What's the difference between red/blue/green cable and HDMI?

[Chubby]

Just swapped out my cable box for a HD cable box. I know HDMI cable is supposed to be better but what's the difference?

[Subby]

http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/122868.html

That makes a pretty decent comparison.

[stevew]

I don't think it'll be a dramatic difference on a Cable box. Now if you were snaking the wires behind the walls, obviously it would be a lot easier to use HDMI. If you're hooking up a home theatre, you'd want to use HDMI into the TV to pass through digital sound. If not, then Component will be fine on a Cable Box. You'll definitely want to get a DVD player with the HDMI output and use HDMI on that, though.

[stevew]

dola-
You might want to check out the varios video output settings on the cable box after the technician leaves. A lot of times they set the signal at 1080i, but your TV may perform better if you set it to 720p. It just depends.

[Pyser]

its basically analog vs digital

hdmi keeps the signal all digital, and includes audio in its "message"

component is analog, which requires a conversion process in your tv. also, you still need the rca red and white cables to pass the audio.

that said, it isnt a clear cut which looks better debate. it depends on your eyes, mostly, but also your equipment. for most, the difference is negligible.

lastly, as far as i know, component cannot pass a 1080p signal, while hdmi can. though im not 100% positive on that one...and it really only matters if you play video games on a next gen console, or have a blu-ray or hd-dvd setup, as no stations broadcast in 1080p, nor will they for quite some time.

[gstelmack]

A lot will depend on the TV. For example, my 32" Vizio has horrible color on any of the analog inputs (including component), while it looks fantastic over HDMI. My 34" CRT Sony doesn't care.

[DanGarion]

Unless you put two exact TVs side by side you are probably not going to notice any differences. Spoken from experience in the industry.

[Dr. Sak]

Unless you put two exact TVs side by side you are probably not going to notice any differences. Spoken from experience in the industry.

Porn industry....

[Chubby]

right now I have a white/red wire going from the digital audio part of the cable box into my surround sound receiver, the red/blue/green cable from the cable box to the tv and my PS2 (which I use for dvds) hooked up directly into the tv with the audio siphoned off into a splitted which goes into my surround sound.

do I want to just send everything to my cable box (PS2) or something else from how I have it set up now?

[DanGarion]

right now I have a white/red wire going from the digital audio part of the cable box into my surround sound receiver, the red/blue/green cable from the cable box to the tv and my PS2 (which I use for dvds) hooked up directly into the tv with the audio siphoned off into a splitted which goes into my surround sound.

do I want to just send everything to my cable box (PS2) or something else from how I have it set up now?

Well you probably can't pass your DVD video through the cable box.

What type of TV do you have? Also does your Surround Sound have Digital inputs (SPDIF or Digital Coaxial?).

[Pyser]

i agree with dangarion, if you have a receiver and surround sound, definitely upgrade to a digital audio connection

[Chubby]

Well you probably can't pass your DVD video through the cable box.

What type of TV do you have? Also does your Surround Sound have Digital inputs (SPDIF or Digital Coaxial?).

42" Sharp Aquos 720p

I managed to get the new cable box switched to 720p (it was in 1080i when we got it). I'm pretty sure my receiver has a digital audio input but I'm about to leave for work and can't wake the girlfriend this early :)

[CU Tiger]

AVR...solve all your probs...