Monster HDMI Cables...hype?

[IEScotsman]

(*Update on page 2*)
I'm new to the world of Blu-Ray and purchased my first player and BD last night.
Samsung BD-P1500
The Dark Knight BD

While it plays standard DVDs with great quality, something is wrong with the Blu-Ray. The BD picture was screwed up and only displayed in shades of purple and green. Yes, I got the irony since I was watching a movie about the Joker! The quality was also poor. Very pixelated.

I have a Monster HDMI cable connecting the BDP and my TV. It's the 500hd version (rated to 2.23Gbps). Monster Cable says I need to upgrade to their next level. Could something else be the problem?

[nugent]

No idea what is wrong but can assure you there is no need to upgrade the HDMI cable.

I will let others come in and froth at the mouth with the obligatory Monster rants. For the record Monster is all marketing.

Originally Posted by IEScotsman

I'm new to the world of Blu-Ray and purchased my first player and DVD last night.
Samsung BD-P1500
The Dark Knight DVD

While it plays standard DVDs with great quality, something is wrong with the Blu-Ray. The BD picture was screwed up and only displayed in shades of purple and green. Yes, I got the irony since I was watching a movie about the Joker! The quality was also poor. Very pixelated.

I have a Monster HDMI cable connecting the BDP and my TV. It's the 500hd version (rated to 2.23Gbps). Monster Cable says I need to upgrade to their next level. Could something else be the problem?

[SDon1969]

Heck no, I am using a $3 HDMI cable and the blus look marvelous! Monster brand is overkill, big time. Something else is wrong...

[DeeChizzle]

Originally Posted by IEScotsman

I'm new to the world of Blu-Ray and purchased my first player and DVD last night.
Samsung BD-P1500
The Dark Knight DVD

While it plays standard DVDs with great quality, something is wrong with the Blu-Ray. The BD picture was screwed up and only displayed in shades of purple and green. Yes, I got the irony since I was watching a movie about the Joker! The quality was also poor. Very pixelated.

I have a Monster HDMI cable connecting the BDP and my TV. It's the 500hd version (rated to 2.23Gbps). Monster Cable says I need to upgrade to their next level. Could something else be the problem?

Can you post a picture if possible? What kind of TV are you running it to? I can tell you right now you don't need to upgrade you HDMI cable. In fact if you still have the receipt I'd take it back, buy a cheaper cable and spend the extra money on another blu-ray movie.

[aramis109]

May not need to upgrade the cable, but it may be a bad cable. Check your connections again and if possible try going right from player to HDTV and also try swapping out a different cable.

If that's not possible, return the cable and get a new one and then try it. Or better yet buy a cable from monoprice.com.

[IEScotsman]

TV is a Toshiba 40" LCD HDTV. (40RV525U)

I know Monster is all hype, but I got the cable at a store closing sale...no refunds and a decent price.

If it isn't the cable, what else might it be?

[Deadset]

Originally Posted by IEScotsman

I'm new to the world of Blu-Ray and purchased my first player and DVD last night.
Samsung BD-P1500
The Dark Knight DVD

While it plays standard DVDs with great quality, something is wrong with the Blu-Ray. The BD picture was screwed up and only displayed in shades of purple and green. Yes, I got the irony since I was watching a movie about the Joker! The quality was also poor. Very pixelated.

I have a Monster HDMI cable connecting the BDP and my TV. It's the 500hd version (rated to 2.23Gbps). Monster Cable says I need to upgrade to their next level. Could something else be the problem?

How do normal DVD's look? Is it just that movie?

Check to make sure the HDMI cable is set firmly on both sides, if not return the cable. You do NOT need an expensive cable for such a short length.

[IEScotsman]

Originally Posted by Deads3t

How do normal DVD's look? Is it just that movie?

Check to make sure the HDMI cable is set firmly on both sides, if not return the cable. You do NOT need an expensive cable for such a short length.

It's the only Blu-Ray DVD I have, so I can't test others. But standard DVDs work great.

[aramis109]

If DVD's look fine using the same setup, it could be a bad disc or player. I'd recommend to rent or borrow another BD to see if the same thing occurs. You need to go through your setup and eliminate causes.

[Deadset]

Originally Posted by aramis109

If DVD's look fine using the same setup, it could be a bad disc or player. I'd recommend to rent or borrow another BD to see if the same thing occurs. You need to go through your setup and eliminate causes.

great advice as always....try to rent another blu...that will eliminate some unknowns.

[Beta Man]

Firmware maybe??? since the Disc is such a recent release

If the standard DVDs are fine, I doubt it'd be the cable....

[Tok]

Sounds like a color space issue.

The higher resoulution signal, 1080p, of the BD player signal is transmitted in a color space that is not being recognized by the display.

What's your display? Is the signal HDMI to HDMI or do you convert to DVI at some point? This was a common problem when DVI was still popular and HDMI devices like BD and HD DVD were starting to show up. Typically HDMI devices expect the higher resolutions to be transmitted in the component YCbCr colorspace where as DVI was built around the RGB colorspace.

Your display may accept RGB at lower res, but it may only accept YCbCr for the higher resolutions.

It most likely requires a change in settings on your player. Your cable is fine.

If the cable was defective you would be getting sparklies (ie. pixels full on, full off in random patterns).

[IEScotsman]

Its interesting you mention "sparklies". The problem seems to be preceded by noise/snow flashing on and off the screen as the HDMI from the player links to the HDMI on the TV. I saw the HDMI indicator on the player flash on and off, like it was having trouble making the connection.
I've checked the TV and it is HDCP compliant so I don't think that's the issue either.

[Tok]

Originally Posted by IEScotsman

Its interesting you mention "sparklies". The problem seems to be preceded by noise/snow flashing on and off the screen as the HDMI from the player links to the HDMI on the TV. I saw the HDMI indicator on the player flash on and off, like it was having trouble making the connection.
I've checked the TV and it is HDCP compliant so I don't think that's the issue either.

Then you very well may have an HDMI issue. It could be the cable, but it could also be some incompatibility between your display and the Samsung. DVD is not as stressing but typically if a cable is bad it barely works at all. Try reseating the cable at both ends (source and display).

What is your display?

I have heard that some Westinghouse displays have issues with their HDMI implementations.

[IEScotsman]

The TV is a Toshiba 40" with full 1080p. Really a good machine for the money.

[mikejet]

Memo to IEScotsman
Subject : Monster Cables

Dear sir/madam,

It has come to our attention that Monster is trying to rip you off. Please, do not let them do so. If you need a replacement cable, please visit monoprice.com or firefold.com.

Thank you,
Mikejet

BTW, I have your TV. I got it at Best Buy on Black Friday. Great set and I have no problems with a Monoprice HDMI cable hooked up to my PS3 for BD's.

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by IEScotsman

I'm new to the world of Blu-Ray and purchased my first player and DVD last night.
Samsung BD-P1500
The Dark Knight DVD

Well there's your problem right there. You bought a DVD, not a blu-ray.

And, it'd blu-ray or BD, not blu-ray DVD.

Anyhizzle, as folks have already recommended, try a different cable (it may actually be bad). Rent a different copy of TDK on BD and see if that one also has the problem (or return yours for a new one). Try a different BD. Just work at it through process of elimination and you'll figure out what's wrong.

[IEScotsman]

Originally Posted by mikejet

BTW, I have your TV. I got it at Best Buy on Black Friday.

If you have my TV, what's in my living room???

[ixlegitballinxl]

oxymoron!! no dvd!! no dvd!!

[IEScotsman]

Okay, okay! Unholy references to DVD removed!