I have a 1080i HDTV and the new phillips region free divx dvd player I bought supports component cables. Before shelling out 20 bucks for cables I decided I should come here and ask do they really help the picture quality? I have an xbox 360 and I watched dvd's on there and didn't notice too much but I'm not sure if the 360 displays movies in high def like the games.


Thanks ahead of time.

You've spent the money on an HDTV and a new DVD player and you're quibbling about the cost of a set of component cables? I just don't get that mentality. The cables cost less than a lot of DVDs.

If your DVD player is capable of progressive scan, then yes, it most certainly is worth connecting via component cables.

You're not going to get anything other than 480i (standard def) with S-video or composite cables. You need to use component cables with your dvd player. If you can't see a difference between composite and component on your 360, something isn't set up right.

After spending money on those things I can't afford much else. I really couldnt afford either of those items in the first place but I got a great deal on both them. I just wanted to come here and make sure it was worth it before I put the money down

I notice the difference from the games that I play on it but I never really noticed the difference on any movies I play in it.

Does the 360 have a progressive DVDp? Perhaps the reason you see no difference from the cables is that its deinterlacer sucks (or doesn't exist).

Either way, you NEED to hookup your DVDp with component cables (so you can do 480p). Check out monoprice.com, they certainly have some cheap component cables that will be a dramatic improvement over composite.

Okay so I found some cables on buy.com and since I have a $10 GC there I decided that I'm sold on the cables. Theres 3 different ones I was looking at. I don't know much about any of this so can you guys help me out and let me know which one I should get?

http://www.buy.com/prod/RCA_DT12DC_1.../90113293.html

http://www.buy.com/prod/Tripp_Lite_6.../10380037.html

http://www.buy.com/prod/Monster_THX_.../90131174.html

Any of the three will do fine. I'd get one of the first ones, because Monster cables are overpriced (overmarketed). They are good quality, but no reason to cost twice that of comparable cables.

monoprice seems down, or else I'd point you to some cables there.

How much of a difference is there between various cable brands? Anything basic (Phillips/RCA/etc.) comparable to higher priced companies?

Cables is cables, for the most part.

I suggest www.monoprice.com

Agreed. Certainly there are some crappy cables out there, but there is no need to pay the outrageous prices some cable boutiques charge.

Any name-brand cable will likely be comparable. I'd avoid the noname cables, but there is certainly no need to go after monster. As was pointed out, monoprice generally offers the best bang-for-buck.

can anyone reccomend me a decent cable from monoprice?

this one should do. i would recommend the 6 ft length to give you more flexibility. i prefer the 12 footers. i would have recommended the next higher price strata with the "fancy connectors" but they are out of stock.



monoprice component cable 6 ft.

is it worth it to wait for the other cables to come in stock? I have king kong preordered and I was hoping to get the cables by then to watch king kong with upgraded visuals.

the ones in the link got good reviews too. i would just go ahead and get one for that price. i recently got a hdmi/dvi cable from monoprice and couldn't be happier. great price and fast shipping too. just make sure you set your dvd player and tv to progressive in the setup menu when you hook up the cables. you will notice a difference.

well my tv has a specific channel for the HD hookups, Called HD CVI I think. Does that sound like the right channel to have this on?

My TV has an "HD AV4" and I think an "CVI". In my case, also a Philips, the CVI is only good for 480i, I have to use HD AV4 for high definition. Check your manual. What model is your TV? If it says "HD CVI" then that should be it.
But yes, to view HDTV or progressive scan DVD, you need component cables or better.

My input channels on my TV are HD CVI, HDMI, CVI, and of course the standard AVI. the back of my tv has a million places to plug stuff in.


My TV is a phillips but I would have to look up the model #

EDIT: so is HDMI or HD CVI better? Sorry for all the questions I'm completely new to the realm of high definition.

When in doubt, RTFM. It will tell which input is best for a progressive scan DVD player. I doubt your DVD player has an HDMI output, but I could be wrong. Models numbers for your DVD player and HDTV would help a lot.

Unless you are doing 1080p (you are not), the difference between component versus DVI/HDMI is negligible. Component can transmit 1080i or 720p without a problem.

^Regardless of the res, I'd rather pass an all digital video signal from the DVD player onto the TV. DVI/HDMI for me it is!

ordered the cable reccomended by dollfins today. I eagerly await to see the results.


Thanks for all your help guys.

Most all TVs convert the digital signal to analog inside the set anyhow (and then re-convert it to digital).

While on the surface an "all digital" (not really true, see above) seems better on paper, component cables worth their weight will transmit 720p/1080i losslessly.

And don't forget, a DVD has its images stored in component. So, in a sense, going with analog provides one fewer needed conversion.

It can also transmit 1080p24 without a problem. Although it probably never will.

I just got the cables yesterday and a copy of zombie honeymoon I ordered off ebay and zombie honeymoon looked amazing. Thanks for getting me to buy these cables guys.


On a side note does anyone know where I can get a decently cheap system selector? My tv only has one place to hookup HD and I have the cables for my 360, my dvd player, and my ps2 so it's a real pain to turn the tv around and hook up new cables all the time.

I've not used this product, but this seems to be a popular product around here:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/produ...cfkmdffhdfii.0