Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Recommended DVI cables?

Snakeyes, MisFit toy, SirQuack,

There is not a "best" for HDMI or DVI. HDMI has extra conductors to carry a Dolby Digital 5.1 data stream in addition to HD video to an HD display. DVI does not, and is a larger clumsier connector.

Notice I said "may" cause pixelization over longer runs. You may be able to use a long run of DVI or HDMI with no problems. But a digital DVI or HDMI connection will not by definition deliver picture clarity superior to component video. For instance, the DVI and HDMI connections are encrypted with a complex anti-copy digital code (part of the DVI/HDMI connection mandate) which the HD display must sort out and remove. Conponent video, being analog, doesn't have to deal with removing digital copy-protection code. And video D/A and A/D converters are often good enough that you may get a superior HD quality using component video instead of DVI or HDMI. Before you string all these cables, try them out with various sources and check the HD video clarity by switching between component-video and a DVI or HDMI connector.

More in the upcoming newsletter. It also has to do with the quality of the video driver output circuits in the source.

Regards,

What about DVD players that don't use HDCP, if that is what your referring to...I know the Momitsu Deluxe, Bravo D2, and a few others don't have HDCP. And in talking to people that use front projection at 720P on these units the picture is absolutely fabulous. Som of these upconvert players will also upconvert over componant, including Zenith at one time. However, it appears this now only applies to units produced in Asia and other companies. They don't seem to follow the same rules that American mfg's have to follow.

There are also products that boost the DVI or HDMI singal in the middle of the run for long runs.