New TV cable-hookup advice needed

"Richard Harison" wrote:
The sense of the group is that for shorter runs (12') www.monoprice.com
is worth a visit! Don't fall for the hype!

You might also check out www.svideo.com

Chip

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wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi - I recently purchased a Pioneer HDTV Rear Projection TV....52" (a
couple years old model)

Question is how do I maximize my picture quality for both digital and
HDTV?

My cable box provides; composite, component, HDMI, and S-VIDEO output.

My TV has for inputs; composite, component, VGA (15 pin computer
monitor type input), and S-VIDEO.

I think the answer is going to be to use the component inputs/outputs.
Correct?

I am wondering, however, if going HDMI-VGA (may need to use a DVI/VGA
converter) would be better??

Thanks in advance for helping a newbie!!

James

Use the component video.

If it is component, then you don't need a signal converter to connect an HD
cable box, or an HD XBOX360 or an HD-DVD to it.

Now check the "VGA" connection is it VGA RGB only or can it be switched to
component? If switchable, you just need a cable that has the 15 pin
connector at one end and three RCA males on the other.

If for some strange reason you have a real VGA RGB input only (my old RP HD
can be switched between RGB and component on the "VGA" connector), then you
will need a component to RGB converter. But make sure it will take the
correct formats (1080i and/or 720P) before buying a converter.

wrote in message
oups.com...
Sounds like component cabling is the way to go.

Anyone got any advice on a good set of component cables? A look at best
buy and radio shack shows me there are a number of different vendors
and cables ranging anywhere from $25 all they way to $150.

Thanks agin.

http://www.monoprice.com

If you spend more than $20 on any cable, you are being ripped off.

Until your component cables arrive, use a set of composite cables for the
component connection.

Yes, composite cables work for component.

"Tom Orle" wrote in message
...

Just out of curiosity, I plugged in regular composite cables, which
look like plain old audio cables, into the component sockets and I
could not see any difference - at least with the 6' cables. I used the
Digital Video Essentials (DVE) DVD for my tests on color accuracy and
focus/sharpness.

Maybe if you need 12 footers or more you might see some degradation.

-=tom=-

"Modern" composite cables are usually 75-75-75 Ohm. Older composite cables
were 75 Ohm for video (yellow) and 50 Ohm for audio (red/white).

You don't get an impedence mismatch with "modern" composite cables.

Try not to have a heart attack Mobster Cable people, but I have two devices
not only using composite cables (for component) but they are also going
through a composite A/B switch!

No loss in PQ at all...

"Mikepier" wrote in message
ps.com...

Theoretically, the HDMI connection is supposed to offer the best
quality, because there are no A/D-D/A conversions,

Thats complete nonsense. In the idea world, everything would simply use
component.

....but we don't live in that world. We live in the world where the
entertainment industry wants to control not only what content you watch, but
when.

"Eric" wrote:

Yes, composite cables work for component.

Are you advocating that he mismatch the colors on the plugs and
sockets :-))))

How could you .... :-(

-=tom=-

In article ,
"Eric" wrote:

"Mikepier" wrote in message
ps.com...

Theoretically, the HDMI connection is supposed to offer the best
quality, because there are no A/D-D/A conversions,

Thats complete nonsense. In the idea world, everything would simply use
component.

...but we don't live in that world. We live in the world where the
entertainment industry wants to control not only what content you watch, but
when.

I think that you've confused HDMI and HDCP. HDMI is superior because it
carries digital video and audio with a single cable, whereas component
requires 5 cables.

--
Tom Stiller

PGP fingerprint = 5108 DDB2 9761 EDE5 E7E3
7BDA 71ED 6496 99C0 C7CF

Tom Stiller wrote:

HDMI is superior because it carries digital video and audio with a single cable, whereas component
requires 5 cables.

That doesn't make it superior as far as picture or sound quality is
concerned.

It's just more convenient.

But isn't HDMI also used to enforce copy protection!

-=tom=-

In article ,
Tom Orle wrote:

Tom Stiller wrote:

HDMI is superior because it carries digital video and audio with a single
cable, whereas component
requires 5 cables.

That doesn't make it superior as far as picture or sound quality is
concerned.

It's just more convenient.

HDMI does eliminate unnecessary digital-to-analog conversions so it's
more than "just more convenient."


But isn't HDMI also used to enforce copy protection!

The encryption requires a digital connection and HDMI ensures that both
ends of the connection "play by the rules". If and when HDCP is
implemented across the board, the resolution of component connections
will reduced to prevent high quality copying.

--
Tom Stiller

PGP fingerprint = 5108 DDB2 9761 EDE5 E7E3
7BDA 71ED 6496 99C0 C7CF

wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks for the info - But, being that I dont have an HDMI nor a DVI
connection on the TV (I only have a VGA 15-Pin connection), would I
lose the HDMI quality? I'd have to attach a VGA adapter to the end of
the HDMI/DVI cable.

Use your component input. No sense worrying about losing quality over
something you don't have. There are many that claim there is a difference,
though I haven't seen it.