HDMI Cable

[mr_byers1]

I am getting a theater installed and I wanted to know do I truly need an HDMI cable to connect my BlueRay DVD player to my HDTV? If I don't have that HDMI cable will there still be a significant difference b/t the picture quality of the blueray player and a standard dvd player

[ground chuck]

yes, you need the hdmi cable. i never thought that a cable would make a difference in pq and aq, but it does. going from component to hdmi is well worth the upgrade.

[Police 427]

I would say yes, when I got my cable i seen a big difference between my componet cables to the HDMI cord... but do some shopping. Stores try to charge an arm and a leg for them, I got mine at Walmart for 20 bucks and best buy wanted to charge 70 - 0ver 100 for them, and i dont see a difference.

[bda4life]

HDMI cables are the best method to connect devices for HD content. I have my PS3 connected to my receiver and my receiver to my monitor via HDMI.

By the way, stay away from the overpriced Mon$ter cables. Check out www.monoprice.com for all of your cable needs. I have been using them for a couple of years and their prices are great and I have never had a quality issue with their products.

[BStecke]

You'll see a bigger difference in audio performance than video with the HDMI. But, the HDMI will carry video and audio, so it's a lot easier setup, especially if you're running over distance. Just be sure to get a good quality cable if you're running it a long distance. HDMI can have issues if running long distances. Don't go for the Monster craze, something from bluejeanscable.com or monoprice.com should do the trick, and they're MUCH cheaper.


Anyway, the reason you want HDMI, most of all, is for HD audio. Optical can't handle the newer HD audio formats, ie Dolby TrueHD, PCM, etc. You'll get a slight boost in PQ, but the main advantage is audio.

[Sielle]

One thing to keep in mind about Monster Cables, is they are better but that won't make a single bit of difference to most people. Get the monoprice cables unless (and I stress that this is a case where you would want to go Monster) your cable runs for HDMI are going to be over 25 feet. Longer than that and you could start to run into problems with lower quality cables. The only other time you'd need something like Monster is if you're running the HDMI cable over a high power cable, which in that instance I think you have other issues to address frist. =p

[BStecke]

There's never an instance where you NEED Monster. Blue Jeans and Monoprice cables are just as good, if not better, for a fraction of the price.

[Sielle]

Run a 30+ foot HDMI cable and tell me that monoprice is "good enough".

Granted most people would never have a need to run a cable that long, but there are some instances where it is the case.

[BStecke]

You can get a Monoprice or Blue Jeans Cable (my preference) that are more than good enough that will be fine at distances over 30 ft. There are plenty of people using them. I think you'll be hard pressed to find many true home theater enthusiasts wasting their money on Monster.

[blackpixels]

Originally Posted by BStecke

There's never an instance where you NEED Monster. Blue Jeans and Monoprice cables are just as good, if not better, for a fraction of the price.

True, but before Monster went mass they had a pretty good product for us mid-fi guys. Since then there are many competitors. BJ's is a nice value cable and there are many mfgs like them in the U.S. While shopping set you're budget, determine what you want from the cable and length, you usually don't have to worry for runs under 20ft. and in most set-ups it's around 6.5' (2m) I would suggest utilizing at least a CL2 type and for me I prefer a higher silver substrate material percentage. Conductivity & Insulation from noise. Most people usually try to steer you away from high priced HDMI cables as there is threshold of no return for the investment. True, but audio guys ( typicaly analog signal) love unadultrated frequency response.

[High Def Fan]

Originally Posted by Sielle

Run a 30+ foot HDMI cable and tell me that monoprice is "good enough".

Granted most people would never have a need to run a cable that long, but there are some instances where it is the case.

I've got a 30' cable run and its great and NOT monster. Its a good quality cable, but only a little more than the 6' $80 monster cables you can buy in the stores.

[AV_Integrated]

Originally Posted by Sielle

Run a 30+ foot HDMI cable and tell me that monoprice is "good enough".

Granted most people would never have a need to run a cable that long, but there are some instances where it is the case.

Okay...

...(time passes)...

I'm back! Just ran a 50 foot HDMI cable from Monoprice as the output of the Monoprice 5x1 HDMI switcher connected to a PS3 running 720p, 1080i, 1080p/60, and 1080p/24 resolutions to a BenQ W10000 1080p projector.

I also ran a Straight Wire and a Monster 15' HDMI cable directly from the PS3 to the projector.

In all cases the video quality on screen was identical. Zero data loss, zero sparkles. Absolutely perfect.

The only reason to ask about whether HDMI matters is because some profit minded retailer is trying to sell you a $200 HDMI cable when you can go online and pick one up for $30 or so.

[Blue]

You must run HDMI cable as disc's can be set with a flag (when being authored) to block HD output on all outputs except HDMI as it can also carry an encryption over it call HDCP. As for the cable there have been many monster threads over HDMI cables. If anyone feels the need to continue the cable brand (or lack of) debate please continue it one of those preexisting threads (the search function is your friend).

[Xerious]

HDMI is a must... it's also a lot cleaner than running muliple cables. Go with monoprice for cheap ones ...

I buy monster because... because i can dammit

[huntifosi]

Now I'm not ashamed to say I buy Monster Cables.... Maybe we should start a thread to make us all feel better about spending thousands on - gasp, an accessorized TV.

[High Def Fan]

Originally Posted by Xerious

I buy monster because... because i can dammit

But just think of what else you could buy if you weren't spending unnecessary extra dollars on monster?

[AV_Integrated]

Originally Posted by huntifosi

Now I'm not ashamed to say I buy Monster Cables.... Maybe we should start a thread to make us all feel better about spending thousands on - gasp, an accessorized TV.

If you've bought them, then you shouldn't be insulted for doing so. The quality of Monster Cable products is very high.

But, you did spend far more than you needed to for zero, and I repeat zero, added video, or audio quality.

I know if I bought a Mercedes and found out a year or two later that the company that makes Mercedes, also makes the exact same car, but sells it for 1/4 the price... Well, that would bum me out a bit. It doesn't make the Mercedes and less of a car, but it does make me realize that I could of saved a fair bit of cash.

I would also make it a point to save my cash in the future, and recommend that others save their cash as well.

FYI: I have any number of Monster products, including cabling, in my system. I just didn't pay anywhere near MSRP for what I have... and a fair bit of it I got for free. Monster Cable speaker wire (CIPRO) is by far the best that I have ever used and nobody - and I repeat NOBODY - has matched them in quality that I have seen yet.

So really, not a slam against anyone and I hope nobody does feel bad, because Monster makes some high quality products across the board. It just tends to be more, by a good bit, than most need to spend. Especially on HDMI cabling.

[wem003]

Originally Posted by Sielle

Run a 30+ foot HDMI cable and tell me that monoprice is "good enough".

Granted most people would never have a need to run a cable that long, but there are some instances where it is the case.

I've got a 35 foot HDMI cable for my projector from the PS3. It was less than $30 from monoprice and it works perfectly.

They also sell versions for a few bucks more that are shielded for in wall installation.

Frankly, I can't understand why someone would pay hundreds for Monster. Just seems to me like Bose - better performance through marketing.

That said, I am not knocking anyone - you have to pick what you are comfortable with - but I've done a lot with monoprice and would never consider going anywhere else.

[AV_Integrated]

Originally Posted by wem003

Just seems to me like Bose - better performance through marketing.

I would never compare Monster to Bose. At every price point Monster sells at they are expensive, but you always get a quality product from them. They truly make product that is very good.

Bose, pretty much across the board, makes some of the worst products imaginable. $1,000 for a few $2.00 paper cone speakers with a fancy name and an underfeatured receiver? You can do better for $100 at Circuit City!

[wem003]

Originally Posted by AV_Integrated

I would never compare Monster to Bose. At every price point Monster sells at they are expensive, but you always get a quality product from them. They truly make product that is very good.

Bose, pretty much across the board, makes some of the worst products imaginable. $1,000 for a few $2.00 paper cone speakers with a fancy name and an underfeatured receiver? You can do better for $100 at Circuit City!

Oh, I agree and perphaps my comment sounded harsher than it was meant. Its just for me, and my own usage - I dont see the difference. Monoprice cables are great quality - not like other generics, but I've also had my share of monster cables.

Just for that 35 foot HDMI cable - couldn't beat the price and it works great.

Hope I didn't offend those who do buy Monster cables - that was not my intent.