HDTV/DVD Player/Cabling

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

blfm wrote:
> After spending several weeks of reading and several thousand dollars,
> I have come purchased the following equipment:
> 1. Toshiba 52HM84
> 2. Panasonic S97 DVD Player
> 3. Had digital cable and HD installed from local cable company with a
> motorola DVR.
> 4. Purchased high quality cabling i.e. monster cables.
>
> After setting everything up, watching it, reading more, I have seveal
> questions.
>
> 1. I have only one HDMI input on the 52HM84. I currently have the
> Panasonic S97 DVD player attached. I have the Cable companies
Motorola
> DVR connected to one of the TV's component inputs.
> After doing some reading in this group, I am starting to think that I
> should have the cable box connected to HDMI input and the DVD player
> connected to the component input. I understand that most dvd's are
> 480p but with this setup I can view them in either 720p or 1080i. I
> have watched bits of movies at both the 480p and 1080i and see a bit
> of difference in the quality. Am I really seeing a difference between
> the two or is it just my eyes. My wife says she sees no difference.
> With the DVD player connected to a component input I will only get
> 480i or 480p if I am connecting to a progressive output compatible
> television which I am assuming I am but don't see that in the manual.
>
> 2. Am I missing out on the quality of HD stations (local cable
company
> only has 6) by not having the cable box connected to the HDMI
> connector?
> I guess what I really am looking for is what should I have connected
> to the HDMI input on the TV - the cable DVR or the DVD player.
>
> The reason I hooked it up the way I did was because I wanted the best
> picture I could get when watching a DVD. With hooking the cable box
up
> to the HDMI input I still watch a number of analog stations with the
> cable company only having 6 HD stations. But I am starting to feel
> that I don't need the DVD player on the HDMI because I wouldn't
notice
> the difference.
>
> Any help in steering me in the right direction would be appreciated.
>
> Bill

If you cable box supports the HDMI I would definately hook the cable
box up with HDMI before I would with the DVD player. You may believe
that you're able to watch DVDs in High Definition, but the fact remains
the DVD technology is not HD, it is in fact considerably lesser
quality, per frame you have 704x480 pixels (480i) vs 1920x1080 (1080i)
on High Definition. Regardless of what DVD player you buy the video on
DVD is not encoded at HD quality so all the tricks in the world
(upconversion, filtering, etc...) aren't going to give you true HD
playback of DVDs. Standard component cables should be just fine.

If your cable box is HD capable (I only ask because I wasn't aware
Motorola made a HD-DVR box) then by all means, hook it by via HDMI.

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

This is why I have recommended getting the cable card feature when
purchasing a new HD TV. It eliminates the need for a add on box from the
Cable company that requires a DVI/HDMI port for HD content. Now your
HDMI port is available for a future HD DVD player or any other HD device
that will most likely require a DVI/HDMI connection. There are DVI/HDMI
switch boxes with extra connections available. They are quite expensive.
Usually over $200

blfm wrote:
> After spending several weeks of reading and several thousand dollars,
> I have come purchased the following equipment:
> 1. Toshiba 52HM84
> 2. Panasonic S97 DVD Player
> 3. Had digital cable and HD installed from local cable company with a
> motorola DVR.
> 4. Purchased high quality cabling i.e. monster cables.
>
> After setting everything up, watching it, reading more, I have seveal
> questions.
>
> 1. I have only one HDMI input on the 52HM84. I currently have the
> Panasonic S97 DVD player attached. I have the Cable companies Motorola
> DVR connected to one of the TV's component inputs.
> After doing some reading in this group, I am starting to think that I
> should have the cable box connected to HDMI input and the DVD player
> connected to the component input. I understand that most dvd's are
> 480p but with this setup I can view them in either 720p or 1080i. I
> have watched bits of movies at both the 480p and 1080i and see a bit
> of difference in the quality. Am I really seeing a difference between
> the two or is it just my eyes. My wife says she sees no difference.
> With the DVD player connected to a component input I will only get
> 480i or 480p if I am connecting to a progressive output compatible
> television which I am assuming I am but don't see that in the manual.
>
> 2. Am I missing out on the quality of HD stations (local cable company
> only has 6) by not having the cable box connected to the HDMI
> connector?
> I guess what I really am looking for is what should I have connected
> to the HDMI input on the TV - the cable DVR or the DVD player.
>
> The reason I hooked it up the way I did was because I wanted the best
> picture I could get when watching a DVD. With hooking the cable box up
> to the HDMI input I still watch a number of analog stations with the
> cable company only having 6 HD stations. But I am starting to feel
> that I don't need the DVD player on the HDMI because I wouldn't notice
> the difference.
>
> Any help in steering me in the right direction would be appreciated.
>
> Bill

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

Do not buy monster cables. They are way overpriced.

Jeff


"blfm" <blfm@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:520de8e8.0412221058.7e2b54d7@posting.google.com...
> After spending several weeks of reading and several thousand dollars,
> I have come purchased the following equipment:
> 1. Toshiba 52HM84
> 2. Panasonic S97 DVD Player
> 3. Had digital cable and HD installed from local cable company with a
> motorola DVR.
> 4. Purchased high quality cabling i.e. monster cables.
>
> After setting everything up, watching it, reading more, I have seveal
> questions.
>
> 1. I have only one HDMI input on the 52HM84. I currently have the
> Panasonic S97 DVD player attached. I have the Cable companies Motorola
> DVR connected to one of the TV's component inputs.
> After doing some reading in this group, I am starting to think that I
> should have the cable box connected to HDMI input and the DVD player
> connected to the component input. I understand that most dvd's are
> 480p but with this setup I can view them in either 720p or 1080i. I
> have watched bits of movies at both the 480p and 1080i and see a bit
> of difference in the quality. Am I really seeing a difference between
> the two or is it just my eyes. My wife says she sees no difference.
> With the DVD player connected to a component input I will only get
> 480i or 480p if I am connecting to a progressive output compatible
> television which I am assuming I am but don't see that in the manual.
>
> 2. Am I missing out on the quality of HD stations (local cable company
> only has 6) by not having the cable box connected to the HDMI
> connector?
> I guess what I really am looking for is what should I have connected
> to the HDMI input on the TV - the cable DVR or the DVD player.
>
> The reason I hooked it up the way I did was because I wanted the best
> picture I could get when watching a DVD. With hooking the cable box up
> to the HDMI input I still watch a number of analog stations with the
> cable company only having 6 HD stations. But I am starting to feel
> that I don't need the DVD player on the HDMI because I wouldn't notice
> the difference.
>
> Any help in steering me in the right direction would be appreciated.
>
> Bill

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

Keep in mind that today's CableCards are one way devices and will not allow
for interactive services. That is important for those that enjoy the cable
operator's program guide (me!) and VOD (video on demand) service. The cable
industry and CEA are working together on a standard for two way CableCards.
I'm not clear on whether a HDTV purchased today will be compatible with
tomorrow's cards.

--

"Tom" <nexustom@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:41C9D633.9070702@comcast.net...
> This is why I have recommended getting the cable card feature when
> purchasing a new HD TV. It eliminates the need for a add on box from the
> Cable company that requires a DVI/HDMI port for HD content. Now your HDMI
> port is available for a future HD DVD player or any other HD device that
> will most likely require a DVI/HDMI connection. There are DVI/HDMI switch
> boxes with extra connections available. They are quite expensive. Usually
> over $200
>
> blfm wrote:
>> After spending several weeks of reading and several thousand dollars,
>> I have come purchased the following equipment:
>> 1. Toshiba 52HM84
>> 2. Panasonic S97 DVD Player
>> 3. Had digital cable and HD installed from local cable company with a
>> motorola DVR.
>> 4. Purchased high quality cabling i.e. monster cables.
>>
>> After setting everything up, watching it, reading more, I have seveal
>> questions.
>>
>> 1. I have only one HDMI input on the 52HM84. I currently have the
>> Panasonic S97 DVD player attached. I have the Cable companies Motorola
>> DVR connected to one of the TV's component inputs.
>> After doing some reading in this group, I am starting to think that I
>> should have the cable box connected to HDMI input and the DVD player
>> connected to the component input. I understand that most dvd's are
>> 480p but with this setup I can view them in either 720p or 1080i. I
>> have watched bits of movies at both the 480p and 1080i and see a bit
>> of difference in the quality. Am I really seeing a difference between
>> the two or is it just my eyes. My wife says she sees no difference.
>> With the DVD player connected to a component input I will only get
>> 480i or 480p if I am connecting to a progressive output compatible
>> television which I am assuming I am but don't see that in the manual.
>>
>> 2. Am I missing out on the quality of HD stations (local cable company
>> only has 6) by not having the cable box connected to the HDMI
>> connector?
>> I guess what I really am looking for is what should I have connected
>> to the HDMI input on the TV - the cable DVR or the DVD player.
>>
>> The reason I hooked it up the way I did was because I wanted the best
>> picture I could get when watching a DVD. With hooking the cable box up
>> to the HDMI input I still watch a number of analog stations with the
>> cable company only having 6 HD stations. But I am starting to feel
>> that I don't need the DVD player on the HDMI because I wouldn't notice
>> the difference.
>>
>> Any help in steering me in the right direction would be appreciated.
>>
>> Bill