Home theater cable selection (HDMI vs. Component).....

[scott s]

 I recently purchased a HD flat screen TV. The local cable supplier is supposed to call me this week about installing HD service. If I want the HDMI cable, I have to rent a DVR box. I don't really want or use a DVR. Would I be losing a lot of quality if I used component (red/blue/green) cables or S-video instead?
 I also have a Bose 3-2-1 system I want to hook up. I'll use the Bose as a radio/CD/DVD player and will eliminate some older components. I can use the red/yellow/white cables to hook the Bose up to the TV or I can use S-video.
  What's the best way to hook it all up? I basically just want the TV and the Bose system to work together.
  I know I'll have to use co-ax from the wall to the cable box. Should I spring for the DVR so I can get HDMI from the box to the TV?  If not, is S-video better than the red/green/blue component cable?
  The Bose doesn't use the red/green/blue compenent...it has the red/yellow/white OR S-video. I would not be able to use any type of HDMI to the Bose.

 I don't have S-video or HDMI cables; I'd have to purchase them. What's a good way to wire it all up for good video and sound?
 Thanks!

[scott s]

 And BTW, I know HDMI is the ultimate....but our small town cable monopoly forces me to buy the DVR service to get it. I can still get HD service with component cables.
  Should I spring for the (unwanted) DVR in order to get HDMI? Stick with component? Use S-video instead of component?

[werksberg]

Is it a DVR or Tivo? Get the Tivo...it is killer for the $5 extra per every month! Set it once and it will record every show you want with or without repeats, skip thru commercials, cools sounds while working with it and rate any show with thumbs up or like "Punk's" thumbs down 3x .....

If it is just a std. DVR....why monthly payment?

We have a DVR in the bedroom and a DirecTv with Tivo in the family room and we love the Tivo the best!

[scott s]

  It's just a DVR offered by the local cable company monopoly. I can get an HD box that doesn't use the HDMI/DVI cable for $5 extra a month. If I want to use HDMI/DVI cable, I have to purchase the DVR box for an extra $6.95 for a total of $11.95 a month.
  I'm waiting to see what the regular HD box looks like, but another option I may can use is an optical cable for the TV and Bose. Any thoughts on these?

[ErikTheRed]

You're right Scott, HDMI (and DVI, which is the same as HDMI but without an audio signal) delivers the best HD picture. However, component video is a VERY close second, you may not even notice a difference even though the component connection is analog and needs to be converted. The quality of your picture with a component connection is going to rely greatly on the quality of the D/A conversion in the source (DVD player or digital satallite, for example) and the display (TV set). With HDMI/DVI, this conversion doesnt happen-- the signal is all digital, all the time.

If cost is any concern, stick with the component (YPrPb) connection. Yes its analog, but you'll be surprised with the picture clarity. If HDMI is a 10, Id give component a 9........S-video would get about a 5 or 6, and composite (the yellow RCA cable) would get a 3.

For your audio connection, use the optical (Toslink) connection if you can. Its WAY better than the red/white RCA cables (which are analog, will not support Dolby 5.1, 7.1, or DTS), and IMO, better than digital coax. People often forget about their audio connections, but the information being delivered on those cables for your digital surround sound is just as important as your picture connection. If the distance from the source and your digital receiver is short, use the optical. If you need a long cable run, use the digital coax (orange plug).

[ErikTheRed]

BTW, if you need any help with setting it up, gimme a call anytime.

530-218-8070 cell#

[scott s]

 Thanks for the tips and advice, Eric. I think I'm narrowing it all down.
 So far, I plan on running component cable from the HD box to the TV and an optical cable from the HD box to the Bose.
 I need to run one video cable(RCA type) from the Bose to the Tv so I can play DVD's. I can run the red/white RCA cables from the TV's audio out to the Bose, but that's not really necessary if I run the optical cable, right?

[D.Heath]

isn't there a component output on the Bose 

[D.Heath]

you are right , your optical cable is all you need

[ErikTheRed]

I need to run one video cable(RCA type) from the Bose to the Tv so I can play DVD's. I can run the red/white RCA cables from the TV's audio out to the Bose, but that's not really necessary if I run the optical cable, right?

Doesn't the Bose give you another option? Why would you need to use an RCA cable? That fancy-schmancy Bose system doesnt give you a component connection? Your TV should have several connections on the back, which should include at least TWO sets of YPrPb. If so, run a set of component from your HD box to the TV and another set from your Bose to the TV. When you wanna watch a DVD, just change the input on the OSD menu to "DVD", or however your TV does it. Mine displays "Component 1" and "Component 2".

[scott s]

 My Bose is a couple years old and has composite or S-video only. It doesn't have componenet video. It does have optical, which I plan on using from the HD box.
  I think the newer Bose models may have HDMI/composite.

[D.Heath]

then use the S-video , it's better than the RCA

[scott s]

then use the S-video , it's better than the RCA

  You know, that hit me on my morning drive. I don't know why I didn't think of it last night.
 Otherwise, does it sound like I have it all hooked up optimally?

 Co-ax to HD box. HD box to TV via component.
 S-video from Bose to TV for the DVD signal.
 Optical from HD box to Bose for audio.

 That means only component, S-video and power for the TV need to be inside the wall. The optical will go from box to box on my media cabinet shelf.

[danimal]

My Bose is a couple years old and has composite or S-video only. It doesn't have componenet video. It does have optical, which I plan on using from the HD box.
  I think the newer Bose models may have HDMI/composite.

because of the limited connectivity, you'll want to be thinking about replacing the bose with something that has hdmi and/or component switching capability somewhere down the line... not sure what the hd box from the cable company will do, but in a perfect world, you'll route everything thru the receiver... that way, one button push will switch both the audio and video inputs.

wrt the hdmi port, there have been reports of incompatibility issues in certain situations, fwiw... as etr pointed out, component is very good, and much better than the y/c s-video cable.

therefore, your weak spot with the present hookup is the dvd player->bose->tv... two analog connections in a row like that are going to be lossy, but it appears to be your best option.

for a cheap bose replacement: join clubonkyo.com, then go to shoponkyo.com to buy a refurbed TX-SR504 7.1 channel receiver... you'll get component switching for ~$162 or less, then replace that when you get the hd-dvd player, because you'll want hdmi switching capability.

now to really muddy the water  look at OTA(over the air) tuners and antenna instead of paying the outrageous hd cable bill... ota hd has better picture quality than you can get from cable, because it's not compressed like cable is.

www.antennaweb.org to check your local tv station reception.

i have this samsung hd tuner, it even works with the component inputs on my old ntsc tv, no need for an hd tv: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=728392&page=1&pp=30

so the dvr to wait for is the hd-dvr with that 5th generation or better chipset, so you can record both ota and hd-cable signals.

[scott s]

therefore, your weak spot with the present hookup is the dvd player->bose->tv... two analog connections in a row like that are going to be lossy, but it appears to be your best option.

 Just to clarify, the Bose player IS the DVD player. There will only be one conection from it to the TV (S-video) and one from it to the cable box (optical).
  The only other components will be the TV and the HD cable box.
 I know it's not perfect, but this set-up will be miles ahead of what I've been using.