFocus IN76). Should I use HDMI or component cable? I plan to buy and HDMI capable receiver (i.e, Denon 2807, Pioneer Elite VSX-74TXV,..)

 

[3x10^8]

HDMI for sure, but wiring for both would be nice.

 

[clayman88]

If your projector and receiver support it, definitely go with the HDMI. It will probably cost more, but should be worth it in the long run.

 

[3x10^8]

If your projector and receiver support it, definitely go with the HDMI. It will probably cost more, but should be worth it in the long run.

Even if your projector doesn't utilize HDMI now, you should wire for it in case you upgrade in the future.

 

[BMXTRIX]

If you are hiding the wiring behind walls, then I recommend the following cabling as the MINIMUM to run:

Composite video
Component video
HDMI video

If you care about future upgradability, add some 1" conduit (at least)
Other things to add:
CAT-5 for future use (1 or 2 runs)
VGA - for PC connectivity
Power - to use your surge supressor/conditioner

But, those first three I recommend people pull to EVERY setup. Sometimes HDMI works, sometimes it has issues that are HDCP related that you have zero control over. I wouldn't bet MY movie watching on HDMI only, that's for darn sure.

 

[gmichael]

If you are hiding the wiring behind walls, then I recommend the following cabling as the MINIMUM to run:

Composite video
Component video
HDMI video

If you care about future upgradability, add some 1" conduit (at least)
Other things to add:
CAT-5 for future use (1 or 2 runs)
VGA - for PC connectivity
Power - to use your surge supressor/conditioner

But, those first three I recommend people pull to EVERY setup. Sometimes HDMI works, sometimes it has issues that are HDCP related that you have zero control over. I wouldn't bet MY movie watching on HDMI only, that's for darn sure.

I am also building a house and having it wired for a projector. I agree with everything here. Don't limit yourself to just one type of cable.

 

[majorloser]

If you are hiding the wiring behind walls, then I recommend the following cabling as the MINIMUM to run:

Composite video
Component video
HDMI video

If you care about future upgradability, add some 1" conduit (at least)
Other things to add:
CAT-5 for future use (1 or 2 runs)
VGA - for PC connectivity
Power - to use your surge supressor/conditioner

But, those first three I recommend people pull to EVERY setup. Sometimes HDMI works, sometimes it has issues that are HDCP related that you have zero control over. I wouldn't bet MY movie watching on HDMI only, that's for darn sure.

If you want to, you can run a 5-wire component video cable to cover both the VGA and the component video output. There is a simple break-out cable that changes the VGA D-sub 15 connector into 5 RCA (or BNC) connections. You will only use the three RGB connections for component video. The V and H syncs aren't used. The cost of two more coax runs is cheaper than the D-sub 15 VGA cable.

EDIT: Also, I made the mistake by only running a 2" conduit to the projector. BIG MISTAKE! I wish I would have run either a larger conduit or two 2" conduits. They fill up fast and the large connectors have to be pulled through first. Now every time I have to change or upgrade a cable, everything has to be pulled out from smallest to largest, new cable added then everything pulled back in (one at a time). Using a good pulling lube (no jokes out there) also helps if you have 90 deg. sweeps like I do.

 

[Thunder18]

I agree with running both. With new versions of HDMI on the horizon, you don't know what you may run into. Also, HDMI still has to be run to both the projector and the receiver, unless you're going to run digital coax/optical cable separately to the receiver, which is always a possibility.