HDMI Cables

[davidp71]

I know there is a lot of controversy that an average cheap HDMI cable is just as good as any other. I had been using Audioquest Forest cables for almost a year now and today changed them out to Tributaries. The pic quality has no noticeable change however I can notice the colors are a bit brighter and more vibrant. I guess Tributaries are as good as everyone rants and raves about. Great cables.....

[jc480]

Monoprice HDMI cables are the best bang for the buck period end of story.

K thanks ~

[davidp71]

Originally Posted by jc480

Monoprice HDMI cables are the best bang for the buck period end of story.

K thanks ~

That's fine but everyone's entitle to their own opinion

K thanks

[Flatnate]

I'm not touching the debate about picture quality between a high end cable of shorter length and an average cable of shorter length. I have heard of speckle artifacts developing on longer cable runs. However, in the digital domain the signal is comprised of bits of data, essentially like 1's and 0's. I always was the belief that the display either received the data properly or did not. My desire to go to a higher end cable was to ensure the data stream worked properly when I ran a full 40 foot cable to my projector. I figured there is a good chance a cheaper Monoprice cable would work with current 1080p; but would be subject of the quality of my players output. The cables ability to transport 3D or 4K (essentially higher bitrates) over such a long length in the future was also a concern for me. Maybe it would be fine for that at 40 feet, but at some length the quality of the cable will come in to play. I don't know what that maximum length is for various gauges or thicknesses of cables. So, I eventually bought a Redmere boosted generic cable from MyCableMart.com. It works great, price was comparable to BlueJeans Belkin cables and far less than anything from Monster or Audioquest.

[Hammie]

I have never heard of tributaries. I was looking to upgrade my Blue Jeans HDMIs to AudioQuest Cinnamons.

Can you elaborate a little more on which ones you bought, price, construction quality, etc.? I guess I'm looking for a mini review.

[jc480]

I have BlueJeans 30 foot HDMI cables...they are certified for the length and were a good value.

I went with the BJ certified cables because I had to run them inside my walls and didn't want to have to redo the effort if a long HDMI cable didn't look good.

Overall, however, I believe there is no difference between "brand name" HDMI cables that are outrageously ripoff expensive and the cables you can buy off Monoprice for a few bucks.

The only cables that -may- offer a visual difference vs any_brand of HDMI cables would be fiber optic cables with HDMI terminals on either end.

If having some random brand name cable that charges you a 1,000% price premium is of value to you then more power. But some very technical folks have done side by side visual comparisons and there is no difference.

[davidp71]

Originally Posted by Hammie

I have never heard of tributaries. I was looking to upgrade my Blue Jeans HDMIs to AudioQuest Cinnamons.

Can you elaborate a little more on which ones you bought, price, construction quality, etc.? I guess I'm looking for a mini review.

I bought the Tributaries series 5 2M. They retail for 79.99 each but I only paid 50 for each, I bought 4. The digital sound doesn't seem any different but the notice of colors are more vibrant and robust. That I have definatley noticed. I have a 50" plasma and the pic quality is outstanding, even with the Audioquest forest cables which are their entry level.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Description
The Tributaries 5HEC is a superior quality HDMI with Ethernet cable. This cable is constructed with 28AWG solid OFHC copper conductors to ensure accurate high speed HDMI signal transfer in lengths up to 8 meters and standard speed with Ethernet up to 15 meters.
Features
• Designed, packaged and tested in Orlando Florida, USA
• Certified HDMI v1.4 to support Ethernet, 3D, 4K and ARC
• Standard 28AWG cable ensures accurate signal transfer
• High Speed HDMI with Ethernet up to 8 meters
• Standard Speed HDMI with Ethernet 10 meters to 15 meters
• Go! Technology® (which extends the performance length through the use of a passive circuit embedded in the HDMI connector at the receiving end)enabled at lengths of 5 meters and up
• UL® CL3 jackets in all lengths
• Standard molded connector with strain relief
Terminations
Tributaries 5HEC is terminated with HDMI connectors. 19 gold-plated pins are first crimped to the wires and then inserted into the insulated gold-plated connector shell. The entire assembly is molded in a two-step process: first to protect the connection and add strain relief and second for an attractive appearance.
Component A Conductor
Construction
28AWG
Material
Tinned OFHC Copper
Cabling Outside Diameter
0.38mm
Insulation
Number of Wires
5 Pair
Insulation Material
Foam PE –Polyethylene + Skin
Outside Diameter
0.98 ± 0.05
Thickness
0.3mm

[x3bowens]

I picked up 10' HDMI Cables at Fry's for $1.77 Ea. They are in this weeks flyer. I didnt need any so i picked up two!!

[JimShaw]

Originally Posted by Hammie

I have never heard of tributaries. I was looking to upgrade my Blue Jeans HDMIs to AudioQuest Cinnamons.

Can you elaborate a little more on which ones you bought, price, construction quality, etc.? I guess I'm looking for a mini review.

AudioQuest Cinnamon is a waste of money

Here is a thread I started awhile back where I did my own personal testing of a few HDMI cables and what I discovered...

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=148458



m

[Moviefan1203]

I'm looking to update my HDMI cables from 3 footers to 6 footers. What product do the experts here recommend? I would assume Monoprice?

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

I'm looking to update my HDMI cables from 3 footers to 6 footers. What product do the experts here recommend? I would assume Monoprice?

I'm no expert but Monoprice cables are what I use. They work perfectly fine for me

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

I'm no expert but Monoprice cables are what I use. They work perfectly fine for me

Thanks a lot.

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

I'm looking to update my HDMI cables from 3 footers to 6 footers. What product do the experts here recommend? I would assume Monoprice?

Monoprice are fine, but I tried these and really like the build quality and the fact that they are a little more flexible than Monoprice cables. They also look a lot nicer! So far, I've had no problems with these, and I'm using 5-6 in various applications.

http://www.amazon.com/BlueRigger-High-speed-cable-Ethernet/dp/B003XM5DT0/ref=pd_cp_e_0

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

Monoprice are fine, but I tried these and really like the build quality and the fact that they are a little more flexible than Monoprice cables. They also look a lot nicer! So far, I've had no problems with these, and I'm using 5-6 in various applications.

http://www.amazon.com/BlueRigger-High-speed-cable-Ethernet/dp/B003XM5DT0/ref=pd_cp_e_0

I really like that look of those in comparison to Monoprice cables, thanks man! As long as there is no difference in quality, this cable is what I'm going to go with. Thank you!

[PrivatePixel]

Originally Posted by JimShaw

AudioQuest Cinnamon is a waste of money

Here is a thread I started awhile back where I did my own personal testing of a few HDMI cables and what I discovered...

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=148458

Interesting that you should mention AudioQuest because the founder of the AudioQuest line of audio/video cables, William E. Low, is offering a less expensive, mainstream alternative to their AudioQuest line called PipeLine ET (Pipeline Emotional Transporter) that's available at Radio Shack. About 15-20x more than a Monoprice cable of similar length, but oh so pretty.



The solid vs. stranded conductor angle is intriguing though.

[ManUtd]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

Monoprice are fine, but I tried these and really like the build quality and the fact that they are a little more flexible than Monoprice cables. They also look a lot nicer! So far, I've had no problems with these, and I'm using 5-6 in various applications.

http://www.amazon.com/BlueRigger-High-speed-cable-Ethernet/dp/B003XM5DT0/ref=pd_cp_e_0

Wow those look very nice. I might give it a try. Thanks.

[TheFactor]

Originally Posted by ManUtd

Wow those look very nice. I might give it a try. Thanks.

Those do look nice Eric

[TheFactor]

Originally Posted by PrivatePixel

Interesting that you should mention AudioQuest because the founder of the AudioQuest line of audio/video cables, William E. Low, is offering a less expensive, mainstream alternative to their AudioQuest line called PipeLine ET (Pipeline Emotional Transporter) that's available at Radio Shack. About 15-20x more than a Monoprice cable of similar length, but oh so pretty.



The solid vs. stranded conductor angle is intriguing though.

Those are pretty sexy too !

[jonmoz]

There is no difference in picture quality between a cheap and expensive hdmi lead,as the signal is digital.

In my cinema as I run a 15 mtr lead I use a good quality chord company cable,the reason is not for picture quality but for it's build as replacing it in the roof space would be difficult.

If the high end cable companies sold their more expensive hdmi leads based on materials used and build quality I would have no issues,it's the fact they seem to be suggesting that the higher priced cabes improve picture and sound quality which of course they can't.

[shadylpete]

So here's the deal. I work at Best Buy, I've been there for about a year. When I started working there I was just like everyone in here. HDMI is HDMI, regardless of price. I even use 4 monoprice HDMI cables in my current setup and have never had a problem. I promoted Audioquest cables during my run so far because I was told they were better, but I never believed it.

Until now...We have the 70" Elite from Pioneer & Sharp, setup with a Pioneer BD Player looping Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland [The opening scene when she first enters wonderland] using an Audioquest Carbon Cable, which retails for about $279. I told a co-worker of mine that I could replace the cable with our $24.99 Dynex cable and the quality would not be any different. So I went ahead and changed the out the cable. Almost instantly you noticed a significant difference. Her skin tone looked like a light shad of blue, the finer details in the White Rabbit were gone and the edges of Tweddle Dee & Tweedle Dum were very soft.

Keep in mind, I've watched this scene hundreds of times and this time is looked very wrong. I've become a believer that even though it's 1's & 0's, how the data gets there seems to matter quite a bit.

I know there's going to be people on here who claim that I'm only saying this because I work at Best Buy and I'm trying to drive sales, and that's fine. I expect that sort of reply from some people.