Connections - definitive choice
Connections - definitive choice
Author
Discussion

Oi_Oi_Savaloy

Original Poster:

2,315 posts

281 months

Tuesday 28th December 2010
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I'm about to upgrade from a CRT to either an LCD or Plasma but this particular topic is about connections.

Can someone please tell me the best way to connect the DVD (or blu ray if we upgrade) and our Virgin set top box?

I went in to Comet (yes, I know, forgive me) and all they banged on about that HDMI is the way to go and if I bought a TV then and there I'd get any HDMI lead half price.

Is scart a good option? what about the yellow, white and red lead option? Are they defunct now?

Any help received with thanks.

Gingerbread Man

9,173 posts

234 months

Tuesday 28th December 2010
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I'll have a bash at this.

Blu Ray player - HDMI, Virgin and a standard DVD player - component.

headcase

2,389 posts

238 months

Tuesday 28th December 2010
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Any Device that is HD like a Blu-Ray, Virgin HD, PS3 etc... then use HDMI
For SD devices like a Standard Virgin Box, DVD Player etc.. then use SCART.

For the best picture from a SCART set the DVD/Cable box to ouput RGB.

For games consoles they generally only come with the basic Red/White/Yellow lead, this will work but they all have optional upgrade leads, for example for the Wii you can get an RGB SCART lead, or you can get a Component lead, in this case go for the component lead if your TV has an input for it, if not then go for the SCART lead (assuming you have enough SCART connections).

When buying an HDMI lead then dont go getting ripped off, if your paying more than £20 for a 1m lead then your paying too much.

Lord Flathead

1,288 posts

200 months

Wednesday 29th December 2010
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^^ This. I have the Virgin HD box and it's connected via HDMI. I think the box only does 1080i and not P but I'm struggling to notice the difference.

PJ S

10,842 posts

248 months

Wednesday 29th December 2010
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Any HD source, HDMI - but if your Virgin is one of the new boxes with HDMI & SCART, trust me when I say connect it via HDMI too!
Okay, so the box will be upscaling to 720p or 1080i depending on setting selected, but the lack of the D/A and A/D conversion processes of using the SCART makes a noticeable difference.

DVD players should be used with Component and progressive if not automatically set.
HDMI equipped ones should be set to 576p over HDMI for similar removal of D/A & A/D processes on Component and SCART.
If the 360 is an original box, then it should take Component and use SCART (fully wired cable for RGB use) on the DVD player.


Lord F - your set top box only does 1080i due to it being a broadcast signal whereas 1080p being 4x the data of 720p, is the preserve of disc and broadband movie trailers, for the time being.