HDMI vs Component cables

[Tricore]

Hello there,

I'm getting a Playstation 3 soon, and as I already have some Playstation 3 component cables (been using them for my Playstation 2), I'm wondering how much of a quality difference there would be between component and HDMI cables.

Also, is there any difference, quality wise, between cheap and expensive digital cables (like HDMI)?

Thanks in advance.

PS: Oh yeah, if it makes any difference I'll be using my Playstation 3 for both gaming, and watching Blu-ray/DVD.

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum!

I think that this topic has been covered here recently, so try a quick search and you might find some good info.

If you are connecting it to a receiver that can process audio over HDMI, then you may want to use HDMI simply because of the higher quality audio that is possible with the newer audio codecs that the PS3 can process.

There is certainly a point of diminishing returns on cables. I'll let others put in their recommendations. You can go too cheap, and you can go way too expensive. If you're looking at running about 6 to 10 feet of HDMI, I'd think that you wouldn't need to spend over $20.

 

[chuck10553]

I'm getting a Playstation 3 soon, and as I already have some Playstation 3 component cables (been using them for my Playstation 2), I'm wondering how much of a quality difference there would be between component and HDMI cables.

sorry to tell you but the ps2 cable does not fit in the ps3... when i got my ps3 thats what i tried first cause i did not have an hdmi but i had a ps2 component and trust me... it doesnt fit but i would say to just use hdmi for video and audio if possibly... less cables, better quality... win win situation!

 

[Tricore]

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks

I think that this topic has been covered here recently, so try a quick search and you might find some good info.

Alright, I'll do that

If you are connecting it to a receiver that can process audio over HDMI, then you may want to use HDMI simply because of the higher quality audio that is possible with the newer audio codecs that the PS3 can process.

Unfortunately, I only have a pair of stereo speakers, so I wont need support for those formats for quite a while.

There is certainly a point of diminishing returns on cables. I'll let others put in their recommendations. You can go too cheap, and you can go way too expensive. If you're looking at running about 6 to 10 feet of HDMI, I'd think that you wouldn't need to spend over $20.

So there is a quality difference between digital cables? I trust you if you say so, but I don't really understand how digital cables can vary in quality. Isn't it merely a question of wether the signal is transfered or not?

 

[Tricore]

sorry to tell you but the ps2 cable does not fit in the ps3... when i got my ps3 thats what i tried first cause i did not have an hdmi but i had a ps2 component and trust me... it doesnt fit but i would say to just use hdmi for video and audio if possibly... less cables, better quality... win win situation!

I'm pretty sure it fits, as it's bought as a Playstation 3 cable

 

[Adam]

So there is a quality difference between digital cables? I trust you if you say so, but I don't really understand how digital cables can vary in quality. Isn't it merely a question of wether the signal is transfered or not?

Cables can differ in how much bandwidth they can successfully pass over a given distance. Bandwidth is how much data can be passed over the cable, and it comes into play depending on what resolution you want to use on your TV and how many color bits are involved. That's mostly important for runs over 50 feet (or so). If you're just running six feet or so, you likely don't have to worry about anything except for cable construction quality - in other words, don't buy something that will fall apart the first (or second) time you pull on the connector.

 

[no. 5]

Isn't it merely a question of wether the signal is transfered or not?

Yes it is, but that is where a difference will manifest itself between a quality cable and an inferior cable; for an HDMI connection to work properly, the cable itself must be within tolerance of HDMIs spec for things like impedance, inductance, etc, if not, the signal can be lost because HDMI does not have error correction. A raw cable (before connectors are attached) may be so far off the spec that it will only be useful for a short cable.

The point is, just because a cable is thirty feet long, does not mean it will work, but if your run is under six feet, it shouldn't matter what cable you buy.

 

[Tricore]

Alright thanks a lot. So that means there is nothing gained at all, from "high-end" HDMI cables? And is the same true for coaxial/optical cables?

@Adam
I've tried searching, but I couldn't find any thread about HDMI/Component cables? Could you please link it?

 

[Adam]

Alright thanks a lot. So that means there is nothing gained at all, from "high-end" HDMI cables? And is the same true for coaxial/optical cables?

@Adam
I've tried searching, but I couldn't find any thread about HDMI/Component cables? Could you please link it?

Sorry if I sent you on a wild goose chase! I didn't have a specific thread in mind. I thought that I'd seen threads on HDMI cables versus each other, and on HDMI video quality versus component video quality.

In general, "high-end" HDMI cables don't add any value to the common person for common usage. Same goes for coax and optical. If you were running 50+ feet inside of a wall, we would give you a different set of recommendations for cables, but they still wouldn't be "high-end."

 

[deedubb]

sorry to tell you but the ps2 cable does not fit in the ps3... when i got my ps3 thats what i tried first cause i did not have an hdmi but i had a ps2 component and trust me... it doesnt fit but i would say to just use hdmi for video and audio if possibly... less cables, better quality... win win situation!

That's odd, because I used my PS2 component cable for my PS3 before I switched to HDMI. It fit and worked flawlessly.

As for cables, I just purchased some bluejeans. They are great and inexpensive. For video quality, HDMI>component>S-video>composite.

 

[itschris]

Alright thanks a lot. So that means there is nothing gained at all, from "high-end" HDMI cables? And is the same true for coaxial/optical cables?

@Adam
I've tried searching, but I couldn't find any thread about HDMI/Component cables? Could you please link it?

The key is that you need quality cables. But understand that that doesn't mean you need to go out and spend $85 on a 3' Monster HDMI cable. There's a couple of very good places to get cables. First and foremost is Blue Jean Cable. They come highly recommended from many users on this forum. They make very fine cables at a very doable price point and they're good people to work with. Monoprice is another good source. A lot folks have had good luck with them as well.

Just remember, it's about quality, not just price and brand name.

 

[Midcow2]

some ideas

Hello there,

I'm getting a Playstation 3 soon, and as I already have some Playstation 3 component cables (been using them for my Playstation 2), I'm wondering how much of a quality difference there would be between component and HDMI cables.

Also, is there any difference, quality wise, between cheap and expensive digital cables (like HDMI)?

Thanks in advance.

PS: Oh yeah, if it makes any difference I'll be using my Playstation 3 for both gaming, and watching Blu-ray/DVD.

PS3 80 meg vesion will emulate in software the PS2 games. The other PS3s don't have this compatibility.

The PS3 works will with component or HDMI; for component you need a special cable ( about $25);the PS2 cable is not comaptible.

The PS3 seems to be more automatic and easier to setup using HDMI.

The HDMI was an evolving standard and even though the original specs on the earlier HDMI protocols HDMI 1.1 and HDMI 1.2 said they would support both audio and video, in most cases they do not support audio. To be safe get componentes that are HDMI 1.3 compatible; everything seems to work together if all components are at HDMI 1.3 level.

Don't go the cheapest HDMI cable; but you don't gain from going extremely expensive eithet, copper is copper. Blue jeans cable or Monocable have good priced, good quality cables.

Good Luck and enjoy

The PS3 ( be sure to download latest software upgrades) is one of the better and by far the fastest ( uses brute CPU horsepower) Blu Ray player.

 

[BMXTRIX]

First:
When I bought my original 60GB PS3 I unplugged my PS2 cable, plugged it into the PS3 and it worked without issue. This was a component video cable and it fits and works. Not sure if the 80GB/40GB models are different from the first models, but that would suprise me a bit.

Alright thanks a lot. So that means there is nothing gained at all, from "high-end" HDMI cables? And is the same true for coaxial/optical cables?

This is exactly correct, and while many on here swear by Blue Jeans Cables, as do I in my experiences with them. I currently exclusively use cabling from www.monoprice.com - Their cables are significantly less money and have performed flawlessly on both long distance and short distance runs. I've actually run my PS3 at 1080p/24 85 FEET on their cables just to test them.

Likewise, they have plenty of supply for digital coaxial, optical, and other audio/video cabling needs at an excellent price.

I've tried searching, but I couldn't find any thread about HDMI/Component cables? Could you please link it?

There have been links discussing HDMI vs. component video, but you will want to search on that, not as how it relates to PS3 specifically. The bottom line is that most, not all, of the time HDMI will look the same, or a bit better than component video. A few rare times, component will look better than HDMI. This depends on all the analog/digital converters in the pipeline from device to display. As well, component is pretty 'simple'. There is no issue with HDCP (copy protection) so you don't end up with some of those potential issues. But, I've been in rooms with electrical dimmers and the dimmers have introduced ground loops that are basically impossible to get rid of. Going HDMI completely eliminated that issue.

Since you can get the HDMI cable for less than 10 bucks - why not?!? Well worth it IMO.

 

[skers_54]

Another thing to consider is that some BD movies only allow 720p and 1080p to be output over HDMI. Apparently, they are worried about piracy so they limit the component output, which does not have DRM, to 480p.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Another thing to consider is that some BD movies only allow 720p and 1080p to be output over HDMI. Apparently, they are worried about piracy so they limit the component output, which does not have DRM, to 480p.

I don't think this is an accurate statement.

Blu-ray has broadcast flags which can limit the output over component video to 480p (I believe), yet at this time not a single reported video has ever had this broadcast flag turned on and 100% of all movies are available in resolutions of 1080i, 720p, 480p, and 480i.

For HDMI, you get 1080p (!), 1080i, 720p, 480p, and 480i resolutions on Blu-ray discs.

It should also be noted that 1080p is the big one that a lot of people want, so it makes sense to go ahead and run HDMI if you can. In fact, considering that a HDMI cable is under 10 bucks at Monorpice, it really makes no sense at all to not get a few for use if your TV supports it!

The other less obvious known item is that upconversion of DVDs is only legally allowed to happen over the HDMI connection and is not allowed over the component video connections. This is, of course, stupid. It relates to piracy, but direct digital backups of DVDs are so simple to do, it's ludicrous to think someone would go through the hassle of an analog copy.

Generally - go with HDMI. It's one cable, it's cheap if you shop smart, and the video quality will be as good or better 90%+ of the time.