HDMI Cable - Does it make a Difference

[gerard786]

Hi all,

Can someone please provide an unbiased opinion?

I had purchased a PS3 from the local shop and the sales assistant threw in a free HDMI cable (worth $20) so I can connect it to my Sony TV.

When I look around, there are HDMI cables that sell for around 10 x that amount. Particulatly Belkin or Monster HDMI cables for $200 - $300 +

That's pretty expensive for a guy like me so I opted to take the free one. Do anyone think its better to just cough out the money and purchase a high-end HDMI cable? Or do you think the difference is so minute that its not worth spending the extra money.

I'm not sure whether the mentality of wanting to get the best accessories for the latest BD technology actually warrants the forking out of hundreds of dollars for the HDMI cable or just settle for a cheapie cable.

Please.......tell me what you think

[JTK]

Get good quality for cheap:

www.monoprice.com

www.ramelectronics.net


Your instincts are serving you well.

[Filterlab]

High end cables always make a difference, but whether the differences are noticable to everyone is very subjective.

Analogue signal transfer is much more prone to interference as the signals are purely electrical and nuances of detial can be lost as a result. Digital on the other hand is simply a series of 1's and 0's (on's or off's) so it's slightly more black and white in regard to what the recipient device receives.

Best thing to do is try out an expensive cable and see if you notice the difference. If not then don't buy it, if so then try one slightly less expensive and see if you notice the difference. To experiment like this takes time and you're best to use very familiar material, but the results can be worth it.

The variation in price of cables is huge, so decide on a budget first and then try and upgrade as many cables in your system as possible. You'll be amazed at how an 'across the board' cable swap can make a difference.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by JTK

Get good quality for cheap:

www.monoprice.com

www.ramelectronics.net


Your instincts are serving you well.

I've always found the MonoPrice cables to be of amazing quality. So, < $10 is what people should be paying for 3-6 foot (1-2 metre) HDMI cables.

Without a doubt analogue is a whole other realm. The best you can afford for analogue. But, it really isn't a matter of diminishing returns with digital. There is adequate, and beyond is really a waste of money.

Obviously certain name brand cable companies will do all they can to try to convince people otherwise.

How many of you have ever given a second thought to the cable that connects your HDD to the motherboard?

Gary

[ra1024]

For cables carrying an analog signal such as speaker wire or component video, cable quality will affect the output. For cables such as HDMI which carry a digital signal, cable quality has no affect on the output until the signal degrades past a certain point. Up to that point, there is no difference between a low grade and high grade cable. A high grade cable will be able to go longer distances or operate better in an electrically noisy environment. If neither of these conditions apply, you're just wasting money on expensive digital cables.

[TJandBLU-RAY]

Originally Posted by ra1024

For cables carrying an analog signal such as speaker wire or component video, cable quality will affect the output. For cables such as HDMI which carry a digital signal, cable quality has no affect on the output until the signal degrades past a certain point. Up to that point, there is no difference between a low grade and high grade cable. A high grade cable will be able to go longer distances or operate better in an electrically noisy environment. If neither of these conditions apply, you're just wasting money on expensive digital cables.

Yup.

I have heard, any brand for lengths of less then three feet; more then that, (and for some, it can be a lot of feet), then maybe you might want to spend more. Maybe.

[minimoke]

ok for short cables, but what about cables that run to a projector.
I plan on buying a 1080p projector when our new house is finished.
I would like to see my AV equipment in front of me, but that would make the HDMI cable as long as 10 to 15 meters. When placing the AV equipment on the side of the room at the point where the Projo hangs, I think 5 to 6 meters will do, but than it's hard to use the remote.

About HDMI 1.3 : Is the cable always the same? or are there spec 1.3 cables?

thanks.

[ra1024]

Originally Posted by minimoke

ok for short cables, but what about cables that run to a projector.

I would check on the return policy and just try one out. You'll either have a clear picture or you won't. It's not like with analog where it might be slightly off or somewhat degraded. If you've ever seen satellite tv during a storm, you'll get the idea of what an inadequate cable is like.

Originally Posted by minimoke

About HDMI 1.3 : Is the cable always the same? or are there spec 1.3 cables?.

I'm not positive on this but I don't think HDMI cables are specific to a version. While it's possible new versions of HDMI might send the signal at higher frequencies requiring better quality cables, I don't think that's the case.

[stockstar1138]

My TV has 3:2 pulldown as long as its detected through HDMI, my PS3 is set to output at 1080p/24, but the TV isn't detecting it. I kind of went cheap on my HDMI cable (30 bucks) and was wondering if even the oldest of cables would support 1080p/24.

[stockstar1138]

does anybody know if certain versions (older) wouldn't support 1080p/24??? and if i got a cheapo wal-mart HDMI cable if that could be the reason why my tv wont recognize a 1080p/24 signal even though it supports 3:2 pulldown?

[UltimateFighter]

Cable shouldn't matter. 1080p24 is less bandwith than 1080p60.

[reiella]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

How many of you have ever given a second thought to the cable that connects your HDD to the motherboard?

Gary

Oooh! I do.
But that's because I like to have UV reactive cables in my case .

[KenThompson]

I spent $1300 on a blu player and another $2300 on a tv so I bought monster cables($160.) When you spend that kind of money whats another 160 bucks.

[TJandBLU-RAY]

Originally Posted by KenThompson

I spent $1300 on a blu player and another $2300 on a tv so I bought monster cables($160.) When you spend that kind of money whats another 160 bucks.

I spent a lot of money on my set up as well. But until someone can convince me that a cable that is transfering 0's and 1's does it better then another, I will stick with my run of the mill HDMI cables.