Component Cable vs. HDMI?

Question

I play my Xbox 360 quite a bit, and I absolutely LOVE the way it looks on my television through HDMI. However, lately I've gotten into recording gameplay with a capture device that does not use HDMI, but rather uses component cables (For those of you familiar, I use a Hauppage HD PVR). I want to always be capable of recording, however the quality of the component cables seem a like a pretty big downgrade. Edges are darker, blurrier, and grainer, there seems to be an added (and unfixable) amount of sharpness that only adds to the edge problem, and overall the picture just doesn't look as crisp and clean as HDMI.
I believe the problem lies in my television, however, as whenever I record gameplay to my laptop (through the capture device that uses component cables), the quality is just as crisp and clean as it would be on HDMI.
I suppose I should note that on certain games, the quality change is barely noticeable. However, on others, the difference is night and day.
Because of the fact that I record so often, it's gotten to the point where playing on HDMI is special treat that I only do once in a while.

I thought the problem might lie in the component input on the back my television, so I tried a Component to HDMI conver, in order to continue using the HDMI input on my television- the problem still sufficed.

If that's hard to picture, it basically worked like this:
Xbox360=Comp Cables=Capture device=Comp cables-> Component to HDMI converter -> HDMI cable=Television

I then thought the problem might lie in the output quality of my Xbox's component cable slot, or maybe just the wires themselves. Therefore I bought an HDMI to component converter, this way I could use the HDMI output on my Xbox, and from there just convert the fresh, crisp quality into the component input on my television. The problem is still there, however I did notice an increase in quality (nothing major).

The setup basically looks like this:
Xbox360=HDMI cable-> HDMI to component converter -> Comp Cables=Capture device=Comp cables=Television

I then tried to put everthing together into one big complicated setup, that I thought would work for sure. It looked like this:
Xbox360=HDMI cable-> HDMI to component converter -> Comp Cables -> Capture device -> Comp cables=Capture device=Comp cables-> Component to HDMI converter -> HDMI cable=Television

Is it possible that, on certain televisions, component quality is lower than that of HDMI? The television that I'm currently using is a Dynex 32" 720p HDTV.

It seems as though I cannot find a solution to this problem, however the second and third setups did show a slight increase in quality, and therefore I currently use the second setup. I apologize if this was too complicated to understand; however, if you happen to be an expert on this stuff, help would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you guys so much!

Answer 1

Long and complicated question ... and I'm not sure I got it all.



Some thoughts:

- Component and HDMI give essentially identical quality images at 720p (HDMI is only (slightly) better at 1080p), so there is nothing inherently inferior to using Component.

- The fact you get good results sometimes with component and not others suggests it's something other than the cable / set-up.

- It may be differences in the source material, but I suspect the capture device is the main source of the problem.

- I haven't ever heard much to recommend conversion devices like you have tried (That said the quality of the converter (usually equates with price) can matter).

- The more conversions you do between digital and analog and over different cables/converters the more likely you are to get artifacts.

Answer 2

It's true that different TV's will have different quality connectors and your HDTV may have been designed for HDMI preference over component...this is particularly true of entry level discount HDTV's it is one way they save cost and meet the lower price point... generally speaking the more expensive and higher quality the TV usually the better all the connections are and more flexable and sofisticated they are. It very common for an older HDTV to only put out analog stereo for other connected devises and on some there is no sound output at all only for the internal tuner...so its very common for manufactures to cut corners especially on there entry level and discount models...the general rule is that the less conversion the better the signal, there is always some down grade during conversion especially when going from digital to analog also some conversion boxes are better at it than others....

Answer 3

La última vez quería un cable que conecta mi ordenador al televisor, el cable que me ha llegado corresponde con su descripción, tiene buena transmisión digital, es bastante resistente y una buena calidad y todo a un precio muy bueno, como siempre una excelente compra.