What's the Difference Between HDMI Cable and Component Cables?

Over a short length, the cables don't make aleave people confused just like the poor fellow in
difference. What is different is that in the case ofthe commercial.
the component cables, the TV has to convert theComponent video is based on an analog format.
component analog signal to digital. In the case ofWith analog signals, the voltage signal on the wire
the HDMI cable, the signal is already digital. Sois in a wave format and how the wave changes
there may be a perceptible difference if the TVin height is what is important. Theoretically it has
doesn't do the conversion well.an infinite number of values between zero and
Putting aside picture quality, the reason you shouldthe maximum, somewhat like the variable
use the HDMI cable is that it carries the HDCPwindshield wipers I had on an old Thunderbird.
signals, component does not. If the source device,With the HDMI or DVI format, these are based
say a cable box, looks for the HDCP handshake,on digital signaling. Digital as you probably have
and doesn't get it, it Will not output an HD signal.heard, uses ones and zeros with a series of
So if you want to watch HBO in HD from a cablepulses all at the same height and they are either
box, you have to use HDMI or DVI.present or missing. At the other end, processing
I use the component cables. Then again, I spentequipment reassembles the information. In a 4-bit
about $60 on them (gold plated ends, largebinary coding, you can have 1 of 16 different
conductors, thick shielding, etc) for both the videovalues as 4 1's and 0's assembled as a group can
components and audio channels. And, I boughthave 16 different combinations. So equipment at
them a few years ago, before HDMI cables werethe other end of the cable that is detecting signals
even around. The difference in performanceand looking for analog sine waves would put out
between top-end component video cables andtotal gibberish if it just received pulses of 1's and
HDMI cables is negligent. But, if you just use0's.
standard RCA cables - like the cheap ones theSome solutions are very easy. If an HDMI or DVI
cable TV company gives you - you won't get asoutput is available on both boxes, use those. The
good of quality as the HDMI cables.difference between DVI and HDMI is that HDMI
As HDMI cable connections become more andcaries the audio in addition to the video signals. But
more widely used, we are often asked: which isDVI is just as good and other than the expense
better, HDMI or component video? The answer,of an extra audio cable, that will solve your
as it happens, is not cut-and-dried.problem. If you were trying to use the
First, one note: everything said here is asComponent outputs because you already had the
applicable to DVI as to HDMI; DVI appears onHDMI port tied up, they make HDMI switch boxes
fewer and fewer consumer electronic devices allthat are fairly inexpensive where you can plug
the time, so isn't as often asked about, but DVImultiple HDMI cables in on one side with one
and HDMI are essentially the same as oneoutput on the other.
another, image-quality-wise. The principalVia component cables an analog signal is
differences are that HDMI carries audio as well astransfered. HDMI is digital. Among other things this
video, and uses a different type of connector, buthas the following advantage: As long as the data
both use the same encoding scheme, and that'sis transferred correctly you have the perfect
why a DVI source can be connected to an HDMIimage data arriving at your TV. There won't be a
monitor, or vice versa, with a DVI/HDMI cable,single pixel difference in what the 'sending' device
with no intervening converter box.puts out and what reaches your TV. Component
The upshot of this article--in case you're notsignals (as all analog signals) can vary in quality and
inclined to read all the details--is that it's very hardyou can get disturbances.
to predict whether an HDMI connection willSo actually: At first glance HDMI cables might
produce a better or worse image than an analogappear more expensive than component cables,
component video connection. There will often bebut that's not entirely true. For HDMI the
significant differences between the digital and therequiered quality of the cable is related to the
analog signals, but those differences are notlength you need. If you only need to cover a
inherent in the connection type and insteadshort distance (two or three meters) a cheap
depend upon the characteristics of the sourcecable will give you the best possible result that
device (e.g., your DVD player) and the displaycould ever be achieved by any means ... it's digital
device (e.g., your TV set). Why that is, however,... the cheap cable has no influence on the image
requires a bit more discussion.quality ... just like the network cable your
Several people a day are searching for ancomputer uses to hook up to the inet has no
interconnection solution by trying to connect HDMIinfluence on the image quality of videos you
to Component outputs through a cable for theirdownload / stream.
high-definition equipment. Unfortunately, this isn't aOf course this doesn't mean component is bad:
matter of rearranging wires and having the rightAmong affordable analog video connections it's
type of connector. There is a fundamental analogprobably by far the best, but HDMI just has the
versus digital incompatibility problem similar to theadvantage of not having to care about the signal
upcoming digital broadcast TV switchover versusbeing unintentionally "affected" by outside
your current rabbit ears that receive analoginfluences during transfer. So if you can: HDMI is
broadcast signals. They aren't compatible andthe better choice.