HDMI or Component video?

[hippo]

What's the best way to connect a DVD player to a Plasma TV (Panasonic PV500)?

I saw one connected by HDMI at the weekend and the picture was FAR better than a similar TV connected with Scart (same DVD showing).

Will I need to buy an HDMI DVD player to get the quality or will component video be just as good?

(sorry for the cross post)
HDMI or Component video?

[welwynnick]

Many people will say that HDMi is best, and there are good theoretical reasons why that should be. However, those that really know will say it depends on the specific implementation, and if one interface is not optimally configured, you may come to the wrong conclusion. For example, do you know which signal the scart lead was carrying in your demonstration. Someone trying to sell you an enxpensive DVD player or HDMI lead may configure it with composite video, which would be very misleading. Equally, there are many reasons why a DVI or HDMI interface may not work to it's best capability.

Much of this will be down to how the interface is implemented by the source and the display. Unfortunately, Panasonic are have been one of the great offenders in HDMI interfaces before now. I don't know if the PV500 is any better, I should hope so, but you would need advice from one of the specialist dealers like MAW, Gordon or Joe.

For what it is worth, the best video I have ever seen has been through component. I use both VGA and DVI at home, and after playing with cables and settings, I would say that VGA (RGBHV) actually edges it overall. Analogue interfaces are very well developed, and generally much more versatile than digital.

In the big scheme of things, since the recording and display is done digitally, you would expect a digital interface to work best, but that is not necessarily the case.

[AVmaster]

Sounds almost like an Optical vs Coaxial question doesn't it.

I use Component set to Progressive scan into my PE30, but if I had a HDMI input like the new ones then I would go for a player with DCDi to upscale the resolution of the films so that theere is more information in the source signal to begin with.