HDMI opinions from the field
We've covered HDMI gripes before, but asking professional integrators for opinions is a good way to learn what the shortcomings are. According to a recent survey, 60% of integrators still prefer component connections -- a "glass half-full" result that shows both the quick adoption of HDMI and also the growing pains experienced thus far. The complaints are all too familiar: flaky performance, loose connectors, expensive distribution and fear of HDCP. All valid points, but the downside to the vast field experience integrators have is that they aren't paid to experiment with the latest tech in the field. That's not a knock on integrators -- sticking with what works is a great strategy when it's your livelihood on the line. Kudos to the pros out there who find a way to bring both component and HDMI into their toolkit; we've got a sneaking suspicion they're HD nuts like us who try the bleeding edge out at their homes first!
Filed under: Cables
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MT @ Jan 2nd 2008 5:20PM
JUST GIVE US ALL A FINAL HDMI SPEC INSTEAD OF CHANGING SPECS EVERY MONTH PLEASE GIVE CUSTOMERS A SINGLE STANDARD FINAL SPEC CABLE INSTEAD OF OFFERING US ALL A MILLION SPEEDS TO CHOOSE FROM! THATS IT MAKE ONE FINAL STANDARD AND STICK TO IT ! THAT WAY YOU ELIMINATE WASTE IN THE WORLD OF HD AND MONSTER CABLE CAN STOP FOOLING PEOPLE.DONT BELIEVE A WORD THEY SAY AT BEST BUY OR ANY OTHER OTHER AV STORE ABOUT MONSTER CABLES.ITS DIGITAL THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO WASTE IN TRANSMISSION.ANY HDMI 1.3 CABLE WILL PASS THROUGH 1080P AND ALL THE HD AUDIO CODECS IN BITSTREAM.THANKS TO ALL WHO SHOWED ME MONOPRICE.
Hooterman @ Jan 2nd 2008 5:37PM
great, can somebody please show him the caps lock key now?
Mike @ Jan 2nd 2008 5:29PM
I wish they would just make a component or at least a hdmi from player to component on tv that will upconvert.
Sean @ Jan 2nd 2008 5:36PM
HDMI should be finalized and locked down. The final spec should also include some form of locking mechanism on the port to combat looseness. I got an Elite receiver, and not even 4 months later, it was extinct thanks to HDMI 1.3a. I was like, are you kidding me! lol :)
zargon @ Jan 2nd 2008 5:36PM
If only we didn't have to worry about all this DRM bullcrap. Component is good enough and if the IEEE group (or who ever it was) would have approved 1080p over component, then almost no one would have had anything to complain about.
Spyvie @ Jan 2nd 2008 6:08PM
HDMI is pretty handy if your using it with an HDMI audio receiver.
I have a 32" LCD and an upscaling player I sometimes take to my GFs house to watch movies (she's a bit of a luddite, with an old CRT and a VCR) All I have to do is plug in the power cords and one HDMI cable (that I didn't give back to Comcast when I gave them back my box) and I'm done
BitburgDan @ Jan 2nd 2008 7:46PM
I work in high-end videoconferencing system design. We end up taking into account how our systems will be integrated/installed. Our products have DVI-I output and input, and have for some time. On the input side (primarily for PC connectivity) I would guess the installations are heavily weighted towards analog (VGA to DVI-A) because the majority of our users have VGA outputs on their laptops/PCs. On the output side, things are trending more towards digital when there is a single display involved in the installation, but analog (VGA) when there are multiple displays, primarily because of run length and distribution means. It's harder for resellers and integrators to make money on the expensive cables and DAs, when there are analog choices for considerably less. We're talking about 720p or even WXGA resolutions for most installs so the difference is in the mind of the beholder (IMHO).
Jeff N. @ Jan 2nd 2008 8:51PM
I have noticed that my new DirecTV HR20 HD DVR does not look as good coming through a component cable as the DirecTV HD Tivo did. But it looks better with HDMI.
zargon @ Jan 3rd 2008 7:53AM
That has to do with HDMI being processed through different chips on the source or the display. Since HDMI is digital and is more involved (DRM, audio, etc...), it is not processed the same as component on both ends of the equation. Almost all TVs does not share the same video settings on their HDMI inputs as they do on their component. These factors lead to different looking picture on the same TV. It is not a good thing or a bad thing, just different. HDMI's ability for picture quality at the same resolutions is no better than component, they are the same and I have seen cases where either one looks better than the other. This can lead to people proclaiming HDMI looking better, however I think a good chunk of the time it is just the placebo affect because people think digital is better.
The best thing people can do for themselves though, is get DVE or DVE HD and calibrate their TV on all inputs. Then test to see what input they think looks best, I guess if that kind of matters to them or they are able to do it with DRM and all that crap.
I like HDMI for the most part. I don't like HDCP/DRC that they are forcing on us. I have a love hate with the moving target spec of HDMI. In one aspect, it makes spending money on home theater products harder since they can become outdated, but on the other hand it is nice that it is getting upgraded and we don't (yet) have another connection being forced down our throats (Firewire, DVI anyones?). I also am both sides of the fence on the single connection for audio and video. It is nice because it is one connection. However it sucks unless you have a receiver and device that supports it. On top of that, what about sending the video to the TV, but just the audio to the receiver... it can be done but if you are looking for the new DD and DTS audio formats it can't with out HDMI (and bitstreaming) or with out a HDM player with 7.1 analog outputs (and a receiver with 7.1 inputs).
hopefully as time passes, and if HDMI remains the standard, things will settle down and make it easier on all of us.
ceilingfanboy @ Jan 2nd 2008 10:35PM
Are loose connectors really that big of a deal? If you are someone who owns 50 different devices that use HDMI, you're probably also someone who owns a TV that has a lot of HDMI inputs. However, the average person is really only going to need maybe 2 HDMI inputs, which is pretty standard on TVs nowadays. I guess if you have a PS3, a 360, and a hi def cable box you will need 3 HDMI inputs, but even then, that's not unusual to find on a new TV. If you aren't going to need to do the plug shuffle, why does it matter if the plugs wear out?
zaw @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:59PM
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I hate HDMI, DVI connectors are way better, they're screw on and work great, they could have easily get a pair of wire for Digital Audio on the DVI connection. OH yeah I forgot DVI didn't pass for stupid HDCP thingy.
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robert @ Jan 3rd 2008 2:28AM
You'd think you would've caught that you misspelled content since you copied and pasted it a million times, but I guess not.
gt350 @ Jan 3rd 2008 2:45AM
With all the problems of HDMI , I have never read that the HDMI people helping integrators to fix the problems--other then saying wait for version 1. whatever.Some are bad installs, but there are too many problems to blame installers, and since were last in we take the heat. So when I see their booth at CES forgive me for my!@#$%^ to U I work hard and u have never paid me any $$$ for your testing.
Jim @ Jan 3rd 2008 9:55AM
If I plug component cables between my SA8300HD PVR and my Sony STR-DA3300ES receiver, I get a much crappier signal (horizontal banding, color shifts, etc.) and background noise compared to crystal clear signals via HDMI. Have tried multiple component cables inc a high end version since HDMI doesn't transmit Dolby Digital sound from my cable box unlike the fibre optic connection. This receiver has 3 HDMI 1.3a connectors and is fantastic as long as you stay away from the component connectors. I just wish it had more as I'm using all three (PS3, cable box and DVD).