HDTV Forum

I have a Samsung 50" DLP HD tv, it DOES NOT have a HDMI plug in it, it has the DVI. The other day I was at Best buy and was looking at the Blu-ray players, the salesman said I would be wasting my money if I bought a Blu-ray player because my TV did not have the HDMI plug, I asked him about the conversion plug from DVI to HDMI, he said it didn't matter, you would not get the full benefit of Blu-ray as far as picture quality is concerned.
My question...Is this true, would it not work?....thx....tom.

You will get quality video results with the HDMI/DVI connection. However, you will not have quality audio. In addition some of the content of video will not be available.

HDMI and DVI are exactly the same with respect to image quality. The only difference is that DVI is video-only and HDMI carries both audio and video. So you'll have to run audio separately from the Blu-ray player. Does your TV have digital audio in, or do you have a receiver that accepts digital audio? If so, you should be good. What you will miss though is the advanced audio from Blu-ray: Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD. These require HDMI and cannot be transmitted via optical audio.

Ideally, you should run HDMI through a receiver and then out to your TV via HDMI to DVI cable. this way, you can still take advantage of the advanced audio that Blu-ray provides.

- Miller

HDMI is component YPbPr and DVI is RGB. HDMI sources will have to be transcoded to RGB and that may cause some video errors if not designed properly. It works but it may not be the best picture unless you confirm/recalibrate the response.

Hi sbnr466 -

Rather than buying any current Sony version - do know that they are Still "tinkering" with later editions of it .

Consider instead their PS 3 in either capacity --- it IS upgradable by you plus makes an excellent Player.
eli whitney

eliwhitney....Yes, am considering PS 3

Richard, what do you mean by confirm/recalibrate the response?

Thank you all.....tom

That means you need a calibration DVD to check black level, peak white levels and color decoding because...

DVI - video levels and color space
viewtopic.php?t=5427

HDMI - video levels and color space
viewtopic.php?t=5317

101: Brightness and Contrast
viewtopic.php?t=5025

101: Color Decoder - color and tint
viewtopic.php?t=5020

Richard, thanks for the information, one more question. Is this calibration hard to do? Is there a disc out there I could purchase that would take me through the process step by step?...thx....tom.

I think what the salesperson at Best Buy was trying to tell you

is that when your HD set was built, High Def. Copy Protection (HDCP)
circuit was not built into the set and therefore the signal (HD) through
DVI will be blocked! I have a $10,000 Yamaha DPX-1 dlp front projector
and have DVI and that is my issue too.

Wow, we missed that issue altogether. Thanks for the post! Any upconverting DVD player would be able to absolutely confirm you have HDCP. Otherwise, a post here or elsewhere asking other owners about HDCP with your DVI could accomplish the same.

Tom, I can't tell you if you will find this difficult or straight forward. The blu-ray version is not available yet and could still be months out but...

Digital Video Essentials [HD DVD - SD DVD]
http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/hdstore/pro ... 104&page=1

Based on testing it is reasonable to assume the SD DVD response will be the same as blu-ray.

Another alternative is hiring an ISF calibrator.
http://www.isfforum.com/Find-a-Calibrat ... ators.html