HDMI cables quality

By Marshall
in Home Theatre Discussion

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Grand Master

Marshall Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted

Hello,

 

I have a question regarding HDMI cables for my Plasma. If you do an extensive search via google, you find mixed reviews. Some say that expensive cables (particularly Monster cables) you will see a significant increase in picture quality. Others say an HDMI cable is an HDMI cable, doesn't matter what brand.

 

Can anyone shed some light on this subject, would my money be well spent choosing the Monster cables? Will I see a noticeable difference in picture quality?

 

TIA :)

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Grand Master

The Evil Overlord

Posted
Posted

I bought el cheapo cables (that isn't a brand by the way) from ebay

the ones connecting my blu ray player and ps3 cost my less than ?12 UK with postage, almost 3 years ago (I think)

version 1.3 I think, I forget, Panasonic 50 inch plasma, panasonic blue ray player with 5.1, sony ps3

I don't personally think you need those uber expensive ones (this opinion is based purely on the fact that I didn't and I acknowledge that there's good and bad in all cables)

Grand Master

Phouchg

Posted
Posted

One simply cannot have any picture quality problems with digital signal. Either it'll fail spectacularly (skip, display combing or macroblocks) or be just fine.

That said, over long distances *all* kinds of cables display these problems because of insane bandwidth requirements - but that can be also due to poor equipment.

Grand Master

LaP

Posted
Posted

HDMI is digital.

 

You either get the signal or you don't. You'll clearly see that there's a problem. You'll either get a No signal from TV, intermitent image or "white blocks" that are clearly visible. I heard you can have a color cast problem but never saw it with my own eyes.

 

Personally i try to buy not too cheap and avoid no brand cables. I had some problems with really cheap no brand cables in the past. But you don't need to buy 100$ Monter Cable. Some 10$ basic Phillips cable wil do the job.

 

But the bottom line is if the cable works the quality will be the same.

Collaborator

mrmomoman

Posted
Posted

Digital is digital. It works or it doesn't for the most part. You can having handshaking issues with some cheaper cables. Monster is pure marketing and anyone telling you otherwise are liars.

 

Spend $8-15 for a decent cable if you want as they sometimes offer nicer end connectors or feel but that's purely aesthetic more so than function.

  • djdanster and The Evil Overlord
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Enthusiast

Newinko

Posted
Posted

Rather informative and self-explanatory:

 

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20056502-1/why-all-hdmi-cables-are-the-same/

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_7-57321956-221/why-all-hdmi-cables-are-the-same-part-2/

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_7-57540275-221/still-more-reasons-why-all-hdmi-cable-are-the-same/

Proficient

Glen

Posted
Posted

As others have already stated, digital signals (such as HDMI or DVI) do not require expensive cables and you should be fine with a 3 foot cable of almost any quality, or longer cable of decent quality, but you don't need expensive Monster cables.  The whole market for expensive "ultra" cables came about back during the audiophile years when people claimed they could hear a difference in their analog stereo signal using $100+ cables.  While it did make some difference in analog signals on some high end systems, the difference was virtually indistinguishable to the average listener.  It did make the person spending the money feel better about themselves, so the market thrived.

 

In short:  No, you don't need those really expensive cables for a digital connection.

  • Lord Method Man
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Grand Master

Lord Method Man

Posted
Posted

EDIT: You might as well get HDMI 1.4 cables. That should future proof you a bit.

 

There's no such thing as an 'HDMI 1.4' cable. Version numbers apply to devices, not cables. In fact since 2010 or 2011 HDMI.Org has prohibited the use of version numbers on cables because it was just a marketing lie that confused consumers.

 

And another endorsement for Monoprice cables here, they work great and have a solid warranty if they ever give you grief.

  • Brandon H and FiB3R
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Grand Master

chrisj1968

Posted
Posted

Marshal, I'd stand by Monster cables  http://www.monstercable.com/hdmi/hdmi.asp Why? I bought 2 of their best HDMI cables for my 40 inch flat-screen in my livingroom. It makes all the difference. Charter cable gave me some cheap knock off cable my my TV didn't respond to the new blu-ray player until the monster cable was connected.

 

The good kind, GOLD and such, are wonderful. But you do get what you pay for. I'm positive you'll find cheaper monster cables un-used through amazon or ebay maybe???

 

But think about quality. if you have a nice theater system, you'll want what you can get to give the best presentation

Grand Master

Astra.Xtreme

Posted
Posted

HDMI cables either work or don't work. There is no difference in signal quality between a $100 "brand-name" cable and a $0.05 cable from China.

 

This is one of the few instances where it's perfectly fine to buy the cheapest option.

  • djdanster, The Evil Overlord and Lord Method Man
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Grand Master

djdanster

Posted
Posted

Marshal, I'd stand by Monster cables  http://www.monstercable.com/hdmi/hdmi.asp Why? I bought 2 of their best HDMI cables for my 40 inch flat-screen in my livingroom. It makes all the difference. Charter cable gave me some cheap knock off cable my my TV didn't respond to the new blu-ray player until the monster cable was connected.

 

The good kind, GOLD and such, are wonderful. But you do get what you pay for. I'm positive you'll find cheaper monster cables un-used through amazon or ebay maybe???

 

But think about quality. if you have a nice theater system, you'll want what you can get to give the best presentation

 

Monster employee detected! :P

 

But seriously, I purchase ?1 HDMI cables from Amazon when I need them. I've never had any problems with "cheap" connectors, they've all been perfectly FINE! :)

 

Honestly Marshall, don't waste your money on Monster. The only difference is that they are braided for aesthetic purposes.

 

Oh yeah, and as others have said there is no such thing as a 1.4 cable :)

Grand Master

The Evil Overlord

Posted
Posted

Monster employee detected! :p

 

But seriously, I purchase ?1 HDMI cables from Amazon when I need them. I've never had any problems with "cheap" connectors, they've all been perfectly FINE! :)

 

Honestly Marshall, don't waste your money on Monster. The only difference is that they are braided for aesthetic purposes.

 

Oh yeah, and as others have said there is no such thing as a 1.4 cable :)

just to add, cheaper braided cables also exist :)

Grand Master

chrisj1968

Posted
Posted

Monster employee detected! :p

 

But seriously, I purchase ?1 HDMI cables from Amazon when I need them. I've never had any problems with "cheap" connectors, they've all been perfectly FINE! :)

 

Honestly Marshall, don't waste your money on Monster. The only difference is that they are braided for aesthetic purposes.

 

Oh yeah, and as others have said there is no such thing as a 1.4 cable :)

 

nope. never was. I'm retired and bought the monster cables. Gold and silver conduct electricity better then normal metals. Hence.. this is why AMD and Intel use silver for conduction in their processors.

 

others in this thread= Epic fail. :P 

Grand Master

xendrome

Posted
Posted

nope. never was. I'm retired and bought the monster cables. Gold and silver conduct electricity better then normal metals. Hence.. this is why AMD and Intel use silver for conduction in their processors.

 

others in this thread= Epic fail. :p

 

A digital signal either exists or it doesn't.. if you aren't getting a signal or broken signal, the cable is totally defective. It doesn't matter the brand, as long as the construction quality is ok you are fine, ANY $10-$20 cable at the local store is the same thing.

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