Does HDMI provide better tv quality than standard cables?

Answer 1

HDMI is currently the best way to transmit audio and video in a Home Theater. However, be aware that it can have difficulties in long-distance runs.

HDMI carries digital video from 480i to 1080p. It can carry 24Hz video, the original framerate of cinema material. (For the technically inclined, this means you can avoid 3:2 pulldown and telecine judder.)

Since HDMI is transmitted digitally, signal degradation generally does not occur in short cables. You will not get a fuzzy or dim picture from HDMI. However, long-distance HDMI runs may have "sparkles" or lose the signal entirely.

HDMI can carry high-bandwidth digital audio, including all forms of audio currently used on DVD, Blu-ray, and HD-DVD. The most demanding form is 7.1 multi-channel PCM.

DVI video is identical to HDMI video, but does not include the mandatory HDCP encryption. For this reason, some equipment may not allow HD material through DVI ports. DVI connections do not carry audio.

Component video also carries video from 480i to 1080p, but due to copy protection paranoia, most upconverting DVD players will only output up to 480p over component. Blu-ray and HD-DVD will only output up to 1080i over component. Only new video game consoles use 1080p over component.

Component video uses analog signals, which means image quality may vary on different cabling and equipment. However, analog signals are more likely to succeed on long-distance runs. Thus, component video is still very popular for some scenarios.

Component video is usually coupled with SPDIF digital audio or stereo analog audio.

These older standards transmit 480i video in analog. While this is fine for older CRT televisions, such signals will appear blurry on large HDTVs.

Composite video is usually coupled with mono or stereo analog audio.

These means of transmitting digital audio are most commonly used for Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, and PCM stereo. While DD and DTS can sound excellent, only HDMI has the bandwidth to carry newer HD audio signals, such as multi-channel PCM.

Analog audio is generally transmitted in mono (single white RCA), stereo (white and red RCA), or multi-channel. Surround sound can be extracted from stereo analog audio, but the result is not as clean as discretely-transmitted surround sound.

Multi-channel analog audio can carry the same fidelity as multi-channel digital PCM, but analog noise and additional digital/analog conversions may occur.

Answer 2

HDMI is the current standard for HD signals and supports all HD formats as well as SD formats. There is also a standard for analog component cables to carry HD and is an equivalent quality to HDMI. However, the ability to encrypt signals on an HDMI interface means that it is the only domestic HD interface available today.

A good quality component SD signal will normally provide an image of equal quality to that of an SD signal carried by an HMDI cable.

HDMI has an advantage in that it carries audio and control data, making it a more convenient interface and allows communication between a player and the television.

Answer 3

HDMI is a physical interface used to carry video and audio signals and is the single interface that supports commercially protected HD signals for domestic equipment. Other cables used for composite, S-video and component cables are all used for standard definition and therefore won't deliver HD quality.

However, HDMI cables carrying SD signals will provide the same quality as analog component cables. The fact that the interface is digital does not make the image quality better than analog connections.

It is also worth noting that VGA connectors are capable of carrying signals that are HD or even higher resolution. They will also deliver an image that is the same quality as HDMI carrying the same content.

Although HDMI is a convenient connection for HD, it is wrong to assume that it will always provide a better quality image.

Answer 4

HDMI is a digital video interface for domestic equipment and was developed to handle high definition signals as well as standard definition. The signals carried on an HDMI cable can contain far more information than a composite signal allows and therefore the resulting image quality is higher. Composite signals will only handle standard definition signals and the color encoding method used means that the resolution and color depth is limited. HDMI interfaces removes this restriction and allows higher resolution and better color information to be carried.

Answer 5

It depends entirely on the application. To see video in HD from a player with an HDMI output and no optical output, then HDMI is the best choice as optical cables won't work.

HD video signals are output almost exclusively via HDMI now. Optical interfaces aren't available other than as a converted signal for long distances. HDMI is limited to fairly short lengths - about 60 feet or so. Optical cables can carry similar signals far further so an HDMI to optical converter and an optical to HDMI converter can be used to extend the length. Note that each piece of equipment will still use HDMI connections.

Answer 6

more expensive ones (20-30 bucks) have deeper blue and black. but graphics wise, no they are the same. Compatiblity is also different.

Answer 7

Yes for picture and sound through the t.v