HD-DVD on a non-HDMI TV?

I'm considering purchasing an HD-DVD player, but my Panasonic HDTV doesn't have HDMI cnnections. Granted, the TV is old it's a second generation HDTV. =P I plan on buying a new TV, but that's at least a few months away. My question is, how will the HD-DVD picture look playing through component?

They had an HD A2 connected to several HDTVs through component connections from a splitter and playing "Planet Earth" at my local Wal Mart. It looked pretty awesome.

I think it's functionally the same, it's just not as convenient as HDMI connection is all. But the color and detail looked fantastic...and that was after being routed through the splitter with what was most certainly the cheapest cables they had lying around.

WingChun,

I have a 6 year old HDTV "Ready" Mitsubishi RPTV that has component inputs and the picture from either HD DVD and Blu-Ray looks great. The maximum resolution you're going to get is 1080i, assuming that your Panasonic HDTV can reproduce at that level and (to a lesser extent at this point) the HD Disc does not carry the Image Constraint Token (ICT) to lower the resolution to less than 720p. You don't have to worry about the latter as of yet, since none of the studios have release any titles with an ICT.

If you're interested in getting into HD, I say go for it! Your TV is ready to go!!!

Geo

One advantage of using the component connections is avoiding the dreaded HDMI handshake problems that some (many, all?) TVs have.

John

Thanks for the response, guys!

What is this HDMI "handshake" problem? First I've heard of this.

You may find that it takes a while for the player to recognize the HDMI connection. Then, should you click out of the connection during the movie for any reason (say, to watch something on another input for a moment), you may find that you lose the HDMI connection altogether, forcing you to start the HD movie all over again. Happens on some sets, not others apparently.

John

good info to know. i have two friends who were wondering the same, and i was thinking of posting something similar.

I would add that most output devices limit the video sent via component to 1080i/60 maximum - not letting you send 1080p. Of course this isn't a problem with digital cable boxes or HD DVD players like the A2 since they don't output 1080p anyway. Like other posters have said, you'll get a nice picture with component and would probably find it difficult to tell the difference from HDMI if your TV supported it.

I've used component for 1080i to my Optoma HD80 (1080p) projector with a 120" image, and found there wasn't that much of a difference with the Toshiba HD-A2 when I switched to HDMI after I got a new HDMI receiver. HDMI really simplified my cabling and video source switching procedure though.

"Handshake" problems arise because HDMI isn't just a simple one-way video/audio cable, but a two-way communication portal where both devices have to speak the exact same language. For example, your video source device will ask your TV to identify itself, what audio/video formats it supports, and if DHCP is supported. It's like a question-answer session so that both devices can configure themselves accordingly on what they've agreed upon. Unfortunately the HDMI "language" hasn't been implemented by device manufacturers the same way - and communication (hand shake) problems arise, especially in early implementations.

[Post edited by Skyhawk on Oct 13, 2007]

If using component, check your HD player's resolution output for which HD signal provides the cleanest picture.

For most of the Toshiba players your best image quality (thru component) is 1080i, and not 720p (as it doesn't look as good unless using the HDMI input).

Just experiment between sending a 1080i or 720p signal to your Panasonic (thru component), and check the image quality, especially for some artifacts and noise. I believe you will see better quality with 1080i (although 720p is excellent thru the HDMI, which you don't yet have, I know).

"Excellent" as in having at least the first firmware update (for the HD-A1 etc), otherwise 720p thru even the HDMI might not look as clean as 1080i.

-Love Hendrix! (The Loverboy)

[Post edited by Love Hendrix! on Oct 14, 2007]