Should I buy an HDTV with DVI or HDMI?
Friday, September 22nd, 2006I am looking at several HDTVs and so far they either come with DVI or HDMI, but not both. Is one better than the other? Should I buy an HDTV with DVI or HDMI?
Answer #1: DVI is Digital Video Interface, HDMI is High Definition Multimedia Interface. DVI and HDMI are both the same, meaning they both can handle 1080P. They both transmit video in same manner. The difference is HDMI also carry audio while DVI is strictly video. BUT, if you have a high def set up with a surround sound system, then it makes no difference. You wouldn’t be using HDMI for sound anyway.
Answer #2: You can drive yourself nuts but don’t go crazy, they are the same encoding (hence the reason you can connect one to the other via a simple HDMI/DVI cable). Both work. HDMI and DVI are both exactly the same quality wise. They use different connectors, and an HDMI can carry audio across the connection.
Pick the TV you like best. Don’t sweat it too much, a DVI source can be connected to a HDMI monitor and Vice Versa with a DVI/HDMI cable.
Answer #3: Get HDMI because support for DVI televisions is dwindling as HDMI is the popular interface for High-Def components like DVD players, game consoles, etc. Like it or not, HDMI is where the industry is headed.