HDMI cables...they keep calling me, HELP!

[JimShaw]

They keep calling me.

I have read evey post about HDMI cables on the forum. All my HDMI cables cost me about $3.00 each from Monoprice. I even have three in my truck just in case I am at BB and an older couple is getting screwed by paying $200 for an HDMI cable. I'll take them out to my truck and give them one free.

BUT these HDMI cables keep calling me: Buy me, buy me, try me, try me, maybe they are all wrong you'll plug me in and the world will be sharper, brighter, crisper.


Take a look...
http://thecableco.com/product.php?id=611

Wireworld Starlight 5.2 even sounds sweet.

My mind says what a waste of money but my passion says give it try to see if everyone is wrong and they do help.

What say all of you?

[Batman1980]

I say it's your money and if you want to go against the opinions and advice of so many people who use so many HDMi cables, go ahead.

[JimShaw]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

I say it's your money and if you want to go against the opinions and advice of so many people who use so many HDMi cables, go ahead.

I know. Stupid isn't. It's 12:15am right now. I'm going to bed and when I wake up maybe I'll be back normal again. Got to kick the habit.

[JJ]

Methinks you'd be paying for the flat convenience.

But, hey, what's their refund policy like? Try some out.

[JimShaw]

Originally Posted by JJ

Methinks you'd be paying for the flat convenience.

But, hey, what's their refund policy like? Try some out.

I just e-mailed them a note that if their high-end HDMI cable does not do better than my $3.00 cable, will I be able to return it and get a full refund.

I am now waiting for their answer. If they say "yes" I will order, test and decide to return or not to return. I'll let you know.

[JimShaw]

I called Cable Company and talked to John Pharo and asked if I could return for a full refund if the Stralight 5-2 cable wasn't any better than my $3.00 cable. John asked me to tell him what type of equipment I was using along with what type of monitor. After letting him know, he said “yes” he would except a full refund if the Starlight wasn't any better. He also mentioned that even though 1.4 HDMI cables are just now starting to come out, they are now working on the 1.4a's and by the end of the year 1.5's will be starting to arrive.

I called the maker of my receiver and player (Marantz) and asked them, of the two, which was the better to process video. I was told my player. I was also told by hooking the player directly to the TV, I would get the best PQ. This is exactly how I now have everything set up.

I want to make sure when I get the Starlight 5-2 HDMI cable and compare it to my $3.00 that everything is done properly.

I'll place an order and when it arrives, I'll do some testing and respond back.

An interesting footnote:
When talking to Marantz, I told them what I was doing and they let me know that not too long ago they were having fluctuation problems with sound in their testing studio. The problem stopped after they took out their expensive HDMI cables and installed cheap ones.

[JimShaw]

This is what I ordered...

https://www.thecableco.com/product.php?id=7591


the Ultraviolet 6 HDMI

If this thing blows my socks off and I decided to keep it, I wanted to be future proof (for awhile) with a 1.4 cable.

[sixteenvolt420]

Definately buy the HDMI cables that are going to make you happy, reguardless of what anybody else says. I had some HDMI's that i bought from Monoprice, and they ended up starting to cut out audio after a few months. I found the Sony HDMI/Usb PS3 combo packs on clearance a few months ago at my k-mart for $12, so i picked up two of those combo packs. I've never had a problem with my sony, plus it has some badass wrapping around it, and the HDMI cable is atleast 10 feet long, if not longer. I understand most people don't have problems with their monoprice cables, i just wanted to let you know that it is possible.

[tlmaclennan]

Why does the cable in the original post have thumb screws? HDMI doesn't have the threaded holes like DVI does, so you can't mount the HDMI cable to your equipment.

I wish it did though since that is my #1 gripe with HDMI. The connection doesn't seem as secure as component cables or DVI.

[JJ]

I think that one was, ummm, DVI.

[JimShaw]

Today I tested both the Monster THX 1000 and the Audioquest Chocolate HDMI's against Monoprice's Cat 2 1.3 HDMI and found one slight difference.

When I get the WireWorld UltraViolet 6 in, I'll do the same testing. I was told by the manufacturer that they will send me the $1500.00 Platinum Starlight to test and if I did not want it, I can get a full refund back and that is in writing. It will be fun to see what that cable can do. It must also bring the owner beer while watching TV for that price.

[dfms23]

Originally Posted by JimShaw

Today I tested both the Monster THX 1000 and the Audioquest Chocolate HDMI's against Monoprice's Cat 2 1.3 HDMI and found one slight difference.

When I get the WireWorld UltraViolet 6 in, I'll do the same testing. I was told by the manufacturer that they will send me the $1500.00 Platinum Starlight to test and if I did not want it, I can get a full refund back and that is in writing. It will be fun to see what that cable can do. It must also bring the owner beer while watching TV for that price.

I just stumbled across your HDMI quest. You seem to be going about your comparisons pretty scientifically. I will be interested to hear your findings. I get all my cabling from bluejeanscable.com out of Seattle. They gained notoriety in the recent past for being threatened by Monster Cable for supposed patent infringement. No suit was ever successfuly brought to my knowledge. Score one for the little guy!

[JimShaw]

Originally Posted by dfms23

I just stumbled across your HDMI quest. You seem to be going about your comparisons pretty scientifically. I will be interested to hear your findings. I get all my cabling from bluejeanscable.com out of Seattle. They gained notoriety in the recent past for being threatened by Monster Cable for supposed patent infringement. No suit was ever successfuly brought to my knowledge. Score one for the little guy!

Yesterday, I tested Audioquest Carbon, $250.00

Next week the Wireworld Ultraviolet 6, $150.00

And my goal the week after to test:
Audioquest Diamond, $1400.00
Wireworld Platiumn Starlight, $1500.00

[My_Two_Cents]

I hate to say it, Jim, but unplugging one cable and plugging in another will not really show you anything unless there are significant problems with one versus the other (snow, dropouts, etc.). Otherwise, the placebo effect will come into play. You will need identical players and displays (calibrated exactly the same) to be able to do a valid side-by-side comparison.

Good luck, though. Keep us posted on what you see.

[JimShaw]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

I hate to say it, Jim, but unplugging one cable and plugging in another will not really show you anything unless there are significant problems with one versus the other (snow, dropouts, etc.). Otherwise, the placebo effect will come into play. You will need identical players and displays (calibrated exactly the same) to be able to do a valid side-by-side comparison.

Good luck, though. Keep us posted on what you see.

Yes you are correct but once again, I don't care about all the... You will need identical players and displays (calibrated exactly the same) to be able to do a valid side-by-side comparison.

I am not doing a side-by-side. I am using the same equipment for each test. All I care about is how that cable plays that Blu on my player and TV while sitting and watching. That is the only comparision I need.

[dewey79]

I bought a sony high speed hdmi and I have tried two other hdmi cables, a gamestop, and a monster. I foolishly bought the monster when they first came out. The sony cable is not cheap either but am glad I got it with it's performance. The simple way to put it is that nothing is compressed coming through this cable. People say it doesn't make a difference because the signal is digital, but it does. The sony hdmi cable outperforms the monster in sound quality. As I said, nothing is compressed so even soundtracks that are agressive and make the sound come thorough your speakers sharp sound natural and uncompressed with this high speed hdmi cable. I noticed a signicant increase in sound detail. This is my experience. One other thing to note is that there is better color saturation with the sony and monster, but again, the sony high spead hdmi cable is better over all. You will hear the true sound of the track and your speakers because some things that come through your tweeters very sharp with other factors are lessened signicantly with a much more natural sound that is uncompressed. Picture quality is great as well. There was a loss of sharpness detail, especially background with the gamestop cable when I watched a few scenes from my favorite movies and the color did not saturate as well either.

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by dewey79

I bought a sony high speed hdmi and I have tried two other hdmi cables, a gamestop, and a monster. I foolishly bought the monster when they first came out. The sony cable is not cheap either but am glad I got it with it's performance. The simple way to put it is that nothing is compressed coming through this cable. People say it doesn't make a difference because the signal is digital, but it does. The sony hdmi cable outperforms the monster in sound quality. As I said, nothing is compressed so even soundtracks that are agressive and make the sound come thorough your speakers sharp sound natural and uncompressed with this high speed hdmi cable. I noticed a signicant increase in sound detail. This is my experience. One other thing to note is that there is better color saturation with the sony and monster, but again, the sony high spead hdmi cable is better over all. You will hear the true sound of the track and your speakers because some things that come through your tweeters very sharp with other factors are lessened signicantly with a much more natural sound that is uncompressed. Picture quality is great as well. There was a loss of sharpness detail, especially background with the gamestop cable when I watched a few scenes from my favorite movies and the color did not saturate as well either.

Placebo effect. That's just NOT how an HDMI cable works with digital signals. This has been explained and beaten to death around here for years. But, if you like it, then that's great for you.