a_pac says:
if u have a direct view (tube) tv componet is better then dvi due to one less digital to analog conversion. on all other kind of tvs as general rule dvi is better.
Followed by Carl B with:
If your TV is a direct-view CRT or a RP/CRT, then component will be equal to or better than DVI for PQ from your 811. Otherwise DVI has superior PQ (particularly sharper picture). Color from DVI since 269 has definitely deteriorated. I've adjusted my Sammy DLP, but E* over-did whatever adjustment they made with 269. I can't get the color saturation I used to have with all previous revisions of the Dish 811 software and I go back to last December with my 811. However, I still use DVI as the component gives too soft a picture for me.
There is no hard and fast rule guys. Also, the statement that there are less A/D conversions with Component Video is untrue.
For Component Video, the signal gets a D/A conversion for transfer via Component Video. The set will do an A/D conversion so that all of the processing can kick in. This includes things like brightness, contrast and color controls. After all of the digital processing occurs, a D/A conversion is done for display by the tubes.
Contrast this with a DVI signal going into the same set.
Signal is digital, and transferred digitally to the set. Set does processing on input (as above). After processing, the set does a D/A conversion for display by the set.
So, regardless of whether you are watching a direct view / Rear Project CRT or a fixed panel display DVI has the potential of the best picture in every case.
The fact that many sets have excellent A/D these days explains why some prefer the look of component into these sets. Plus the image could be slightly softer, again dependent on the particulars of the set. Then again without calibrating the set for both component and DVI in, you aren't comparing like pictures
There's nothing wrong with the preference by the way, this is all tech talk
Cheers,