There are several types of cables on the market, which are used to connect various video and audio devices for viewing on several platforms. They include S-video, composite video, component video, DIV and HDMI cables. The earlier versions, S-video, composite video and component video, all transmit content in analogue format. The other two, DIV and HDMI, on the other hand, use digital format for transmission. These different cables have their advantages and disadvantages. HDMI, although just released in 2003, is the most favoured and positively reviewed cable. The component video, however, still enjoys popularity, especially to people still reluctant to go digital.
Whereas, there are the obvious benefits of going digital, especially as HDMI includes the capability to transmit both audio and video and connect both the audio and video devices, it is in the effect of cable and connection quality to the image and picture quality that there is the most contention. This is especially in consideration of the fact that there are some other major factors that play a big role in the image quality. Such factors include the source of the video and the display platform. This raises a lot of questions in the role of the cable quality and connection.
In certain cases, the cable quality plays a big role in the image quality. The first instance is in terms of distance. Whereas, in shorter distances not exceeding 20 feet, HDMI cables will deliver a superb performance, in higher distances, the signal degrades and can totally fade out or fail to transmit. On the other hand, analogue cables, especially component videos, will still provide high picture quality in distances well over 200 feet. This is because the component videos have tight impedance control through standard coaxial cables. The HDMI cables, on the other hand, do not make use of these cables thus the impedance effect.
On the other hand, the HDMI cables are the best to work with when using television sets with fixed pixels. This is because it allows for an exact match between the native resolution of the set with the source of the video, pixel by pixel. This allows for the exact quality of the image to be displayed. It also converts the picture into its correct format automatically. This reduces the effect of the display platform and the source of the picture on the image quality. There is also the degree to which the double conversion in analogue cables affects the image quality.