Anyone here use HDMI and optical digital cables?
 

I was poking around behind my TV, DVR, and stereo receiver the other day and I noticed the TV has HDMI input, the receiver has optical digital inputs, and the cable DVR box has outputs for both. Is there a noticable difference by switching to these cables instead of the RCA cables? If so, is there a big enough difference between the $100+ cables and the $10 cables?

HDMI is 100% digital, so no, a $100 cable should not be better than a $25 cable as far as video quality. However, the more expensive cables should/can provide a more secure connection.

Video quality will be best with HDMI, next comes component, then S-Video then composite (RCA). HDMI carries up to 8 channels of digital audio (more to come) but I don't know of any TV that can do anything with more than 2 channels. This partially defeats the purpose of HDMI (single cable for audio/video), unless you have an HDMI switching receiver (newest models) so you can send multiple HDMI sources with multichannel audio to your receiver then send a single HDMI cable to your TV and mute the voulume on the TV, preferring the reciever/surround sound.

I just finished completing a new home theater so this is all fresh :D

Here's how you want to hook it up.

I work with the "1200 Lb. Gorilla" in the high-end cable market. The $90 difference is all profit. Instead of walking, their employees ride around the facility on $3000 Segways provided by the company.

What kind of fiber do you need? What kind of ends?

If I have them I will send you a pair just so you can try it. no charge.
I have a bunch of fiber laying around.

I am not sure what kind of ends HDMI uses.

We recently got an HD TV and an HD box from Time Warner. On the HD channels I have to set the TV to "zoom" because with the component cables that were provided I only get 480lines or whatever, but with the HDMI I could get 1080, but when I saw the price tag on the HDMI cable I said "screw that". $150 seems a bit steep for a cable 12' long.

HDMI isn't "just a cable". It's an interface with specific data that retains the completely digital video signal for your HD ready TV to display. Without it, the HD video signal must be converted to the RCA format, and back to digital inside your TV. This conversion limits the full resolution available. I wouldn't purchase an HD Television without an HDMI cable included.

I use a $7.25 HDMI cable from my DirecTV HD Receiver to my Dell 3201 HDTV set and it's great. I bought the $100 Monster Cable from BestBuy, then promptly returned it after I found the HDMI cables for $7.25 at this site http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp and the cables were delivered in 4 days.

I made the suckers buy and bought the $160 HDMI Moster Cable. 1000 dpi whatever that means. Can't skimp on the HD plasma.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't digital audio like Dolby and DTS have to use an optical or coax to get proper surround sound? (I use optical)

Hey!! That's good to know! I think I'll order a cable today.

928ram - No, HDMI can currently carry up to 8 channels of digital audio (more than required by Dolby Digital or DTS), the trick is that you need one of the newest (also pretty $$$) recievers that can take an HDMI input. Check out top of the line Denon or Pioneer Elite units online (or any other brands top model) to look for an HDMI switching receiver. These receivers can take the multi-channel digital signal direct from the HDMI cable and run with it, without needing a second cable (optical or digital coax) for just audio.

Thanks for the link, I just ordered both cables.

You can get 1080i over the component outputs. You just need to get into the setup menu for you HD box and set the format for the component outputs ;)

I looked at the setup in the box and didn't see anything to change that, but I'll look again. I believe I read on the motorola website for this particular box that the component only supported 480, but I could be wrong.

Your not confusing composite with component are you?

I'm using the HDMI output from the HD DVR to the DLP for video only, and a fiber optic connection to the receiver for audio. Most receivers have the optic input, but the HDMI is usually only found in the higher priced receivers.

Hey Rick, which DLP do you have? I just recently got the 67" Samsung, love it.

The nice thing about this setup is you can watch the TV without having the receiver running and still get audio through the DLP's speakers. Personally I wouldn't want to run the HDMI to my receiver & then back to the display, better to have a direct connection between video source and display. Same goes for audio.