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| | | Forum Member
 
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Last Login: 2/5/2007 1:58 PM
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| | Not sure if this is the right section, but I am thinking about doing a home theater install. I am not sure what the difference is between component and HDMI...but my installer says that "running component" is fine, while it seems that some manufacturers encourage the use of HDMI connections and cables instead. Can anyone tell me what the main differences are, and which type of connections I am better off running? |
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 7/23/2008 12:20 PM
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| The advice you got was good, albeit vague. Component is fine, while HDMI is better. HDMI gives you a digital connection, I believe. I would recommend HDMI for best performance.
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McSpadden M-12W, SH-12CRs, SH-12KKc
Custom LR Baggs Piezo Bridge Pickup on SH-12KKc
LR Baggs Para Acoustic DI Preamp
DigiTech & Boss Effects, Planet Waves Cables and Picks, D'Addario Strings
SWR Super Redhead 450w Combo Amp with SWR Goliath Jr. III Extension Cab
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| | | Forum Member
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Last Login: 2/5/2007 1:58 PM
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| | Thanks Dulcimerist. There's so many choices and alternatives out there, its hard to know which way to go. I def need to do some shopping around...I spent the weekend looking at stuff which made me MORE confused  . We'll see! |
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/23/2008 12:20 PM
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| LOL - I understand how you feel! I'm doing research on which 12AX7 tubes to buy, and it's making my head spin! Too many options!
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McSpadden M-12W, SH-12CRs, SH-12KKc
Custom LR Baggs Piezo Bridge Pickup on SH-12KKc
LR Baggs Para Acoustic DI Preamp
DigiTech & Boss Effects, Planet Waves Cables and Picks, D'Addario Strings
SWR Super Redhead 450w Combo Amp with SWR Goliath Jr. III Extension Cab
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| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/25/2007 10:54 PM
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| Hello,
I'm new to this forum, but if I'm not too late maybe I can help both of you. I am a professional A/V installer who has been in the business over 15 years now and I am a guitarist and avid "modder" with pedals and amps and have been playing guitar for 30+ years. There's a little background, so take it with a grain of salt.
First the HDMI / Component discussion: They are both good, but here is the main difference. The HDMI cable keeps the signal digital from the source unit (say a DVD player) to the TV or A/V receiver and then the TV does the video conversion from digital to analog. Remember, us lowly humans can only see or hear signals that are in the analog realm so at some point all video and audio signals need to be converted to analog. If you use component cables then the digital to analog conversion is done at the source unit (say the DVD player again) instead of the TV. So technically the video on component is analog. The big thing here is the TV and source units. If you have a great DVD player with good D/A conversion then the video should be good either way. A word of caution, just like anything, your system is only as good as the weakest link. If you have a great DVD player, a great TV and a marginal A/V receiver and everything is switched through the receiver than that is where your video (and audio) will suffer. HDMI also passes audio, component does not. I prefer to have the separate digital outputs of the source units run on their own digital audio lines, I've seen some strange things with HDMI audio that is NOT full dolby digital or DTS where as a separate optical or coaxial digital cable from a DVD player has bullet proof results. As far as video goes for HDMI vs. Component, I have seen cable boxes that look no different either way, but some DVD players only have a 720p output on the HDMI output so that would mean you get a better signal through that if it only outputs 480p on component. It all depends on the equipment. Also, if you have a cable box into an A/V receiver on HDMI and a DVD recorder into the same A/V receiver you can potentially run into problems with copyright infringement and you may get no picture at all. At this point you can go to an outboard HDMI switcher and probably get around the problem. I hope I helped a little, let me know if I can help with anything else.
As far as the tubes go, I think that somewhat has something to do with the amp you are using. If you are into high gain amps and great headroom, I have had nothing but good luck with JJ tubes. I know there are some bad reviews out there for JJ's, but they kick butt in my book. I think a lot of it has to do with how the amp is biased and whether or not it is a fixed bias amp. I can tell you that I have had great results with JJ's in my Laney, Mesa/Boogie and Peavey amps. I have yet to do my Marshall or Sunn amps, because I am usually broke and don't have enough money to retube all my amps at once. The Peavey and Mesa amps are fixed bias and they both sounded better with JJ's as opposed to the originals. The Laney, since it can be biased to my liking, I got it to sing way beyond what it originally was when I properly set the bias - that amp is a killer now!
Good luck with everything!
Keith |
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| | | Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 1/15/2007 10:48 PM
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| | The reason HDMI is "better" is that there is no conversion to analog, as was said before. Any analog signal that's higher def than modulated RF, composite or S video will look good but if it's left in the digital domain, it will look better as long as the signal and feeds are good to begin with. Think of it as audio- same principles apply. |
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| | | Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 1/15/2007 10:48 PM
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| Dulcimerist- You can pretty much stop researching 12AX7 tubes. Even Aspen Pittman has said (in his book) that the only thing they check for is microphonics. Then, they stamp Groove Tubes on them, pat them on the butt and wave goodbye.
I don't know if you have heard of RPG Electronics but Roger has serviced just about all brands of amps and pedals over the years. This has led to him coming out with his own line of pedals (Joe Walsh just bought one when he was in Milwaukee recently) and amps. The reason he did this is that most amp makers don't make them totally bulletproof. He has had varying levels of quality and tube failures from different suppliers and after having to waste a bunch of time and money for shipping after a customer told him that the amp sounded different with the new tubes, he checked into the test procedures by just about all of the tube makers. Output tubes get the most scrutiny and preamp tubes get almost none. They don't even test for gain characteristics so he made a jig that would do this. So far, he has seen anywhere from 60 (more like a 12AU7) to 110 from one manufacturer. He now tests and marks all of his 12AX7 tubes.
Basically, if one sounds better than another, it's because of the gain more than one being inherently better sounding than another. |
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| | | Forum Member
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Last Login: 2/5/2007 1:58 PM
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| | Keith and Bassman! Thanks very much for the responses...great information! I really appreciate it |
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| | | Forum Member
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Last Login: 2/5/2007 1:58 PM
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| | Bassman, do you have a website link for RPG Electronics? thanks! |
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