[mattr37]

Hi I'm sorry to start a new topic on this, but I've been trolling through threads with no clear explanation, so I'm just getting confused.

I've bought myself a nice Sanyo Z5 projector to replace my old Z2. With this I have the Xbox 360 plugged in with its component cable, Sky+ using the S-video, and my new Panasonic Ex75 through a component cable. Everything's been tip top. Using the Panasonic however, I was told that it had an HDMI connection, which could be used with the projector's input for a certain amount of upscaling. I went to the shops yesterday and spent £25 on an HDMI cable and trotted off home.

Now, I'm not that thick that I expect my DVDs to suddenly look like they're HD, but I've got to say, flicking between the component and the HDMI did absolutely nothing as far as my eyes can see. I set the Panny to output on the HDMI on the Automatic, and it declared it was going at 1080, but I have to say, not much has changed. I was expecting it to either look sharper, thus blowing my fragile mind with semi-HD, or to make it "too crisp" and ruin the image, proving that DVDs shouldn't be upscaled. What I didn't count on was literally no difference.

Am I over analysing this? The "salesman" said that an HDMI connection would be greater quality than the existing component, but I can't see it. Am I doing something wrong, or shall I take it back, claiming naivity on my part?

Any advice would be appreciated. Sorry for rambling so much. I love this forum, and it's so useful to me, I just wanted to get as good a deal as I can out of my new toys!

[Badger0-0]

I'm no expert, but you might do better with 720p, seeing as that's it's native resolution (I think)

[GliderRider]

I've got a Denon 3910 connected to an Infocus 7200 via 10 meter Component and 10 meter HDMI. Didn't immediately notice much difference but months later when I had a couple of hours to spare I thought I'd check again as I wanted the component for a different machine. I used Batman begins and stayed with the same scene (fountain scene in hotel). DVD set to 720p. And, yes after watching the scene several times I really started to see the difference and I guess it's down to what you are looking for. For me what started to stand out were the colors they seemed richer and smoother. Left it for 24 hours then tried again with different DVD's, they are subtle improvements but I can clearly see the differences now. It's HDMI all the way for me now.

[spooney]

Badger is correct. The Z5 native output is 720p.
1080i must be downscaled and usually does not improve the picture.
Depending on the quality of the source your will not a difference between 576and 720.
Many times you have to set the right source setting at the DVD player (cinema or movie) becasue the auto does not recognise it properly (most of the times)

From my experience (Z4) sometimes 576 looks better than upscaling to 720. But as said this depends on the source.

One note: Some DVD player crop the picture over componend and only HDMI gives you the correct aspect ratio and full picture.

[mattr37]

Wonderful. Thanks for the advice, thought I was going nuts.

I'll keep the cable then and set it to 720 instead. It's not much of a difference then, but probably worth keeping it around.

Thanks for the help!

[matblack]

Originally Posted by mattr37

Wonderful. Thanks for the advice, thought I was going nuts.

I'll keep the cable then and set it to 720 instead. It's not much of a difference then, but probably worth keeping it around.

Thanks for the help!

Went into RS today to discuss if it was worth upgrading my DVD to one with HDMI, bloke actually said that as much as he'd like to sell me something he couldn't lie to me and tell me I would see a major noticeable difference between the component I use now and HDMI.

MB

[spooney]

I think this mainly depends on your chain.

Some people report a major improvement, some see no difference.
If you player is very good on component you may not see a big difference.

But if you switch from a relatively old player to a current and decent model you will see a difference anyway.

HDMI has for sure the advantage there is no digital-analogue-digital convertion and there is only one cable.

[Darkstar_surfer]

Originally Posted by spooney

HDMI has for sure the advantage there is no digital-analogue-digital convertion and there is only one cable.

A very bold statement which may not hold up in court.

First very high speed digital links actually use a digital to analogue converter to shape the pulse and analogue to digital converter for data recovery.

The cable may only have one outer but there are a large number of wires contained in the bundle and if they are not properly independently screened then you can get signal degradation.

P.S. The main difference between CAT5 and CAT6 cable is individual screening.

[spooney]

Originally Posted by Darkstar_surfer

A very bold statement which may not hold up in court.

First very high speed digital links actually use a digital to analogue converter to shape the pulse and analogue to digital converter for data recovery.

The cable may only have one outer but there are a large number of wires contained in the bundle and if they are not properly independently screened then you can get signal degradation.

P.S. The main difference between CAT5 and CAT6 cable is individual screening.

Hm, I am not sure what you are aiming at? Data transmission and sound/video signal convertion are two different topics.
The sound/video signal is highly complex and each convertion degrades the original quality.
With ethernet you have only 1's and 0's aka high and low signal to transfer with a specific protocol.
I do not understand how the transmission compares to a digital video signal converted to an anologue signal then being transmitted and converted again into a digital signal.