Is HDMI "upconverting" any better than component out?

Question

Right now I use a standard DVD player using component out to my HDTV. If I switch to a DVD player that has HDMI "upconverting" and use the HDMI cord and input to my HDTV, will it actually look any better?

Answer 1

The answer lies in the quality of all the items in the chain. Poor interpolation (upconverting) won't result in a better picture than you receive now. Poorly made cables won't help either.

If your HDTV is older, like mine, you don't really have the option to hook up to HDMI (no such connection on sets older than just a year or two). If you do have this option, and a good quality DVD player, and a good HDMI cable, you should see a big difference. A ho-hum brand and the cable that came with it will produce indiscernable results.

I just bought a middle of the road Sony unit that upconverts, a high quality HDMI to DVI cable, and hooked it up to a top of the line Optoma Home Theater Projection system. WOW!!!! Big difference compared to the VERY expensive Harmon Kardon DVD player that did not upconvert.

Want to buy a barely used Harmon Kardon DVD player???

By the way, my neighbor bought a Samsung unit that upconverts and hooked it up to his 55 in Mitsubishi projection HDTV. Marginal difference at best.

Answer 2

If you are getting satisfactory results with component, it is probably not a good idea to get a new DVD player just for the HDMI connection. You would have to do a lot of research (magazine reviews, internet forums, etc.) to find a player that does a good job of scaling. HDMI does have the advantage of preserving the signal in digital form throughout, thereby avoiding D-A and A-D conversions. It might be a good idea to see how the HD-DVD and Blu-Ray high def DVD issues settle out. Some of those players are reported to do an excellent job of upconverting standard DVDs.

Answer 3

In theory, yes. In practice, maybe.

There are many variables, but generally HDMI -- digital video and audio signals over one cable -- or DVI -- digital video only -- will give a better picture than component, which in turn will be better than S-video (composite will be worst).

Fora, such as AVS Forum, are full of claims that one or another input on a display device (e.g. an HDTV or projector) results in a better picture. Sometimes, component is claimed to be better.

Variation may be due to the difference in quality of the scaler in the "upconvering DVD player" and the HDTV/projector. In other words the picture resulting from a poor DVD scaler fed through HDMI may be worse than a component signal from a DVD player fed to an upconverting HDTV.

The best thing is to try it. And remember that you don't need to spend a fortune on an HDMI (or DVI) cable, while you will need a high quality component cable to get top results -- particularly if the cable in more than 5-6 ft long..