any HDMI experts ???

[97tbird]

My new TV supports HDMI 1.3
My Onkyo dvd player is "oldish" and states this in the manual:
" The DV-CP704 supports High-Definition Multimedia Interface Specification Information Version 1.0 "

SO, does my dvdp being only HDMI 1.0 limit the quality of the pic?, as this TV supports HDMI 1.3 ??

I have read everywhere that the v 1.0 is now obsolete !!! and has half the bandwidth or something ???
but how VISIBLE could this difference be...?

 

[JHZR2]

Youll always be wondering if you stick with the 1.0.

Just plug it in and see if you like it. If the pic is good, then be satisfied.

Home AV is a trap that costs lots of $$$$ because you always want something more, or wonder about something more...

 

[97tbird]

Thanks a lot for the common sense answer; i agree, one always wants more.

So does anyone have the actual technical answer, too? I just wanna make sure this is not something like putting watered down 87 octane in a BMW that's only supposed to run on premium to show its best performance.

the PQ is 'fine' right now, but i want to know if it COULD be VISIBLY better.

 

[XS650]

http://www.hdmi.org/learningcenter/kb.aspx#35

Looks like 1.3 supports deeper color and better audio. Your limitation will be your old DVD player. But, 1.0 vs 1.3 won't matter with an old DVD player.

Your old DVD payer only supports 480p and maybe fakes 1080i or p output if it outputs 1080 at all. The picture quality is so much worse than HDMI 1.0 can deliver rgar HDMI 1.0 vs 1.3 won't make any difference as long as you are using the old DVD player.

The good news is that the DVD player will look better on your new TV than it ever did.

 

[97tbird]

Thanks a lot; Now I have further "?"s and comments:

This dvd player actually upconverts up to 1080i.
what did you mean by "faking 1080i"?

but right now, I have set it to output 480p, so the TV is doing the upscaling to 1080p.

so If i understood correctly:
my dvdp IS limiting PQ, because it is OLD. but not because it's HDMI 1.0?
if that's correct, what aspect of being "old" is limiting the performance?

but at the same time, 1.3 is supposed to support deeper color? then i guess 1.3 WOULD matter, right?

 

[Papa Bear]

Get a blu-ray and plug it in.
Any pic quality issues are player issues, not TV issues

 

[97tbird]

Can't afford Blu Ray player right now.

or did you mean just as a test?

 

[ffracer]

The picture quality will increase as follows:

DVD player cheap one with RCA cables (red/white/yellow cables)
DVD player not cheap with RCA cables
DVD player not cheap with component out cables (6 colored cables or a optical cable)
DVD player with upscaling and HDMI 1.0
DVD player with upscaling and HDMI 1.3
Blu-Ray player playing a Blu-Ray and HDMI 1.3

The ones in bold are noticeable step changes from the previous.

Your DVD player will be limited by the HDMI 1.0, but it won't be that much different with 1.3, as the DVD format is the major factor. It will still look great, just not to the potential of the TV. You need an HD source (Blu-Ray or HD cable TV) to get that.

DVDs will look pretty much as good they can with what you have. Enjoy it!

 

[JHZR2]

Component isn't six colored cables; it is three, right?

Red, green, blue, isnt it?

Interesting that HDMI 1.0 is a huge step from component... I recall seeing an explanation once as to why, has something to do with separating the intensity from the color or something along those lines, right?

 

[97tbird]

yep, R, G, B.

 

[eljefino]

I bet the TV's upscaling is better than the DVD player's but you don't know unless you play.

 

[97tbird]

I have the same feeling...
I did try it out.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: 97tbird
Thanks a lot; Now I have further "?"s and comments:

This dvd player actually upconverts up to 1080i.
what did you mean by "faking 1080i"?

but right now, I have set it to output 480p, so the TV is doing the upscaling to 1080p.




Your old DVD picture is limited to 480p. When they upscale to 1080 it is is presented as a 1080 signal, but in reality has no more detail than the 480p signal did, so that's faking 1080. A good job of up-scaling will look a bit better than a not up-scaled 480p.

Your choice of setting the DVD for 480p then upscaling in your newer TV is most likely the better place to do your upscaling.

IIRC color depth for a TV DVD is 24 bits, or 8 bits/color. HDMI 1.0 has the same color depth so the HDMI 1.0 isn't the limiting factor.

Do you have any actual 1080 signal? Off the air, Cable, Satellite?

 

[Papa Bear]

It's not fake... it's quasi.

 

[97tbird]

yeah I just realized how good the tuner of this TV is: I have several 1080i OTA HD channels, and annoying abc11/ESPN is the BEST: it looks like a DVD (actually better!), and I don't watch sports (well..perh. except cricket and tennis)....it's SO freaking clear with a $5.00 rabbit ear(s)! ...can't wait to try my "better" Zenith HD antenna!

we have no cable or satellite, but I'm amazed I'm getting about 10 OTA HD channels that we never got even in SD with our old crt TV!

 

[HTSS_TR]

Toshiba HD-DVD HD-XA2 player is one of the best to upscale to 1080p, it is better than almost any HDTV on the market as of now.

Read more about upscaling here: avsforum.com

 

[97tbird]

oh yeah I've been reading about XA2, but I thought the oppo 980 is also pretty good ...??

 

[HTSS_TR]

I live about 50+ miles from all broadcast stations, using standard antenna I'm able to get more than 20 HD signals, all of them are very clear without any drop out. The video quality is much better than DVD and much much better than analog cable that I have with homeowner association.

You may want to invest in an outdoor antenna that you can install on attic so that you can get more HD signals. Don't fall for the so called "HD Antenna", it is a marketing trick to get you pay more without any extra benefit over the UHF antenna. I have the UHF antenna TERRESTRIAL from ebay seller ani-av and very happy with its reception.

 

[Iain]

Oppo 980 is a good, relatively inexpensive player that also ouputs a 480i/576i HDMI signal for use with video processors and video receivers. Very few players do that.

However, general world-wide consensus is Oppo 983 is currently the best standard player available:
http://www.oppodigital.com/dv983h/default.asp

 

[Papa Bear]

"....it's SO freaking clear with a $5.00 rabbit ear(s)! ...can't wait to try my "better" Zenith HD antenna!"

That's the nice thing about digital tv, there is no "marginal" or "snowy" picture, it is either 100% or nothing.
If you are getting a solid pic with $5.00 rabbit ears, a $200 antenna won't look any better