Component or HDMI for Longer Cable Run?

[Qdoba Addict]

Which would be better for a distance of say 40 feet? A component cable or HDMI? This is to hook up my Uverse digital cable box to a projector. Audio isn't an issue as the optical out from the box already goes to my A/V receiver.

Currently the box is hooked up to my LCD TV via HDMI so if I go to HDMI for the 40 foot run I will switch the LCD TV to the component output of the box. The LCD TV will continue to be the primary viewing for cable TV the projector is just for "special occasions" and mostly DVD movies.

[Marc P. Gregoire]

HDMI is less prone to interference, it will either get there or it won't and I have used 33 foot HDMI cables with no problems. Digital signal tends to either get there or not. As well, it's only pulling one cable instead of three. If you are using BluRay or an upscaling DVD player, most of them only offer full function over HDMI. This is a consideration for other uses than the cable box, and means that at your rack you will just have to swap cables from the cable box to the optical disc player.

This is a better question for SoDak than myself.

[MoparsRule]

From another board a techno/audiophile I've known for quite a while posts:

The maximum would be 50 feet for HDMI. Anything longer than that requires a signal booster, which are around $30 or so. Some are a lot more for really long runs. As to which one? I think the component will be a lot cheaper and the HDMI will probably look a little better.

[crispy]

monoprice.com

[bever911]

I think I saw where wireless HDMI is out/coming out.

[SoDak_IndyFan]

HDMI will give you at least one less A/D, D/A conversion in your signal path. Each time you do either one you lose something. Assuming output resolution from your source matches the resolution of your display, HDMI will give you 1:1 pixel mapping as well. That means no scaling, which is always best.

[Marc P. Gregoire]

HDMI will give you at least one less A/D, D/A conversion in your signal path. Each time you do either one you lose something. Assuming output resolution from your source matches the resolution of your display, HDMI will give you 1:1 pixel mapping as well. That means no scaling, which is always best.

And because it is an LCD TV, unless it is 1080p being fed 1080p content, everything will have to go through the scaler anyways.

I would say run the HDMI to the projector and component to the TV.

[SoDak_IndyFan]

And because it is an LCD TV, unless it is 1080p being fed 1080p content, everything will have to go through the scaler anyways.

I would say run the HDMI to the projector and component to the TV.

Why not just buy an HDMI switcher? Oppo Digital makes one that has received excellent reviews for uner $100.

http://www.oppodigital.com/hm31/

Edit: That is a 3 into 1. Here is a 4 into 2:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=3728&seq=1&format=2

[SoDak_IndyFan]

Just to add to the resources for this thread, as a friend pointed out to me, Gefen is probably the biggest player in the HDMI switch market with the most choices:

http://www.gefen.com/kvm/htswitchers.jsp

[NDGator]

Okay SoDak.


Circa 2002 Mitz 65" rear projection unit with one 1080i component video feed.

Do they make a 3 in 1 or 4 in 1 HDMI converter to component video?

Right now, I have XBox, DVD, DVR all running into a Series 702 Onkyo and back to the TV utilizing the optical sounds... May be the best I can do...

[turnrightgoleft]

I bought some cables on monoprice, and took my cables back to Best Buy. Now I'll go buy a nice meal and drinks for the price difference.

[Marc P. Gregoire]

Gator, the issue you get into with HDMI is it is digital and copy protected. Without the HDMI, a lot of stuff just won't play, or will play at a reduced resolution. BluRay is limited to 540p over component.

I think using your receiver to switch component video is about as good as that setup can get, I know that there are receivers with upscalers that can take all the other inputs, massage them, and feed them out to the monitor over HDMI but not so much headed the other direction.

The whole HDMI think has thrown a wrench into anyone running pre-2005 hardware, except for watching HD digital cable/satellite and over the air HD plus gaming. There are some upscaling DVD players and such that do it over component as well, but it's less common and "more complex" in some eyes because it needs more than one cable.

[Qdoba Addict]

Thanks for all the replies. I'll be ordering an HDMI cable from monoprice.com this week. I've used them before and haven't had any problems.