HDMI Cables

[orion]

the hdmi cables sold in different series is a stupid gimmick in HD. especially with the newer tvs coming out in 120hz! any cable that is 1.3 will work for any signal I or P being that nothing has an output of 120 hz, yet as far as a video signal goes. i have 800hd monster cables. wish i would have known then...

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by orion

the hdmi cables sold in different series is a stupid gimmick in HD. especially with the newer tvs coming out in 120hz! any cable that is 1.3 will work for any signal I or P being that nothing has an output of 120 hz, yet as far as a video signal goes. i have 800hd monster cables. wish i would have known then...

1) Versions on HDMI cables means nothing. 1.3a is the device version, not cable. Cables are category 1 or 2. All category 2 cables transmit every bit of audio and video possible in BD.

2) 120Hz has nothing to do with a signal along a cable. It is the refresh rate of some LCD sets.

3) Sorry to hear you got suckered into buying Monster. At least you now know better.

[peterfabian]

Hello everybody. i have seen hdmi monster cables are high price and not so good for that price (well i have one and other sony white hdmi cable and i prefer the sony one). i don't know much about audioquest cables, but they are almost so expensive like monster cables, so i would like if someone can tell me anything about audioquest technology. are they better than monster cables? thank you for any help

[JJ]

Originally Posted by peterfabian

Hello everybody. i have seen hdmi monster cables are high price and not so good for that price (well i have one and other sony white hdmi cable and i prefer the sony one). i don't know much about audioquest cables, but they are almost so expensive like monster cables, so i would like if someone can tell me anything about audioquest technology. are they better than monster cables? thank you for any help

Use www.monoprice.com cables, friend! Save yourself a lot of money!

[Blove23]

Work for a retailer and really see what Monster cables cost. Capitalism at it finest. I love America! If you don't know you know now! LOL

[orion]

ohh i know now, just bought the new samsung and couldnt get my ps3 to play blu rays on it when it worked fine before on my sxrd 50'' . thought it might be the cables...discovered for some reason it would not play because i had the hdmi 24hz playback method on the ps3 set to on or auto?? it all worked fine with the sony. the whole set up is the same as it was...just a diff. tv.

[jadul2007]

For my own experiences of Home Theater, I found the real HDMI cable is only made by TARA LABS and you can found them in www.taralabs.com but the price would sucking your pocket to buy it.

The version of cable is 1.3 and really working for all kind Bluray player including PS3. I suggest for all HT mania must have this cable because for real 1080p picture resolution is only made by this cable and also for the real lossless audio format.

I have try by myself with PS3 40GB region B combine with Denon AVR-2808, Speaker Bose AM 10 Generation III 5.1 and Sharp 46' Aquos HDTV. And the result AMAZING home theater sound system.

I hope you can enjoy my opinion.

[caliblue15]

I will state this though.

The Monster cables do have more copper in them 5-8 twisted together, where as the monoprice have 2-3 twisted together.

They will give you the same picture, but the monster was made to be more durable, but really who moves their HDMI cables alot, its usually plug in and leave it for years.

[ixlegitballinxl]

my dad was bragging about picking up 2 monster cables for 80 bucks for both...as if he got a good deal.... LOL

i had to burst his bubble

monoprice.com

[jc480]

Copper vs Fiber Optic HDMI cables

I need to run a pair of HDMI cables in a wall between 2 HDMI jacks...the run is about 35 feet or so. According to HDMI.org, I should use a repeater.

Would a fiber optic HDMI cable work here? They are very pricey...and I didn't seem to find any on monoprice.

I did find a pair of nice 35 foot HDMI 1.3 cables on M/P...but since I am running these in the wall, I'm a little paranoid about getting them right the first time.

Looking for some guidance.

[RazorFromHRSnet]

I didn't know there was a fiber optic HDMI cable.

I'm not an engineer, but it would seem like copper wiring would only be able to carry an electrical current, whereas fiber optic would only be able to carry pulses of light.

I would assume that an HDMI output or input would only accept one type of signal (electrical current or pulse of light).

So... yeah... I don't think there's such a thing as an optical HDMI cable.

[jc480]

Originally Posted by RazorFromHRSnet

So... yeah... I don't think there's such a thing as an optical HDMI cable.

Fiber Optic HDMI Cables

[Aerodude73]

Originally Posted by jc480

Fiber Optic HDMI Cables

Wow, 32.8' - $375 ! -- and 49.2' - $450 (10 & 15 Meters respectively). Damn. Do I see someone re-thinking Fiber Optic HDMI cables in their future...

[mawgui]

Originally Posted by jc480

Copper vs Fiber Optic HDMI cables

I need to run a pair of HDMI cables in a wall between 2 HDMI jacks...the run is about 35 feet or so. According to HDMI.org, I should use a repeater.

Would a fiber optic HDMI cable work here? They are very pricey...and I didn't seem to find any on monoprice.

I did find a pair of nice 35 foot HDMI 1.3 cables on M/P...but since I am running these in the wall, I'm a little paranoid about getting them right the first time.

Looking for some guidance.

Hi,

I install custom home audio for a living and have found that an HDMI cable up to about 50ft will carry a good signal. No loss or attenuation. I haven't heard of a fiber optic HDMI cable. But there is something out there call and HDMI Balun. You have to buy them in pairs. One on the source end (reciver, pse. etc.) and one at the output (tv). In between you run to CAT5 (network) cables, or if you need to carry your signal longer then CAT6 (tighter twist on the wire, so less signal loss, but twice the price). A good pair of Baluns can be had between $300 to $600. But honestly I would go with the cable. It is less expensive and of course the more components you introduce, the more failure points you have.

Hope this helps.

[Oddiophile]

I have been using a fiber optic HDMI cable for about 6 months.


I was having a HDMI handshaking problem with my Marantz pre-amp. If I went from my source to my projector with a 30ft HDMI cable everything was fine. If I went from the source into the pre-amp to my projector over the 30ft HDMI cable the components would not synic. I picked up Optic's 30ft fiber optic HDMI cable from The Digital Connection for $299 and problem solved.

The Fiber Optic cable has a transmitter on one end that turns the electric signal into light, and a receiver at the other end turns the light back into an electrical signal into the display. Fiber optic HDMI cables are good up to 330ft.

[jc480]

Originally Posted by Oddiophile

I picked up Optic's 30ft fiber optic HDMI cable from The Digital Connection for $299 and problem solved.

The Fiber Optic cable has a transmitter on one end that turns the electric signal into light, and a receiver at the other end turns the light back into an electrical signal into the display. Fiber optic HDMI cables are good up to 330ft.

Digital Connection HDMI F/O Cable
This fiber optic cable has female connections on both ends. It appears it comes with a pair of male to male connections.

As I am planning on using this in-wall between two HDMI Wall Plates. Would this be suitable for in-wall use? And would those small male-to-male cables again be suitable for in-wall use?

HDMI Wall Plate > male2male cable > HDMI fiber cable < male2male cable < HDMI wall Plate

[ObiTrentKenobi]

First of all, I love all you guys and girls!


Second;
Wow, most of you are so warped with your "digital is digital" falsehood.


Here's the truth, looke 'em up! There's a difference in bandwidth, some of you "tech geeks" should know about that, right?

HDMI Category 1: Some support up to 1080p video, some only up to 720p.
Category 1's have a rating of 74.25MHz (742.5Mbps) in bandwidth.

HDMI Category 2: All support up to 1600p video and HD audio.
Category 2's have a rating of 165MHz and 340MHz (10.2 Gbps) in bandwidth.


There's a reason for these ratings, Category 1 may OR MAY NOT support 1080p. Some category 1's only support the bandwidth required for 720p. ALL Category 2 1.3's are tested and guarantee 1080p video and HD audio.

does this mean you have to pay 50$+ for the cable??? NO!

I got my Category 2 1.3 HDMI 6 foot cable online for 6.99$!

BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!!!! DIGITAL CABLES HAVE BANDWIDTH LIMITATIONS!

End of debate.

[guitarist155]

at this distance i don't see a need for fiber, i am using a bjc series-1 at 40-45 feet with no problem, again it really depends on your components and how the can send and receive the signal but BJC claims they have gotten over 100ft without any problems

[guitarist155]

Originally Posted by ObiTrentKenobi

First of all, I love all you guys and girls!


Second;
Wow, most of you are so warped with your "digital is digital" falsehood.


Here's the truth, looke 'em up! There's a difference in bandwidth, some of you "tech geeks" should know about that, right?

HDMI Category 1: Some support up to 1080p video, some only up to 720p.
Category 1's have a rating of 74.25MHz (742.5Mbps) in bandwidth.

HDMI Category 2: All support up to 1600p video and HD audio.
Category 2's have a rating of 165MHz and 340MHz (10.2 Gbps) in bandwidth.


There's a reason for these ratings, Category 1 may OR MAY NOT support 1080p. Some category 1's only support the bandwidth required for 720p. ALL Category 2 1.3's are tested and guarantee 1080p video and HD audio.

does this mean you have to pay 50$+ for the cable??? NO!

I got my Category 2 1.3 HDMI 6 foot cable online for 6.99$!

BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!!!! DIGITAL CABLES HAVE BANDWIDTH LIMITATIONS!

End of debate.

yep but the debate on digital is digital is not over cat 1 vs cat 2 but rather, is a cat 2 for 3.99 the same as a cat2 for 103.99

[ObiTrentKenobi]

Originally Posted by guitarist155

yep but the debate on digital is digital is not over cat 1 vs cat 2 but rather, is a cat 2 for 3.99 the same as a cat2 for 103.99

I think a 4 dollar Category 2 hdmi cable is just as good as a 104 dollar hdmi cable in picture and audio quality. maybe the plastics and tips aren't as good, but if you have to replace the cable every 4 or 5 years, by all means that's much better than a 1 time 104 bucks!

that's why i bought mine online for 7$. i worked in an electronics store for over 3 years selling computers and home theater, there's 60-90% markup on cables from a store. Monster's markup is significantly less, because they use better materials (plastics and metal tips), they'll usually be about 40-60% markup from cost.

My whole speel about cat 1 vs cat 2 was because many people don't know that the 2 specifications exist... i think it should answer 90% of people's questions about hdmi picture and audio quality from hdmi cables.

My opinion, is stick with the 4-10$ cables online! As long as it's rated category 2....