Cables that will last?

[Mantis128]

I'm aware by now that there is apparently no difference between a $3 HDMI cable and $300 one. However I would still be interested in buying a slightly priced cable to make sure the thing doesn't degrade physically over time. What brand offers the best price ratio in terms of physical quality?

[GunZenBomZ]

Exactly how are your cables degrading? If as I use to do, have outdoor projector/music parties. You could place some petroleum jelly on the connectors to stop moisture ingress. But I fail to see how 'cables wear out'. I've broken some & damaged the core by pulling on snagged ones but they have never just broke. Do you wrap cables up tightly or as I do in circular unreeled masses making no sharp turns which can stretch the inners. The way you stow & treat cables affects their longevity.

[20th Century Boy]

Originally Posted by Mantis128

I'm aware by now that there is apparently no difference between a $3 HDMI cable and $300 one. However I would still be interested in buying a slightly priced cable to make sure the thing doesn't degrade physically over time. What brand offers the best price ratio in terms of physical quality?

Shoot an e-mail to the folks at Blue Jean Cables to discuss your concerns. They're usually quick to respond. (However it's a US company.)

Edit: https://www.bluejeanscable.com/store...hdmi-cable.htm

[ol_Dut]

I'm a little puzzled by this. I've never had a cable fail on me unless I did something to it that I shouldn't have - run over with lawnmower, crushed with furniture, hit with a saw, etc. Otherwise, once they're in place they just keep working.

[slimdude]

If you have high end or state of the art A/V equipment in your home theater, you surely don't want to buy and use $3.00 HDMI cables. A person invest thousands of dollars in their home theater, you definitely would want good quality HDMI cables to optimize the performance. Other than Monster Cable and Audioquest, (which are ridiculously overpriced) Rockefish make good quality HDMI cable for half of the price, or even less than Monster Cable and Audioquest.

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by slimdude

A person invest thousands of dollars in their home theater, you definitely would want good quality HDMI cables to optimize the performance.

As mentioned, a $3 HDMI cable that works is as good as a $300 HDMI cable.

If an HDMI cable doesn't work, it'll be easy to tell, as you'll get dropouts or major faults in the image, such as white snow, green dots, etc.

Usually, cheap cables won't do for long connections, though, such as when you drag it from your receiver or scaler in front of you to a ceiling-mounted projector, like in my own setup. I spent $150-200 to get a good one (AudioQuest, as it happens) I knew I wouldn't have to replace at some point. It was like a 30 foot cable, of course.

Obviously, if your HDMI cables are so cheap that they fall apart over time, buy another kind next time, but there's no need to spend obscene amounts, thinking it'll get you better picture or sound quality. It won't.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by Naiera

As mentioned, a $3 HDMI cable that works is as good as a $300 HDMI cable.

If an HDMI cable doesn't work, it'll be easy to tell, as you'll get dropouts or major faults in the image, such as white snow, green dots, etc.

Usually, cheap cables won't do for long connections, though, such as when you drag it from your receiver or scaler in front of you to a ceiling-mounted projector, like in my own setup. I spent $150-200 to get a good one (AudioQuest, as it happens) I knew I wouldn't have to replace at some point. It was like a 30 foot cable, of course.

Obviously, if your HDMI cables are so cheap that they fall apart over time, buy another kind next time, but there's no need to spend obscene amounts, thinking it'll get you better picture or sound quality. It won't.

Would you use a $3.00 HDMI cable on a $3,000.00 OLED UHDTV (which I have)? A person invested $3,000.00 on a TV, but want to spend only $3.00 on a HDMI cable to use on a $3,000.00 TV. That's like having a Lamborghini, and buy regular gas (instead of premium) to put in it because it's cheap... Rocketfish HDMI cables only cost from $19-30 dollars depending on the type, not $150.00! A person buy state of the art A/V equipment, then why not spend a little extra money a buy a decent good quality HDMI cable for it.

[Bassman614]

Rocketfish cables are cheap cables. Best buy just marks them up a lot. A bestbuy employee can get a 6 foot rocketfish for under $5.
Just order from monoprice.com and be happy.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by Bassman614

Rocketfish cables are cheap cables. Best buy just marks them up a lot. A bestbuy employee can get a 6 foot rocketfish for under $5.
Just order from monoprice.com and be happy.

Rocketfish HDMI cables are inexpensive, but they're good quality. Best Buy employees get a discount on everything, which is one of the perks for working for Best Buy.

[solarrdadd]

[halloween5309]

Originally Posted by slimdude

Rocketfish HDMI cables are inexpensive, but they're good quality. Best Buy employees get a discount on everything, which is one of the perks for working for Best Buy.

I agree great brand, ebay is the best place to buy them,I prefer the ultra thin cables

[AnalogAperture]

Originally Posted by slimdude

Would you use a $3.00 HDMI cable on a $3,000.00 OLED UHDTV (which I have)? A person invested $3,000.00 on a TV, but want to spend only $3.00 on a HDMI cable to use on a $3,000.00 TV. That's like having a Lamborghini, and buy regular gas (instead of premium) to put in it because it's cheap... Rocketfish HDMI cables only cost from $19-30 dollars depending on the type, not $150.00! A person buy state of the art A/V equipment, then why not spend a little extra money a buy a decent good quality HDMI cable for it.

That's a terrible analogy considering that regular gas in a lambo is bad for the engine whereas inexpensive cables on an expensive tv has no adverse effect. Correct me if i'm wrong.

I get what you mean though, but in the end, the cable will do the same thing, not the brand.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by AnalogAperture

That's a terrible analogy considering that regular gas in a lambo is bad for the engine whereas inexpensive cables on an expensive tv has no adverse effect. Correct me if i'm wrong.

I get what you mean though, but in the end, the cable will do the same thing, not the brand.

Of coarse all HDMI cable does the same thing, but the quality differs. Some HDMI cable are better constructed than others, the same for every product. You're paying the little extra money for the quality.. Beside, I surely wouldn't put regular gas in a $200,000 Lamborghini that's for sure, nor wear a $2.00 surplus T-Shirt with a pair of $180.00 designer jeans and a pair of $190.00 Jordans.

[AnalogAperture]

Originally Posted by slimdude

Of coarse all HDMI cable does the same thing, but the quality differs. Some HDMI cable are better constructed than others, the same for every product. You're paying the little extra money for the quality...Beside, I surely wouldn't put regular gas in a $200,000 Lamborghini that's for sure, nor wear a $2.00 surplus T-Shirt with a pair of $180.00 designer jeans.

Agreed, just had to make sure XD

But yes, I do agree on construction, but to me, with Monster for example, you're just paying for the name and not the true quality of it. There's plenty of inexpensive cables that are built with quality in mind, but since they aren't brand name, people overlook them.

LOL @ the shoes comment!

[Bassman614]

I'm not saying that rocketfish aren't quality cables. I'm just saying that they are cheaply priced. I guess I worded it wrong. BB employees pay 15% above cost. Roughly the same price you'd pay for a monoprice cable. In a pinch I'd go grab a rocket fish but if I didn't need one right this minute, I could order 3 or 4 HDMI cables from monoprice for the same amount as 1 rocketfish. And I know I'd be getting equal quality. Hopefully that is worded better.

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by slimdude

Would you use a $3.00 HDMI cable on a $3,000.00 OLED UHDTV (which I have)?

I would, although I don't think I've ever actually seen a $3 HDMI cable. The cheapest ones in use in my setup, I believe, are about $7.50 for a one metre cable.

For the connection between the $5,000 scaler and the $4,000 projector, I use the aforementioned AudioQuest cable

[jautor]

Originally Posted by Naiera

I would, although I don't think I've ever actually seen a $3 HDMI cable.

Here you go!

http://www.monoprice.com/StaticConte...rpath=/product

And they'll work just fine... If you want a "better constructed" cable, then opt for the premium (and HDMI certified) version for $4.50...

[kingdoxie]

Originally Posted by slimdude

If you have high end or state of the art A/V equipment in your home theater, you surely don't want to buy and use $3.00 HDMI cables. A person invest thousands of dollars in their home theater, you definitely would want good quality HDMI cables to optimize the performance. Other than Monster Cable and Audioquest, (which are ridiculously overpriced) Rockefish make good quality HDMI cable for half of the price, or even less than Monster Cable and Audioquest.

This is laughable, the one's you mentioned are overkill. If you've got money to burn then go for it. Monoprice and BJC are excellent cables and in some cases 1/100 the price of the ones above.

[78deluxe]

Originally Posted by slimdude

Would you use a $3.00 HDMI cable on a $3,000.00 OLED UHDTV (which I have)? A person invested $3,000.00 on a TV, but want to spend only $3.00 on a HDMI cable to use on a $3,000.00 TV. That's like having a Lamborghini, and buy regular gas (instead of premium) to put in it because it's cheap... Rocketfish HDMI cables only cost from $19-30 dollars depending on the type, not $150.00! A person buy state of the art A/V equipment, then why not spend a little extra money a buy a decent good quality HDMI cable for it.

I have a $4,000 65 inch OLED TV, and yes, I'm educated enough to use a $3 HDMI cable instead of wasting money on a $30 one that provides zero increase in either picture or audio quality (which runs into another $3K-4K worth of audio equipment).

Spend money where there is a discernible improvement of any kind. If a $30 cable is out performing a $3 cable you have succumbed to the placebo effect.

And I'm someone that owns single guitar cables that cost over $100 a piece and can hear the difference. HDMI is a different animal.

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by jautor

Here you go!

http://www.monoprice.com/StaticConte...rpath=/product

And they'll work just fine... If you want a "better constructed" cable, then opt for the premium (and HDMI certified) version for $4.50...

There's a huge difference of course, with me being in Denmark. I have a range of differently priced HDMI cables in my setup, but most are of the cheaper variety.