Backgorund info: Our company has recently installed among other toys, a Sony HD-300 HDTV Directv receiver with component, rgb, dvi, outputs, and a Sony VPL-VW12HT Projector with 5-jack component inputs (Green: G/Y, Blue: B/Cb/Pb, Red: R/Cr/Pr, White: Sync/HD, Black: VD). Wired in the ceiling is a bundle of mini-RGB cable with 5 coaxes. At the moment the 2 components are connected via 3-RCA component video connectors. *phew*

My question is this: Is there any advantage of using an RGB breakout cable to 5-BNC's connected thru the 5-coax cable into all 5 jacks on the projector input, over the setup existing now? Better blacks, more vibrant colors? Better resolution?

Thanks a ton,
Isaac

Assuming the source device is properly designed, there should be no difference between the quality of the RGBHV and component outputs. HOWEVER, in some instances, display devices may perform better with one or the other. This is the case for example with the Marantz S2 and new S3 projector, where RGBHV is preferred for HD because the component inputs are bandwidth limited.

Check with the display manufacturer and good luck finding someone that even knows the answer. In most cases, they should be the same - and even in cases such as the Marantz the "wrong" choice will still look great.

You also have to make sure that both inputs on your projector can recognize the scan rate you're feeding it. Our system of choice 2 years ago was the JVC D-ILAs and a Faroudja NRS. We found, after some tinkering, that the projector's VGA port would not display the native D-ILA signal the Faroudja was sending - it re-synced itself to the closest computer-type resolution & then rescaled it internally. Only the Y/Pr/Pb & RGB/HV inputs would recognize the signal as 1365x1024.

As far as choosing between component & RGB/HV, I doubt the difference would be visibly noticable.