HMDI Connector is a Poor Design

[Snakebyte1]

I recently bought a new DVD player and A/V Amplifier. I noticed on both of them there was this big sticker on the back warning not to bend, twist or otherwise force the HDMI connector. In the manual these warnings are also boldly repeated.

Seems to me its a poor design if they have to provide a dozen warnings. You'd think they would have come up with something more robust, like the USB connector.

The HDMI cable can be darn expensive too. Is there any great improvement using HMDI, say for example, from a PVR when playing back SD content?

[akrako1]

The HDMI cable can be darn expensive too. Is there any great improvement using HMDI, say for example, from a PVR when playing back SD content?

Component Video cables will be just fine for SD content. In fact, component will be find for 720p or 1080i too.

[edDV]

It all depends. HDMI may or may not produce a better quality picture depending on the quality of the TV and source. If the TV is high quality, odds are the HDMI connection from PVR to TV will have some advantage.

Nearly all A/V receiver-amps with HDMI don't support HDCP so will quickly become obsolete along with the audio receiver for future HD use. Buyer beware.

[redwudz]

HDMI is a digital video cable and it also carries the audio. It's also required for some high definition connections. Component is analog with no audio. With SD quality, probably no difference, but with a higher definition source, HDMI is probably the better choice. DVI is basically HDMI without the audio connection.

There are a fair number of wires in the HDMI connector, more than a USB connector. That's a standard connector, just used for that purpose, mainly to save space. But, yes, it is hard to plug in correctly, can be easily damaged and they probably could have used a better design.