HDMI Cables

[DBlackGT]

Ok ive been reading all this info on the cables and such and I fully agree with cheaper ones doing the same thing. But here is my dilema:

bought a new Panny 85u plasma this week. I had it hooked up to all of my HDMI devices (PS3, 360, & HD Cable box) with the cheap $15 HDMI cables. As I was watching I started noticing several 4 inch vertical bars on every input. Didn't know what it was, So had the Panasonic service come out and he did his test and ruled it as a faulty panel. So I took the whole tv back to bestbuy last night and showed them. The got me a new tv and we did a test in store. (I brought all of my HDMI cords along with my PS3 to demonstrate to them the bars). We hooked up my PS3 with the cheap HDMI cord to the new tv and the bars were still there but not as much. Then they took a $120 monster HDMI cable and plugged it in, and presto the bars weren't there anymore. Its almost like the cheap HDMI cords damage or burned in the set. So I am affraid to use these cords on the new tv they gave me until I find better cords.

So my questions are to anyone that can help because I just don't feel safe buying a $4 HDMI cable anymore, having this idea in my mind that the cheap cord damaged the tv.

1)What is a low - medium price cord that you've dealt with that would work?

2)Has anyone tried the $19.99 HDMI cable that Apple sells at its stores?

3)Could the cord really damage the tv if it produced those bars or am I just being paranoid now?

thanks for all your help!

[BStecke]

Did you just bring/test one HDMI that was yours? Could've been a bad cable.

I always get my cables from Blue Jeans. Quick service, good quality stuff.

[DBlackGT]

no they are all like that. did I just get a bad batch? or is something else beyond me going on?

like could cords like these be better? http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Premium-1-3b...QQcmdZViewItem

[BStecke]

The only thing that really would be better, aside from just functioning, would be the build quality of the cable. Those in your link should work fine, but so should any other cable.

[Toptube]

there are 3 things to look for in HDMI cables.

Tin plating

gold plating

shielding/thickness


The cheapest cables are going to be tin plated and not very thick. Not good for going through walls, and good to about 20 feet.

gold plating does not cost much more, and dramatically improves attenuation for long cables.

The shielding/thickness that you need is determined by how/where you are going to run your cables. If you are running through a wall, get as thick as you can that will still bend enough for the run that you are doing. If you are running past a lot of lights and/or other electrical equipment, thickness is again very important. Keep in mind the thicker it is, then less sharply you can bend it.


Any other variables in HDMI cable is going to be highly specific to useage---or marketing BS.

[PeterTHX]

Keep in mind the thicker it is, then less sharply you can bend it.

Depends on the cable. I have pretty thick HDMI cables (26AWG) and they are constructed to bend.

[garytma]

As an avid videophile, since the days of Betamax, Kloss Novabeam, and laserdisc, I feel I should weigh in here with a quick testimonial.

I can vouch for the quality, and general value-based pricing for both "Cables to Go", and "Monoprice.com".

When it came down to my particular home theater situation, when adding my Blu-ray player and HDMI, Monoprice proved to offer the best value for me.

In my viewing room, I have my equipment at one end, to the rear, and my Sony SXRD at the front. I needed a 45 foot HDMI cable to make my connection. I chose Monoprice's 50ft 24AWG HDMI cable, along with 4-8 inch "port-saver" HDMI connectors (to take the tension off of the heavy cable connection points), and a single 6ft HDMI cable.

Essentially then, my Blu-ray player, via HDMI, runs its digital flow through my AV receiver, and from there to the display.

The video, from the BD player is super, with no artifacts, and the audio is as transparent as the disc source will provide.

I have had the SXRD display for over 2 years now, and have had this particular hookup for about a year.

Like everyone else, I had concerns about purchasing a long run cable for so much less than many others were charging (my 50ft HDMI cable purchase was $34). But after researching the issue, and shaking the notion that HDMI would be affected the same way analog cable signals are, I took the plunge, and have have been delighted with my choice (besides getting the bonus of great Monoprice delivery service).

I would never buy junk anything, just to save money. But a great performing product, at a reasonable price, is simply a value.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by garytma

I needed a 45 foot HDMI cable to make my connection. I chose Monoprice's 50ft 24AWG HDMI cable

...the notion you should spend more $$$ on longer runs is non-valid if the company makes good cables to begin with.

although a thicker cable is usually recommended.

Thanks for sharing gary.

[zombieking]

I need a 50-60 ft. HDMI cable for a satellite dish, which only broadcasts 1080i, naturally, but I was hoping for some suggestions on reasonably priced brands(up to $80) with reliable quality, and can anybody point me to an outlet that ships to Canada? Thanx in advance.

[allstar780]

Originally Posted by zombieking

I need a 50-60 ft. HDMI cable for a satellite dish, which only broadcasts 1080i, naturally, but I was hoping for some suggestions on reasonably priced brands(up to $80) with reliable quality, and can anybody point me to an outlet that ships to Canada? Thanx in advance.

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-HDMIM...77329&sr=1-160

http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-M-65-Cabl...77379&sr=1-186

http://www.amazon.com/SterlingTeks-P...77379&sr=1-191

http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-Male-28-A...77433&sr=1-200

[zombieking]

Many thanks allstar for the quick reply! Already have one on order I looked at some on Amazon, but none I found shipped to Canada, so thanks again.

[crackinhedz]

monoprice.com ships to Canada.

[Beta Man]

I think I got the wrong cable from monoprice (not their fault, mine) but for my projector to PS3, I'd want this one right?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2


if I want 20 Feet, correct? this will do it? the one I got, has a different connector on it, and can't plug into the PS3..... odd sized, I think I ordered the wrong one.... and I want to order this, but want to make sure it's the right one first.

sorry for the new-guy question... I'm a video-retard!


EDIT:

Nevermind... I just ordered it.... hope it's right!!!!!!!

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I think I got the wrong cable from monoprice (not their fault, mine) but for my projector to PS3, I'd want this one right?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

correct.

[crackinhedz]

Audioholics.com

Long HDMI Cable Bench Tests - Monster Cable Shootout

We took two of the worst performing cables of the bunch, a RAM Electronics 50' HDMI cable ($130) and an equally challenged Tributaries (Series 9) 15 meter cable ($899). Both understandably fail eye pattern tests at even 720p resolutions. Both, unfortunately, also claim HDMI 1.3 support at up to 10.2 Gbps bandwidth and with Deep Color support.

It was fairly obvious that both of these cables would fail real-world tests when connected to a 1080p source.

Except that they didn't.

Conclusion

Well, what started out as a quest to prove the fact that longer HDMI cables really matter ended up schooling me in the fact that real world performance differs very much from lab results. It also demonstrated that not all manufacturers' cables are created equal - nor will all of the cables labeled as "HDMI 1.3-ready" likely pass all of the potential aspects of category 2 (3.4 Gbps) cables without help.

I have to come away saying that most cables under 4-5 meters will pass just about anything in today's arsenal of 1080p - and that's likely to include Deep Color if and when it ever makes an appearance (not likely soon due to current Blu-ray limitations). For cables over 5 meters it's a good bet that you'll want to stick with trusted manufacturers who deliver on their specs. For long cables, Blue Jeans Cable, DVIGear, MonoPrice, Monster Cable 800HD, and WireWorld seem to be the best bets of the cables we tested

*At lengths less than 4 meters (13ft) you can just about use silly string (OK, not really) and get HDMI to pass at any current resolution. At less than 3 meters (10ft) you'll even extend that to 12-bit color and possibly the next crazy idea HDMI Licensing decides to throw at consumers. Don't spend a lot on these cables and if you want to save money you won't let anyone at a big box store talk you into buying from them.

*just about any cable at or under 10 meters (32ft) will pass 720p/1080i and nearly everyone will pass 1080p at 8-bit color as well.

[saltbreaker]

Ok I have a bluray player and a 52" LCD HDTV 1080P.. i was told by the store that to truely display all the colors offered by the bluray player i would need the 12 bit high speed cable.. is this true? What does the 12bit HDMI cable provide you that the others do not?

[ryoohki]

12bit mean nothing. I think Blu-ray still use 8bit encoding anyway. 12bit is good for LCD tv and actually smooth out the banding. I had a Z4 Projector witch was 8bit and i used to get a lot of banding with some Blu-ray. Now i don't see any with the Z2000 witch use 12bit panel.

Any HDMI 1.3 cable would do. I use 2 cable from Monoprice. 1 - 6 feet HDMI 1.3 cable and one HDMI (no spec) 35 feet cable and all works great..

[Stephan.klose]

I am wondering. I have $25 cables connecting my BD-Player and my HD-DVD player to the receiver. The cable to the TV from the receiver wasn't much more expensive. Would it pay off to buy like $100 cables?

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Stephan.klose

I am wondering. I have $25 cables connecting my BD-Player and my HD-DVD player to the receiver. The cable to the TV from the receiver wasn't much more expensive. Would it pay off to buy like $100 cables?

No it would not pay off at all unless you're running lengths of 50+ft.

If your cables are of average length (ie - less than 3m/less than 10ft) then $5 cables will do the trick.

There have been so many tests done on this. HDMI is digital, it either works or it does not.

[adamn]

Well this is the only hardware section I can find, so hopefully this is in the right place.

I understand there is more than one type of HDMI cable. I am just using the basic cheaper one on my PS3 to watch blu ray. I have been told that I can get better performance with a better cable. Is this true? what is the difference between the 2 types and am I supposed to be using a better one for BD?