Can I convert HDMI to Component Video?

Avoriaz

Is there an easy and inexpensive method of connecting a HDMI output to the Component Input of a non HD TV?

I am considering buying this Western Digital Media Player (available for about £50 on ebay)) to replace my Rapsody media player for playing music video files (mpg, avi etc) on my TV and hi-fi.

The Rapsody is connected to my 6 year old pre HD CRT TV via Component Video and to my hi-fi via RCA phono. This gives very satisfactory results but the Rapsody cannot play any of the increasing number of HD videos I have accumulated from internet downloads. My laptop plays most of these but I really would prefer to be able to play them on my TV and hi-fi.

The Western Digital player outputs HDMI and Composite only and I really don’t want to downgrade to a composite video connection.

I will eventually be buying a HD flat screen TV with HDMI inputs but in the meantime I wondered if I could convert the Western Digital HDMI output to component.

I have googled and various cables are advertised but they appear to be for converting an analogue HDMI from a DVD player or camera and appear to exclude devices such as the Western Digital Media Player.

I searched the AV forum but that had nothing recent or relevant that I could find. It did link to a £150 device to do the job but that is far more than I would pay for what is a temporary solution until I buy a new TV.

I’d pay £10 or £15 if a simple cable will suffice but I strongly suspect that something more complex and more expensive would be required.

Thanks

turbobob

Avoriaz wrote: »

I’d pay £10 or £15 if a simple cable will suffice but I strongly suspect that something more complex and more expensive would be required.

Thanks

I don't have an answer for you sorry but think you are correct here. As the HDMI is a digital connection and composite video is analogue, there is not going to be a simple cable or adaptor that does the job. Whatever it is will need to be a box with digital to analogue convertor circuitry. Theres also potentially an issue with HDCP copy protection.

I see the cables you've linked to but I was not aware of any device that outputs analogue video through a HDMI socket (DVD player or otherwise). I can't see how they would work. I stand to be corrected but I thought HDMI was digital only?!?

EDIT found some info here: http://www.bluejeanscable.com/articles/component-to-hdmi-cable.htm Note section at the bottom where it mentions some "extremely rare" devices with "non standard" wiring that can route analogue component video through an HDMI socket.

Found this on Ebay though which might work - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HDCP-HDMI-to-VGA-Ypbpr-Audio-Component-Converter-v1-3b_W0QQitemZ260527028365QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_ConsumerElectronics_VideoSwitches_SM?hash=item3ca89ef88d#ht_1411wt_717

custardy

i havent seen anything near your budget
in real terms its either a new TV or a different media unit you need
i stream from the PC via PS3 to the TV (though i have HDMI) but it would cover your connections issue

Avoriaz

Thanks for your replies.

Turbobob, that bluejeanlink was useful, even if it only confirmed that I would need to spend silly money. Even that ebay product is more than I want to spend on a temporary solution.

Custardy, I can stream from my laptop to my TV and hi-fi but in practice it is easier, and I get better video quality, just to watch the HD files on my laptop with decent headphones. The laptop video is excellent and I bypass the awful onboard audio with an external Creative USB stick device that gives decent audio.

I’ll hold off buying the WD or another HD media player until I get a HD TV.


Now, how can I persuade Mrs A that we really do need a new telly? :think:

custardy

Avoriaz wrote: »

Thanks for your replies.

Turbobob, that bluejeanlink was useful, even if it only confirmed that I would need to spend silly money. Even that ebay product is more than I want to spend on a temporary solution.

Custardy, I can stream from my laptop to my TV and hi-fi but in practice it is easier, and I get better video quality, just to watch the HD files on my laptop with decent headphones. The laptop video is excellent and I bypass the awful onboard audio with an external Creative USB stick device that gives decent audio.

I’ll hold off buying the WD or another HD media player until I get a HD TV.


Now, how can I persuade Mrs A that we really do need a new telly? :think:

everyone needs a new telly

i use http://ps3mediaserver.org/forum/index.php
excellent free software
streams pretty much anything over so the PS3/360 can play it
on my gigabit network i can run at top quality with no issues