difference in HDMI cables

[richteer]

Originally Posted by jkpitcher3

I am getting a new receiver today so I can have all the next gen audio. I have been looking at all the HMDI cables and the guy at the store said if it does not say 1.3a then it will not do the 7.1 channel surround, just the 5.1. I was wanting to know if that is true. I have always been told on all the forums that all HDMI cables are the same just some cost a lot more because of the brand.

Many (most?) people here will assert that all HDMI cables are alike, but I've been interested in high end audio long enough to know that just about everything has effect on sound (and presumably, video) quality. So I would personally steer clear of bargain basement cables and go for something better.

Now, I've yet to do a comparison of HDMI cables (and I've yet to see one published by a source I would trust for such things), so can't state that a 3 or 4 figure HDMI cable is better than a $50 one. But I'd be willing to assert that a $50 cable is better than a $5 one.

I look at it this way: my stereo audio system--excluding cables--is worth about $30K. I'm not going to compromise its performance by using el-cheapo crappy cables (well, unless they're a temporary measure while I save for the real thing)! The rule of thumb audiophiles use is that one should spend about 10% of the system's cost on cables. I imagine the same rule would server videophiles just as well.