HDMI Cables

[drfsupercenter]

...How is $10 for a 6 foot HDMI cable a deal?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/su...02&cp_id=10240

And those are REGULAR PRICES.

Monster is completely stupid and a waste of money. HDMI cables are digital, that means that as long as the cable isn't ripped or torn or whatever, there are NO such thing as "bad" HDMI cables.

The $3 Monoprice ones are going to give you the EXACT SAME picture on your TV as a $50 Monster cable.




But other people are free to waste their money as much as they'd like, I suppose

[PrivatePixel]

Originally Posted by drfsupercenter

...How is $10 for a 6 foot HDMI cable a deal?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/su...02&cp_id=10240

And those are REGULAR PRICES.

Monster is completely stupid and a waste of money. HDMI cables are digital, that means that as long as the cable isn't ripped or torn or whatever, there are NO such thing as "bad" HDMI cables.

The $3 Monoprice ones are going to give you the EXACT SAME picture on your TV as a $50 Monster cable.

But other people are free to waste their money as much as they'd like, I suppose

Apparently, some members have experienced issues with Monoprice's HDMI cables, which is why they're looking for alternatives.

In the grand scheme of things, $10 for a 6' Monster cable isn't that bad of a price, not if it gives you the (perceived) performance and reliability one would expect from this brand.

[steve1971]

Originally Posted by drfsupercenter

...How is $10 for a 6 foot HDMI cable a deal?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/su...02&cp_id=10240

And those are REGULAR PRICES.

Monster is completely stupid and a waste of money. HDMI cables are digital, that means that as long as the cable isn't ripped or torn or whatever, there are NO such thing as "bad" HDMI cables.

The $3 Monoprice ones are going to give you the EXACT SAME picture on your TV as a $50 Monster cable.




But other people are free to waste their money as much as they'd like, I suppose

First those ARENT REGULAR PRICES for the cable I bought. It normally goes for 40 bucks as my fiance pointed out as did Best Buy. And 10 bucks aint a waste of money and 3rd your right people are free to "waste" their money on whatever they like because its their money and they have the right to buy whatever they want with it.

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by PrivatePixel

Apparently, some members have experienced issues with Monoprice's HDMI cables, which is why they're looking for alternatives.

In the grand scheme of things, $10 for a 6' Monster cable isn't that bad of a price, not if it gives you the (perceived) performance and reliability one would expect from this brand.

I am one of those people who a.) have had issues with Monoprice cables and b.) "waste" my money on expensive cables.

I'm sure some people would crap their pants on hearing what I have paid for some of my cables. On the other hand, there are others who have paid a hell of a lot more for their cables.

I'm happy with my decisions.

[oppopioneer]

If anyone has had problems with Monoprice or just doesn't like the quality then try Bluejeans Cable, they use the broadcast industry standard Belden cable, which are partly made in the U.S. just for a few bucks more than Monoprice's. GREAT customer service!

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/...hdmi-cable.htm

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by drfsupercenter

...How is $10 for a 6 foot HDMI cable a deal?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/su...02&cp_id=10240

And those are REGULAR PRICES.

Monster is completely stupid and a waste of money. HDMI cables are digital, that means that as long as the cable isn't ripped or torn or whatever, there are NO such thing as "bad" HDMI cables.

You've obviously never had a poorly shielded cable, or one that literally fell apart.

Monster cables may be overpriced but they are exceedingly well built and are well shielded, they do not require ferrites either. So $10 for a 6-foot Monster is a good deal worth pursuing.

[ScarredLungs]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

You've obviously never had a poorly shielded cable, or one that literally fell apart.

Monster cables may be overpriced but they are exceedingly well built and are well shielded, they do not require ferrites either. So $10 for a 6-foot Monster is a good deal worth pursuing.

Ferrites? What is that?

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by cvm

Ferrites? What is that?

The round core surrounding the cable near the connectors. Filters out interference from poorly shielded cables.

[PrivatePixel]

Originally Posted by Hammie

I am one of those people who a.) have had issues with Monoprice cables and b.) "waste" my money on expensive cables.

I'm sure some people would crap their pants on hearing what I have paid for some of my cables. On the other hand, there are others who have paid a hell of a lot more for their cables.

I'm happy with my decisions.

.....which should be the only thing that matters.

Personally, I can see (and hear) the benefits of more expensive cables, but I also believe that there is a point of diminishing returns, where the additional purity of a material (copper is a good example) simply increases the manufacturing costs for a producer and most viewers (or listeners) aren't able to discern the differences/nuances. Would I pay more for a nicer-looking cable with better shielding? Absolutely, but up to a certain point.

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by PrivatePixel

.....which should be the only thing that matters.

Personally, I can see (and hear) the benefits of more expensive cables, but I also believe that there is a point of diminishing returns, where the additional purity of a material (copper is a good example) simply increases the manufacturing costs for a producer and most viewers (or listeners) aren't able to discern the differences/nuances. Would I pay more for a nicer-looking cable with better shielding? Absolutely, but up to a certain point.

I buy into it a little more for analog cables over digital cables. I am starting to buy my digital cables for aesthetics more than anything. Do I really think a $60 USB or $60 Firewire cable will perform THAT MUCH better than the free ones you get with the equipment? Not really, but the ones you get for free are not that pretty looking.

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by PrivatePixel

Personally, I can see (and hear) the benefits of more expensive cables...

See? yes. Hear? not likely if you couldn't see it first.

[oppopioneer]

Originally Posted by PrivatePixel

.....which should be the only thing that matters.

Personally, I can see (and hear) the benefits of more expensive cables, but I also believe that there is a point of diminishing returns, where the additional purity of a material (copper is a good example) simply increases the manufacturing costs for a producer and most viewers (or listeners) aren't able to discern the differences/nuances. Would I pay more for a nicer-looking cable with better shielding? Absolutely, but up to a certain point.

Where are those more "expensive" cables made and in what factory? That's a good way to determine the quality control. Most HDMI cables are made in China and often in the same Chinese factory. Copartner is the world's largest cable manufacturer and makes a lot of cables for different companies and puts different logos on them give the customer the impression they are all seperate and independent from each other.

The Bluejeans Belden HDMI cable is the only HDMI cable stock made in the U.S.

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/articl...m.htm?hdmidept

[PrivatePixel]

Originally Posted by BIslander

See? yes. Hear? not likely if you couldn't see it first.

I should have qualified my response by stating that I could see (and, to a certain degree, hear) differences from analog sources, but that's not the case with HDMI cables. It's a given that, with digital signals, if you're not seeing anything, you're not hearing anything either.

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by PrivatePixel

I should have qualified my response by stating that I could see (and, to a certain degree, hear) differences from analog sources, but that's not the case with HDMI cables. It's a given that, with digital signals, if you're not seeing anything, you're not hearing anything either.

That is not true. I had some Monoprice cables that would pass picture but no sound. The ends were falling apart.

Also, I've seen cables pass a badly pixelated picture but the audio is just fine.

[PrivatePixel]

Originally Posted by oppopioneer

Where are those more "expensive" cables made and in what factory? That's a good way to determine the quality control. Most HDMI cables are made in China and often in the same Chinese factory. Copartner is the world's largest cable manufacturer and makes a lot of cables for different companies and puts different logos on them give the customer the impression they are all seperate and independent from each other.

I should have clarified myself regarding the "benefits of more expensive cables". I realize that this discussion is about HDMI cables, but I had speaker wire on my mind when I wrote my reply, that a justification could be made for the higher price point commanded by some manufacturers (based on various criteria).

Other than standard braid and foil shielding (for blocking low- and high-frequency interference), along with aesthetics, it's far more difficult to make the case for more expensive HDMI cables because, as you said, the bulk of HDMI cables are made in China. Extra shielding does not benefit HDMI cables as it would, say, coaxial cable, i.e. it does not improve performance, but it will offer better protection of the signal over longer distances. Electrical interference is not a contributor to screen distortions or any picture-related anomalies, but rather, a likely indication that the HDMI cable may have incurred some type of damage, e.g. repeated bending and/or employing improper storage methods.

[PrivatePixel]

Originally Posted by Hammie

That is not true. I had some Monoprice cables that would pass picture but no sound. The ends were falling apart.

Also, I've seen cables pass a badly pixelated picture but the audio is just fine.

Okay, so I made another boo-boo.

Technically, the above scenarios are possible. Of the 19 pins in an HDMI connector, the first 9 handle three TMDS data channels (video and data information, three pins per channel), while pins 10-12 handle TMDS clock channel data, i.e. synchronization of audio and video signals. If one or more of these pins do not work as intended, it could translate into having video but no audio, and vice versa.

[oppopioneer]

Originally Posted by PrivatePixel

I should have clarified myself regarding the "benefits of more expensive cables". I realize that this discussion is about HDMI cables, but I had speaker wire on my mind when I wrote my reply, that a justification could be made for the higher price point commanded by some manufacturers (based on various criteria).

Other than standard braid and foil shielding (for blocking low- and high-frequency interference), along with aesthetics, it's far more difficult to make the case for more expensive HDMI cables because, as you said, the bulk of HDMI cables are made in China. Extra shielding does not benefit HDMI cables as it would, say, coaxial cable, i.e. it does not improve performance, but it will offer better protection of the signal over longer distances. Electrical interference is not a contributor to screen distortions or any picture-related anomalies, but rather, a likely indication that the HDMI cable may have incurred some type of damage, e.g. repeated bending and/or employing improper storage methods.

I believe the most common reason why people experience pixelation is not due to HDMI wires, it's due to the lack of bandwith getting passed through the cable and satelite lines, there is a lack of bandwidth, that's due to AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, Warner, COX, Dish Network, DirectTV.

The best way to determine if there is a problem with a HDMI wire is you watch a bluray movie where the HDMI wire goes directly from the bd player to the tv where bandwidth isn't a problem, and if you experience pixelation then it's the HDMI wire.

[blujacket]

The best way to determine if there is a problem with a HDMI wire is you watch a bluray movie where the HDMI wire goes directly from the bd player to the tv where bandwidth isn't a problem, and if you experience pixelation then it's the HDMI wire.

Exactly.

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by PrivatePixel

I should have qualified my response by stating that I could see (and, to a certain degree, hear) differences from analog sources, but that's not the case with HDMI cables. It's a given that, with digital signals, if you're not seeing anything, you're not hearing anything either.

Actually, I was saying it's not likely you would hear a difference if you couldn't see the cables to know which was which. I believe that's true with analog as well as digital for properly constructed cables.

[Phoenix Theory]

I believe I have crappy cables I bought off of amazon.if I was to buy the mono price hdmi cables would my pq change for the better?