DVI versus Component

[JCHDTV]

This topic is a bit off High def TV's but in the same relative field. I understand the difference between DVI and component and how DVI passes the signal without compression making the picture better coming in to your HDTV but I was recently looking at some new DVD progressive scan untis that had component and DVI connections. Well I was wondering since my TV has only one DVI connection and I already have my HD receiver connected there how the he!! am I suppose to hook up a DVD player with DVI? Everyone I ask says there is not currently an adapter that can split the signal, so in a way I am forced to use a component input on a new DVD player. Is this right? Or does anyone know of a splitter for DVI? I guess the optical inputs are the same or can that be split by any method? Sorry just venting, it's pretty frusterating when the manufacturers make equipment that can only connect one modern device at optimal quality. Is DVI on DVD really that much better than component connections, will I be able to tell the difference?

[CANDY76MAN]

The difference between DVI and component is that one is digital and one is analog....by keeping the signal digital over DVI you save one or two D/A or A/D conversions of the signal (conversions degrade the signal a little more each time) and you can also have much longer (and cheaper) cable runs without losing any image quality.

You should be able to hookup both the DVI and component cables from the settop box and do a A/B comparison by switching inputs back and forth on your TV....then you can see if the difference is enough to worry about at all.

I am sure there are A/V switches available that will switch DVI but I doubt they are cheap...thats the only option I can think of though if your TV only has one DVI input.

edit...did a quick search and found these..looks like DVI switches are running around 250.00 or so, not too bad.
http://www.pacificcable.com/Picture_Page.asp?DataName=DS-21R
http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/hd-DVI-2x1.htm
http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=1208

[JBtampa]

likely we will see high-end audio receivers sporting DVI switching very soon, along with new for 04 digital fm. my personal experience is that DVI is superior to component, at least with my equipment. worth noting that manufacturers may vary slightly with DVI compatibility, according to Samsung and Philips users' guides.

[bdraw]

What kind of TV do you have?

I like Canyman's idea about comparing both to see which looks the best with your equipment.

If I had to choose between either a HD STB, or a DVD player. I would use the DVD player since utilzing the DVI interface with the DVD allows you to watch DVD's at 1080i.

I think if anyone intended for DVI to be your main connection from your components to your TV, they would have put more than one on the TV's.

DVI was introduced mainly because the content providers believe (rightfully so) that it si impossible to copy. They hope to use this connection for valuable content to prevent it from being spread over the Internet. I don't believe this will ever happen. But I have been wrong before.

[JCHDTV]

Well I thought the same thing about trying both myself, actually maybe even buying a DVD player with DVI and comparing the picture quality with my current Bose DVD player. I have only seen one DVD player at Best Buy that has DVI but there may be more coming soon.

BDraw, I have a 57" Sony HD monitor with a sony HD reciever, it has both DVI and component but I currently am using DVI which does provide a good picture.

I guess what I was trying to find out was whether or not you can truly get 1080i from a DVD? Does the DVD not have to be recorded in HD to receive an HD quality picture?

[CANDY76MAN]

The Samsung dvd player your talking about only upconverts standard DVD res to 1080i....it makes very little difference in the picture vs standard progressive at 480p...the video itself has to be encoded at 1080i for you to get the pristine picture and there aren't any DVD's with HD on them yet...except for the terminator2 DVD but that will only play through Windows Media Player 9....at least untill a DVD player that can play WMA files comes out.....(soon I hope :D )

[bdraw]

BDraw, I have a 57" Sony HD monitor with a sony HD reciever, it has both DVI and component but I currently am using DVI which does provide a good picture.


Is it a CRT, DLP, or LCD rear projection?

[bdraw]

The Samsung dvd player your talking about only upconverts standard DVD res to 1080i....it makes very little difference in the picture vs standard progressive at 480p

Some people think it makes a huge difference. I have not used one myself, but I have used my PC to upconvert and I would say it is worth the time/money to do so.

...the video itself has to be encoded at 1080i for you to get the pristine picture and there aren't any DVD's with HD on them yet...except for the terminator2 DVD but that will only play through Windows Media Player 9....at least untill a DVD player that can play WMA files comes out.....(soon I hope :D )

I guess you haven't heard. One was annonced at CES last week. Here is a link

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,114279,00.asp

[CANDY76MAN]

The comparison I've seen myself between a DVD at 480P and upconverted to 1080i is on the Hitatchi rptv my step dad get a few months ago...it has a built in DVD player and you can select 540p or 1080i for any of the inputs including the DVD player...when I switch back and forth between 540p and 1080i on it I notice a very slight sharpening of the image in 1080i but any fast motion and you get a vertical blinds type effect on the edges of whatever is moving...at 540p this doesn't happen....my stepdad couldn't see any difference at all.....maybe the DVD player will do something different but I would be suprised if it makes any siginificant improvement in the picture...if the bits aren't there to begin with then all upconverting to 1080i is doing is artificialy sharpening the picture.

as for the hd dvd player...thats sweet...I figured that would happen after I saw my first wm9 encoded HD clip on my computer...it's too easy to add it to new players...simply a WM9 decoding chip and upgrading the video pathways so they can pass a hd signal and we have HD DVD right now.....now if they would just start shooting movies on video instead of film :wink:

[mgd2win]

I had this same question and I asked one of the top Video Engineers in the World that I happen to know because I am also in the broadcasting industry. His name is Mark Schubin and you can do a Yahoo search for him and find out everything you want to know. This guy has written books and is on numerous commitees. Below is my questions to him and his answers.


My question is this, is the DVI connection quality that much improved over the Component connection that it warrants me purchasing some high quality DVI cables and a DVI Switch ???

If your component cables are reasonably short (ten feet), you'll probably get BETTER quality from them than from DVI.

I just bought the new HDTV Hitachi LCD Projection TV Model # 50V500 and the new Hughes HTL-HD DirecTV receiver. Both of these items and my DVD Player/Recorder all have DVI connections.

If they also have component, no problem.

If the DVI provides a significantly better quality I will purchase the DVI items, BUT on the other hand if it is only minor or insignificant improvement I will wait until the DVI products come down in price.

Stay analog component.

[jaymer]

well, thats proof that things change so quickly that even he doesn't know what he's talking about in all cases.

because my personal experience with the new samsung 50" DLP plus a few others (MRMOI just today) confirm DVI can surpass the component input in a drastic fashion.

[mrmoi]

Yes, definately with the Samsung DLP. The contrast is better, the blacks are blacker and the picture a bit sharper with the DVI cable (I just got the Samsung DVI DVD player too). But people who see my TV with component go, "What a great picture" and I thought the picture was pretty good until I tried the DVI. But I have read where people say that the component inputs are not that great on the Samsungs in general. I got my cable on Ebay for pretty cheap (and the DVD DVI player includes one!). So it was no big investment for me to check out my TV's DVI capability.

OH, and the Samsung DVD-HD931 player is on sale this week at BB for 299 but I got it on Amazon for 229 with free shipping.

[Jerry_Pease]

and you can also have much longer (and cheaper) cable runs without losing any image quality.that is real problem with dvi. The lenght of the cable is limited to a short distance 15 meter max and the cable is not cheap either.

In regards to picture quality, the only time dvi will be superior to components is when your display is "digital". Digital projectors, digital RPTV i.e. DLP/LCD/DILA crt monitors and crt RPTV benefit would be almost minimal at best. Think about it, crt are analog. There is going to be an AD conversion at the end. It defeats the purpose of digital to digital connection.

[Jerry_Pease]

btw, here is a review of my 4 x 1 HDTV/HDCP IR controlled dvi switcher


http://hometheatertalk.com/httalk/viewtopic.php?t=5404

[CANDY76MAN]

In regards to picture quality, the only time dvi will be superior to components is when your display is "digital". Digital projectors, digital RPTV i.e. DLP/LCD/DILA crt monitors and crt RPTV benefit would be almost minimal at best. Think about it, crt are analog. There is going to be an AD conversion at the end. It defeats the purpose of digital to digital connection.

good point.