Why would someone connect an HDTV with analog connections when the TV is already suited with HDMI or DVI digital connections?

Although many could have used component analog due to ignorance of the subject of this article, or due to the cost of some HDMI cables, etc, many others found the hard way that HDMI connections are not consistently as good as advertised, and stayed away from HDMI.

Even after 5 years of the HDMI implementation, many cable and satellite HD-STBs, Blu-ray players, video-scalers, video-processors, HD switchers, A/V receivers used for HD switching, and even the cables themselves (due to length or construction quality), might not handle HDMI and HDCP consistently well, even with high quality equipment.

The handshake required by the HDMI connection between source and receiver is in some cases fragile enough to fail, even with a direct connection to the display device. Add more pieces of equipment to the HDMI path, such as  HDMI switchers and A/V receivers with HDMI inputs/outputs to centralize the audio/video controls, and compatibility and signal sensitivity problems increase.

Although some problems could be solved by firmware upgrades from manufacturers, others cannot if they are hardware related, such as the implementation of a substandard HDMI chip for its application, a cable that is too long or poorly constructed, an HDMI chip that does not conform to the standards, etc.

On those events, the image might suddenly be lost, or might come on and off intermittently, displaying blue screens or black screens, when switching channels, when changing images with different resolutions, or even in the middle of a movie.

Some front projectors might lock-up their operation forcing a full shutdown and reboot, which require cool-down and warm-up mandatory time to complete both cycles properly.

Under such risk, having a parallel component analog connection provides peace-of-mind for uninterrupted viewing. I recommend being on the safe side and plan for dual connectivity with quality component analog and HDMI wiring, especially for in-wall installations (trying the connections out of the wall first). I would not hire a professional in-wall installer that does not welcome dual connectivity if you want to pay for it.

There is the general believe that a digital connection is a better connection from a digital source to a digital display, because the signal is not subjected to unneeded digital-to-analog conversions and video processing in the communication path between the source and the display device.

Interestingly enough, in many cases, the analog component legacy connection may supply an image that might look better than the digital connection. Before you assume that the digital connection is better, I recommend trying the component analog connection, you might be surprised. The display device must be calibrated to its best for each input/connection before performing any comparison.

A professional ISF (Imaging Science Foundation) calibration for every input could cost several hundred dollars, but you could try doing the basic video adjustments yourself with a calibration DVD / Blu-ray/ HD DVD disc to set the TV inputs the best you can do, and then test the connections to see which one you like best.

Eventually you might still decide to calibrate the set professionally. If you do, you will have only lost the price of the calibration disc, and your time, but gained good knowledge of the subject by doing it yourself.

Tags: Blue-ray, DVD, HDMI