I just got a brand new Panasonic 42" 1080i plasma. I called Optimum online and they told me I had to go down and switch my DVR out for an HD-DVR. When i got it, it came with no instructions whatsoever, just the RGB cable and the audio cable.

My question is I guess, what is the difference between the supplied cables and HDMI cables. I am novice with the AV stuff, never having a really high-end TV before. I know the TV does have two HDMI inputs in the back and a ton of other inputs.

I also have the TV wired into my DVD surround sound (again, nothing high end, just a panasonic 5 dvd changer, and 5.1 surround). Should I do HDMI to this too, would that make it sound better?

Any help is greatly appreciated, I am just trying to get the best out of this awesome present. Thanks AZ guru's

 

The component video cables they gave you are analog. The HDMI is digital. The HDMI carries the video and the audio on one cable.

Do yourself a favor, go over to monoprice.com and purchase an HDMI cable.

You will also want to purchase a digital coaxial cable to run the audio from your DVR to your 5.1 surround unit. You can find those at this link http://www.monoprice.com/products/su...d=10236&style=

 

Forgot to mention, make sure your DVR has HDMI out and not DVI. If it has DVI you can get a DVI to HDMI cable from monoprice.

 

BTW, I get a better picture going through the COAX antena than through HDMI unless it is an HD channel.

 

^ Wow, that's odd. On the 3 HD TVs we have, never once has COAX provided the better picture. HDMI (or DVI to HDMI) has always been the best pic...

Oh, and BTW, Optimum Online is the name for Cablevisions high speed internet... not the TV service ...

 

I prefer the HDMI because it carries the audio with the video and it supports Dolby 5.1. I got a 6" HDMI cable from monoprice for $20 shipped. There is NO quality difference between my HDMI cable and Monster's $120 cable.

 

^ That reminds me... I need to scoop up another DVI/HDMI cable from them for the bonus room...

Man I love that site.

 

Haha you're right

 

So, do i only need one of the digital coaxial cables or do i need 2? I am gonna go for it, thank you guys for all your help!

 

whats teh diff between digital coax and digital optical? is there a diff in quality, y one over the other?

 

Seriously. I just picked up 3 HDMI cables yesterday, including a 15 footer for $42 shipped. Man, that would have been like $500 if I went with monster cables.