HDMI plug or component cables on an HD set top box?
dtwayve
Enthusiast - Level 1

I'm upgrading from a model 6416 HD set top box to a 7216. 

The installation instuctions show a 5 pin component cable setup.

I've been using a single HDMI plug.

Is the HDMI plug OK to use?  Which is better?

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Re: HDMI plug or component cables on an HD set top box?
walt178
Specialist - Level 3

HDMI is OK.  And better.

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Re: HDMI plug or component cables on an HD set top box?
walt178
Specialist - Level 3

HDMI is OK.  And better.

Re: HDMI plug or component cables on an HD set top box?
dtwayve
Enthusiast - Level 1

thanks Walt, I'd searched for a hour for the answer.  Why it's not mentioned in the install instructions concerned me.

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Re: HDMI plug or component cables on an HD set top box?
sangs1
Specialist - Level 2

There is no "better" in this situatiion, but I avoid using HDMI with any cable/satellite boxes. Why?

-- Never and dropouts/synch issues with Component.

-- There is NO 1080p programming available through FiOS, which is really the only reason you would ever need HDMI.

-- No switching issues due to incompatible AV receivers/TVs. 

Connect your box using both, then do an A/B comparison. I'd be shocked if you see any difference. On these forums and elsewhere, you'll rarely find a thread discussing problems with Component connections. But do a search for HDMI synch/dropout/HDCP problems and you'll find a healthy list.

The only instance in which HDMI is better than Component is when using any sources that provide 1080p - only via HDMI. So use HDMI for Blu-Ray players or when wanting to watch 1080p programming, say on Directv. 

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Re: HDMI plug or component cables on an HD set top box?
dtwayve
Enthusiast - Level 1

Thanks Sangs,

I've got the HDMI running - Looks good to me - I don't have a component cable set so I'll have to pass on the trials.

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Re: HDMI plug or component cables on an HD set top box?
sangs1
Specialist - Level 2

@dtwayve wrote:

Thanks Sangs,

I've got the HDMI running - Looks good to me - I don't have a component cable set so I'll have to pass on the trials.


Hey, the first rule is, stick with whatever works for you. 🙂

You might have no problems at all, I'm just going based on my personal experiences. (Although it's good to have a set of component cables lying around, just in case. You can get them cheap.) Best of luck.

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Re: HDMI plug or component cables on an HD set top box?
walt178
Specialist - Level 3

@sangs wrote:

There is no "better" in this situatiion, but I avoid using HDMI with any cable/satellite boxes. Why?

-- Never and dropouts/synch issues with Component.

-- There is NO 1080p programming available through FiOS, which is really the only reason you would ever need HDMI.

-- No switching issues due to incompatible AV receivers/TVs. 

Connect your box using both, then do an A/B comparison. I'd be shocked if you see any difference. On these forums and elsewhere, you'll rarely find a thread discussing problems with Component connections. But do a search for HDMI synch/dropout/HDCP problems and you'll find a healthy list.

The only instance in which HDMI is better than Component is when using any sources that provide 1080p - only via HDMI. So use HDMI for Blu-Ray players or when wanting to watch 1080p programming, say on Directv. 


You aren't alone in that view. I've read a number of articles which address the issue from a technical standpoint.  The general consensus of which is best seemed to be:  It depends.   The one exception being as you pointed out in your last paragraph.

I just happen to be one who favors HDMI.  I've used all available connection types in the past and prefer HDMI.  I've done the same with FiOS.  I have  even tried connecting my TV to the STB (7232-2) with both at the same time so that I could easily switch back and forth.  HDMI provided a noticeably better picture quality.  Granted this is with specific equipment and the results may differ if I replaced my TV. But with what I have, HDMI wins the battle in my home.  The only time I've had a problem with HDMI was with cheap cables.  I don't advocate expensive cables, but in my experience the $1.00 cables are a waste of money.

Another consideration is audio quality.   HDMI audio is superior to component.  Again, with my TV.   If my TV had a digital audio input the difference might not be noticeable.  But none of my 3 TVs have digital audio input.

A third minor consideration is cable preference.  One vs.five.  Unless you have a bundled component set, HDMI provides a neater and easier hookup. 

Re: HDMI plug or component cables on an HD set top box?
sangs1
Specialist - Level 2

It's funny, the "One vs. Five Wire" battle is what originally led me to choose HDMI, before I realized its limitations (in my setups). However now, the component cables I have all run through one wire. The connectors fan out at the ends, but otherwise they're in a tight, neat one-wire package. I honestly don't notice any audio difference through my TV or AV receiver though. But like I said earlier - whatever works, works. There is rarely anything that must be done only one way.

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Re: HDMI plug or component cables on an HD set top box?
tlb7
Contributor - Level 3

>>walt178: The only time I've had a problem with HDMI was with cheap cables.  I don't advocate expensive cables, but in my experience the $1.00 cables are a waste of money.

Someone in another forum a number of years ago, turned me on to ordering cables from http://www.monoprice.com/ and I've been extremely pleased with the quality of their cables, their excellent pricing--both for cables and shipping--and their customer service. I've ordered the component cables I use from them along with usb and other types of cables.

I started using component cables with my HDTV because there were significant problems with using HDMI with respect to the closed caption display--due to my hearing loss, I need closed captions to make programming accessible. I'm not sure why there was a problem with HDMI but it could be that the HDMI specifications do NOT include the transmission of closed captions. At any rate, using component cabling solved the problem.

I also use the RF connection between my HDTV and the stb by coax cabling from the tv's RF port to the stb's RF port which allows me to change the Input setting from Component to TV because there are times when the closed captioning even with the component cabling is not displaying properly and when I switch Input from Component to TV, the captions display as they should--I find this issue is generally with On Demand rather than broadcast programming.

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Re: HDMI plug or component cables on an HD set top box?
walt178
Specialist - Level 3

@tlb wrote:

I started using component cables with my HDTV because there were significant problems with using HDMI with respect to the closed caption display....


This is another aspect of HDMI that is iffy.  CC work for me.  But from I have read on this forum and other places it's a fairly common problem.  (It might be for me as well if I needed CC.)

One of the problems with HDMI is that with a digital signal satisfactory results are dependent on how the various pieces of equipment involved code or decode the signal.  Unfortunately, standards don't always result in uniformity.  With an analog signal uniformity in the way the signal is handled is more likely.  It all comes down to what works for the user with the equipment he has.

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