I am a new member, so please forgive me if this subject has been discussed many times in the past. While I am an RF engineer, my knowledge in video is VERY limited.

The hardware in question are a Sony HD projection TV (KP-53hs10) and medium-end DVD with component and S-Video outputs. I made the mistake of purchasing component cables (all cables high quality) to replace the existing S-video cable, thinking the image quality would improve, although the S-video was already excellent. (This was done at the same time I cleaned the respective CRT lenses, so I was focused on image quality…. :) )

The component cables were routed to the 481i progressive input 5. I retained a parallel cable to the S-video input, so that I could switch between inputs and see which was better. After all of the talk of how much better component is than S/V, I was surprised to see the S/V noticeably better than the component input. (The image quality was noticeably sharper with clearer edge definition.)

I should also mention is passing that S/V output out of the DVD and satellite is razor sharp, so I do not, I think, have a TV problem. (One may be correct in asking why I didn’t leave well enough alone!)

I believe the DVD player is set correctly in the “progressive scan” component output mode, but I confess I do not know what that means.

What all this is boiling down to is whether HD input from satellite, fed at component level, is going to be a real improvement over Direct TV standard transmissions, or whether I should bother with HD at all? Having said all this, I am a casual viewer, and don’t spend my life trying to tweak the last of anything out of my equipment.

Any insight would be appreciated and advice acted upon, if appropriate…….mike