DVI, We Hardly Knew Ye

DVI stands for Digital Visual Interface, and it allows for an uncompressed high-speed video connection between digital televisions, personal computers and other DVI-based consumer electronics devices. DVI hasn’t been around that long, yet it’s quickly being pushed aside by the new kid in town, HDMI. Fortunately, HDMI is fully compatible with DVI; TVs with HDMI will display video feeds from existing DVI-equipped products, and DVI-equipped TVs will display video from HDMI sources such as set-top boxes, DVD players, A/V receivers and other components. In most cases, a DVI-to-HDMI adaptor cable is necessary.

HDMI Made Easy

HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface, and like DVI it allows for the uncompressed data transfer of video between digital TVs and HDMI-enabled consumer electronics. The main difference is that HDMI transfers video and seven channels of digital audio, while DVI only carries a video signal. HDMI also has far greater bandwidth capacity than DVI, and so — no surprise — it’s emerged as the new connection standard for HDTV and many other consumer electronics devices.

Advantages of Using HDMI

HDMI is the only consumer electronics interface that carries both uncompressed high-definition (HD) video and uncompressed multi-channel audio in all HD formats. An uncompressed all digital signal that translates into the highest quality video and audio direct from the source.  Why HDMI?  Well….

HDMI —All Channels Video/Audio

Ahh, the sweet sound of a single cable. One cable means simple cable configuration when installing your home theater system.  Plus, you can bid a fond farewell to the horror and headache of a gigantic snarl of wire-spaghetti.

Built-In Configuration Intelligence

With the click of a single button, your remote control can tell your HDMI-linked system which components to turn on or off to view a DVD, listen to a CD, or watch cable or satellite TV.  If you’ve ever tried to watch a DVD on someone ELSE’S system, you know how valuable one-button access can be.

Automatic Format Adjustment

Content comes in a variety of sizes, resolutions and formats – and HDMI systems will automatically configure to display the content in the most effective format. If cable TV content jumps from 16:9 format to standard 4:3, an HDMI-enabled TV can automatically adjust to match the ideal format.

PC Compatibility with HDTV

HDMI-enabled devices are backwards compatible with the thousands of DVI-based PCs so you can display PC gaming or entertainment content on your HDTV.

What is HDCP?

HDCP, which stands for High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection, was developed by Intel to protect copyrighted material. It’s important for one very good reason: the Motion Picture Association of America strongly endorses its ability to defeat unauthorized reproduction of copyrighted material. (Ahoy there, pirates!) In the future, when all DVI and HDMI devices will need to be HDCP-compliant — there’s a high likelihood they simply won’t work with older digital content.  Unfortunately, this may render some current products obsolete, because the HD signal will be converted for copyright protection and will be unreadable.

Making Your Next Purchase

The best option for your next TV or consumer electronics device (DVD player, DVR, set-top box, etc.) is HDMI/HDCP. HDMI has room for growth, and its support by major electronics manufacturers ought to keep it alive for some time. In any case, buying a TV without either DVI or HDMI inputs would be a bad decision (unless you’re a huge fan of obsolescence and want to replace it with another TV within a decade).

What’s Next?

Right now, much of the focus is on digital television -- but HDMI technology will soon be impacting your entire home theater system. In a brave new HDMI world, every device you own may feature these inputs/outputs. On one hand, this greatly simplifies home theater set-up and configuration — but only after replacing your existing equipment and cables.

HDMI switching is currently featured on many receivers from Denon, Onkyo, Marantz, Yamaha, Harmon Kardon, Samsung and others — but at a premium. As with most new technology, HDMI switching will be trickling down to less expensive products in the near future. The bottom line: don’t panic. All of the current formats will be viable for the next 5-10 years, but when considering new purchases – especially digital televisions — it’s important to keep your finger on the pulse of technology.