Recommend HDMI-to-SVIdeo convertor
 

My projector is set up for S-Video as its best means of video connection. My new Bluray/DVD player does not have a S-Video port. But it has an HDMI one. Sine that port is being used on the HDTV on the wall I need to buy the next two items to make my projector operational again:

1- An HDMI splitter that will allow me a second HDMI port for the projector.

2- An HDMI-to-SVideo convertor for the projector.

Please advise on the pitfalls to avoid in ordering them online. I have found a range of prices and want to get the best for the buck. I hate going cheap and finding my projection quality suffer. On the other hand I don't want to spend more than I should to get good results. Do you have any brands/models to recommend? If the quality and the price are direct functions of each other what's the price range I should expect?

Thanks

monoprice.com has this type of thing, and they have a good reputation for quality and pricing.

Time for a new projector.

Let me get this straight - you're going to run a bluray player through an S-Video connection, and you're worried about the connections causing poor video quality?

That's kind of like saying you're going to take your minivan to the race track and are worried about the gas you use slowing you down.

This. Monprice will definitely have what you need, has good quality products, and the prices are good.

This is what I was really thinking. S video is so....late 90s.

Honestly you're better off buying a new projector that has an HDMI port. Part of it is because then the content will be displayed in HD and the other part is that while you may find a converter that says it does HDMI to S-Video, in more that 80% of the cases it won't work for you. Why? HDMI has this feature called HDCP, which is an encryption system that encrypts the HDMI connection. Most of the HDMI to s-Video converters would require that the HDMI signal be sent without HDCP which won't happen for any bluray.

There are some things that strip HDCP but they can be iffy as to how well they work and THEN you have to go buy a converter box. In short to actually do it right is going to be quite a bit more expensive than you think. You're better off buying a new projector if that's what you want to use rather than trying to jury rig a solution.

Agreed with everyone else, Get an HD projector. It's like buying a new CD and playing it on shitty mono speakers. You're not going to enjoy the quality Bluray can offer you.

Although I don't have alot of buying experience with buying projectors, I have worked with different makes in the past. Here's an ACER only 720p but nice price and decent reviews

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824009223

Edit: Oh yeah, FREE SHIPPING

Not for another couple of years. When the price of 3D ones come down.

Blu-Rays AND DVDs. I should at least get S-Video quality. I don't want to buy any device that reduces even that quality. I was hoping someone could direct me to a particular brand that has good reviews or a review page that covers the items I mentioned.

Will it play the Blu-Ray in a DVD quality for now? Buying a new projector is not an option yet.

CPD are you saying that it will definitely not show any Blu-Ray? Or will it show them (I'm repeating myself) with only a DVD quality?

Without a device to strip the HDCP encryption I don't think either DVDs or Blurays would play. All protected content would require it, including DVDs. You'd have an encrypted signal that would just be noise. Are you sure there is no analog connectors on the bluray player? I would have thought that most still come with component video, but maybe not anymore.

HDMI is a lossless digital signal and HDCP was put into place to try to prevent people from being able to copy the digital data directly.

Here's a pic showing the backs of my player and the projector. I suppose my only other choice is to go RCA but that would be a lot more quality lost. :(

Yup RCA will work but you might have to disconnect the HDMI when you use it. Still I wouldn't worry TOO much about the difference between RCA and S-Video. The only real difference is that S-Video separates the Luma and the Chroma signals where composite(RCA) video uses one channel to send both. With old equipment it used to matter more. With new equipment not so much.

You might have luck trying to use that DVI port.

Just use the RCA. It's simple and I bet you already have the necessary cables. I never noticed a difference between that and RCA and component on low definition devices anyway.

Heh yeah, if that's a dvi port, get a hdmi-to-dvi cord.

won't he still have HDCP issues if hes playing a blu ray?

also, will going from the HDMI disable the other sound output from the blu ray? If so, how will he get sound?

Here's how I look at it. At the movie theater you actually don't get the sharpest resolution. I always detect some graininess or fuzziness on the screen. All I want is a projected picture like in a movie theater. Buying a new projector is not an option for the next few years. After remodeling my house we have too many upgraded/new furniture and appliances on payment. Plus the new 55" LG Cinema 3D HDTV and the corresponding Blu-Ray/DVD player.

SO, if RCA will do the job enough for a real theater quality picture I will do it. I suppose the RCA cables differ in gauge and I should perhaps get the best. Right?

Additionally, I just wanted to ****ing avoid the fishing the RCA cable up a wall and across the attic. Looks like I now have to do that. :(

Thanks for all the advice. If more comes to your mind please post them.

The sound will not be through the projector. It'll be through the connection between the DVD player and the surround receiver.

I doubt he'll have a HDCP issue. Hell I barely know what HDCP is as I've never had it be a problem. FWIW, DVI is listed on the HDCP wiki.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-ba...ent_Protection

As far as the sound, I'd hope that some other type of audio out would still work. Don't know until you try it I guess.

I know nothing of the HDCP issues, so I can't speak to that. I'd bet he can run sound through the RCA connections, though. That's typically the way it's set up in my experience.

You should consider running HDMI or cat 6 for down the road at the same time :)

Yeah, he could actually run a normal hdmi cable and buy a hdmi-to-dvi converter and then just remove the converter later if he gets an hdmi projector.

Like this, just make sure to get the right male/female combo.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2
http://images.monoprice.com/productm...ages/20811.jpg


Doing a quick search of HDCP, it seems like it's only an issue if one of the devices isn't HDCP compliant, which would likely be the projector which means it would be an outdated POS.

How can I check that? Is there a website that would tell me this if typed in the make and the model of my projector?

Or maybe call InFocus (the projector brand) and ask them?

BTW, many thanks for the link.

Yeah, look for the model # on the unit and you should be able to find specs online. Or google "model # + HDCP" and someone will likely have asked this question on some av forum. Or if you can find the manufacture date, you'd likely be able to rule out that it's not HDCP compliant if it's made after "X" date. HDCP really only seems like an issue for products made when digital media was coming of age. Or sure giving them a call couldn't hurt.

PS: Also best to buy your HDMI cable from monoprice or an online equivalent. If you've never heard, hdmi cable prices at places like Worst Buy are a rip off.