[citation][nom]waffle911[/nom]Uh, yeah it did. First on page 2 it pointed out the component video output. On page 4 it mentioned that while the XDS has component output and USB, the cheaper XD does not, and that you should:Honestly, I don't know what else you want from them. It has component video and it has optical audio; combined they perform exactly the same function as a single HDMI cable. So if your TV doesn't have HDMI, but does have component video, then logically you'd spend a bit more and get the XDS instead. HDMI has been around since 2003 and has been mainstream in HDTVs for quite some time now. If your set was made in the last 5 years or so, I would think it should have at least one HDMI input.What are they gonna do, compare the quality of the picture over component output versus HDMI?[/citation]
It actually isn't the same as a single HDMI cable, since the HDMI spec is plagued with DRM, and you can't easily split off the audio into a discrete Amp, unless the Amp also supports HDMI. On the other hand, I can simply run the component into my HDTV, then the toslink into my Amp. HDMI was an evolving spec when I purchased my TV, and the first one I purchased had an even older version simply called HDCP interface, with a completely different connector. Fortunately, I took it back an got a newer model that had a single HDMI port, but only supports the earlier spec. My Amp, purchased at the same time, does not have any HDMI switching, and was an extremely uncommon (expensive) feature at that time. HDMI/HDCP is nothing more than the MPAAs paranoid attempt to prevent people from doing disc to recorder copies like old VCR-VCR copies. What sense does it make from a consumer perspective to have a degraded HDMI video output (480p) on a perfectly fine HDTV because it doesn't support the current HDCP standard?
Component has no such problem.
I agree with your point that the other poster should have thoroughly read the article before complaining, but I completely disagree with your sarcastic characterization regarding addressing HDMI restrictions and output quality vs. Component. If they don't cover it in the review, fine, but it's not a "non-issue" for many people.