Hi everyone !

I was hoping someone can help me with this question...

I just purchased a plasma TV (Pioneer HD5040) with HDMI input. TV will be mounted over fireplace (location 1) in the family room, and receiver will be in the basement right underneath where the TV will be (location 2). High Definition satellite receiver will also be in this location. I have a Kenwood progressive scan DVD player which will be in a corner cabinet in the family room along with the audio/video surround sound receiver - Denon 3802 (location 3).

I need to run cables (it is an existing home, but my handyman is pretty good at running these cables up and down the walls) to and from these 3 locations. I was looking to run component video cables from A/V receiver (location 3) down to basement and to high definition receiver (location 2). This run is about 50 feet. This will then connect to plasma TV thru the system cable. A digital audio cable will be run the same way from location 2 to location 3, except that this will be fed into the A/V reciever for surround sound.

Thanks to this forum, I found several web dealers who sell good component video cables, but at wide ranges of prices. I am struggling with how much to pay for these, where to get these and what component video cables to get. What other cables should I run? Also, are these component video cables rated for high definition, or are analog only? Is there something specific I should be looking for, considering my equipment is really quite good (I think) and I would like to get the best possible quality for video and audio.

Can someone please enlighten me about this. I will really appreciate.

Thanks in advance.

I always thought that component video is analog, the HDMI is a digital datastream. I have never seen any difference between them picture-wise. The HDMI digital signal is scrambled at the source and unscrambled at the plasma set to keep you from recording the signal.
As far as component cable prices, if you're buying on the web you should pay as much as possible. I use signature wire's HD cable with 5 coaxes and special connectors so I can make custom lengths.
You should also run a composite cable and or s-video to the pioneer plasma receiver.

I believe that Phil is correct. All 3-wire component video connections are an analog video format. There are some single wire component connections that are digital (SDI, 4:2:2 and HDI) but are not found on consumer pieces (a few exceptions).

If you can run HDMI, go ahead and run it... it will theoretically help the image quality now and may give you some more options in the future that might make you glad that you took the effort to run them now.

If you are going to run a cable that you will terminate later for component video, use a bundled cable that has multiple video wires in it. The reason I say this is when you terminate component video the cables have to be within 1/4" in length or you will get color shifting.

The component cables are analog, but do support HDTV. If you want to save the d/a and a/d conversions, you could run a DVI and/or HDMI cable (most current TV's support DVI and a few of the newer ones are starting to support HDMI).

If you want the component cables, try www.bluejeanscable.com. Or, if you prefer, I could make some for you using the same components.

CJ

Component isn't always analog. If the original spec is followed, Y Pb Pr designates that there will be an analog stream, Y Cb Cr designates digital. Is this always followed by the manufacturers? No, unfortunately. In either case, the red and blue are transmitted with only half horizontal frequency so the best you can hope for is Y Pb Pr 4:2:2 or Y Cb Cr 4:2:2.

HDMI is capable of Y Cb Cr 4:4:4 but it's going to depend on the device delivering the signal to your display to output it. Right now you have no device outputting HDMI if I read correctly, but one day you probably will as it's gaining support. Acording to HDMI Licensing, LLC, a 1080p broadcast with 8.1 sound only uses half their available bandwith. BTW, they call for a 15 meter limitation on cable length which just about covers your longest run.

What this all means is HDMI is as capable as RGB which is better than component, so use it if you can. As a bonus, it's a free digital audio cable.

Thanks guys, this is great information. I think I will go with a pre-fabricated / custom 40 foot component video cable from one of these places that were suggested here. As suggested, I will probably shell out some money for this to be sure that these are good quality cables. These websites are quoting about $150 for 40 feet component video cable - which should work fine for me.

Regarding HDMI, I read somewhere that the current HDMI protocol only supports stereo audio and does not support 8 channel audio yet. Is this trus? If yes, then does it make sense to run an HDMI cable yet?

Also, I could not find any of these places selling 40 feet HDMI cable. There are solutions that use couplers to join them. I am not sure whether to use the couplers or wait until a 40 foot cable is in the market.

What do you guys think?

Thanks !

Another question - If I have trouble running "terminated" cable through walls, I may end up running this "bundled cable" and then terminate it myself. My question is, which bundled cable yu suggest, and how to terminate it. Is solder type RCA connectors best, or are there non-solder types available.

Thanks

My company uses a cable from Liberty that has 5 mini coax in it. Liberty also makes compression fit ends that will allow you to do RCA, BNC, and some others. The catch is you need special tools to terminate these ends, but they also keep 75 ohms end to end (which you lose when you solder on ends).

Your best bet is to use the pre-terminated cable.

Take a look at the Canare V3-5CFB (or V4 or V5 if you need more cables) for running your own cable. This is a high-bandwidth (swept to 400 MHz) RG6 bundled cable. The attenuation is only a little over 6 db per 100 feet at 1GHz. Belden also makes a nice bundled cable, the 7710A. If you go into professional broadcast studios, probably 90% of them use either Canare or Belden for their cables.

Canare makes 75 ohm RCA and BNC connectors. However, they do require specific wire strippers, crimp tool and die set to terminate it correctly. If you buy the less expensive tools, they will run you around $90. If you do what I did and buy all Canare tools, it will run you around $200.

CJ

aaautoman,

Why not just hire a professional to do this job? Dont tell me you cant afford it, you just bought a plasma by your own admission and have made a significant investment in other equipment. You also have a 'handyman', probably on staff. This type of system interconnecting would be best handled by a pro. You are not a DIY guy because you are not pulling the wire yourself, if you were I would cut you some slack. It seems to me that you are just to cheap to get this done right the first time. I guess us pros are just so used to giving away advice here that sometimes we dont see that........screw it, I dont feel like ranting right now.

If your going with component and want to be cheap - try MIT silver core RG59. While your running wires run 3 Cat5e. MIT makes DVI (avail now) and HDMI (avail soon) breakoutouts good for running DVI or HDMI up ro 500'.

Thanks everyone, you have been very helpful. I have ordered pre-terminated component video cables, and will probably go with 3 HDMI cables of 15 feet each, and use couplers to combine them. I really appreciate all the help.

avgenius1:
What is your problem? It is people like you who give these forums a bad name. If you can't help, STAY OUT. No one else seems to heva any issues, as everyone seems very professional.

Doesn't the HDMI spec. say that it's limited to 15 feet?

CJ

HDMI is more like 15 meters... [Link: hdmi.org] See the last question on this faq.