HDMI Cables - worth it?

Jeff Corey · 14th June 2010, 12:08 PM

Just got a HD TV and I can connect it to my cable box with either the five separate cables provided by the cable company or a HDMI cable for $60. Is it worth it?

Belz... · 14th June 2010, 12:10 PM

Nope. HDMI cables are worth it if you have an HD tv but regardless of the price, they are basically all the same. They're just wires.

Audiophiles have the same problem with their own cables. Usually, the 250$ cables will perform pretty much the same as 1$ ones, in the sense that human ears/eyes won't be able to tell the difference.

If you're willing to order on the internet you might be able to find those cables for 99 cents or a few dollars. Otherwise I'm sure you can find some for about 8$, somewhere in your area.

ETA: And since your area is New York, I can only assume you have lots of stores there

OnlyTellsTruths · 14th June 2010, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by Belz...

<snip>, they are basically all the same. They're just wires.<snip>

He's mostly right that a cheap one will be just as good as a pricey one. I say mostly in that: make sure you don't get a shoddy scam cable (a good tip off would be the cord isn't much thicker than a human hair

).

Something that shoddy wouldn't last long on Amazon, so I would guess you can buy the cheapest set of HDMI cables at Amazon in confidence. Just go to Amazon, search HDMI, select Electronics category, then you can sort by price.... and of course get a new one, you probably don't want used cables (used cables usually come complete with cat/dog/mouse/ferret gnaw holes).

elgarak · 14th June 2010, 12:29 PM

Well, the five cables is probably component (3 video cables) plus 2 audio cables. Which means the signal they carry is analog, while HDMI signals are digital. Theoretically, could mean interference on the analog 5 cable connection. But, in my experience, that is practically not observable on cable lengths of a few feet from a cable box to a TV.

HDMI is a bit simpler. Just one cable and you're done.

As always, get the cheapest good quality cable you can get. For online ordering, check out monoprice.com. Cheap, but never got junk cables from them.

paximperium · 14th June 2010, 12:31 PM

Uh Belz, I think Jeff is asking about the YPbPr Analog cable vs HDMI cable.
HDMI is the current industry standard when it comes to HDTV. It will allow your HDTV to talk and exchange information with what you plug it into. The fact that it is digital as well supposedly means that youn't lose any picture quality since your TV doesn't have to convert analog signals.

I believe it is worth it. Just buy the cheapest HDMI cables.

Belz... · 14th June 2010, 12:36 PM

Yes I misread him on the first try, which is why I amended my post. HDMI is better, but buy the cheapest HDMI you can trust.

Jeff Corey · 14th June 2010, 12:37 PM

Thanks, all. I figured that the Monster HDMI cables were just as superior as Monster audio cables are to regular cable. That is, not at all.
I am going have to get a HDMI cable sometime soon to avoid having plug and unplug cables to the dvd player when I want to use it.

Giggywig · 14th June 2010, 12:38 PM

Just make sure you wrap it in paper and ground it with some garden soil.

WildCat · 14th June 2010, 12:57 PM

They're right, you can just get a cheap cable at Amazon. Where you should be pouring all your money is in a good line conditioner.

Michael Redman · 14th June 2010, 01:11 PM

I've bought several types of cables from monoprice.com. The manufacture quality seems very good, and they're about the cheapest you'll find anywhere.

dtugg · 14th June 2010, 01:19 PM

With HDMI, either it works or it doesn't. $60 for a cable is a complete waste of money. I connect my PS3 and satellite box to my HDTV via cables I bought for like $5 on monoprice.com. The picture couldn't be any better.

Michael Redman · 14th June 2010, 01:26 PM

While we're on Monoprice, I'll threadjack this further, and mention that I recently bought an HDMI splitter from Monoprice that allows me to show the same thing in the living room and the kitchen (via a 25 foot Monoprice HDMI cable). Its HDCP compliant. $50.

dtugg · 14th June 2010, 01:30 PM

To be totally fair, I must say that I have had a monoprice cable break. The connector actually broke off in the TV. It wasn't really a problem, I just pulled it out. And since it cost only about $5 (and I had spares), cost wasn't really an issue.

jsiv · 14th June 2010, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by dtugg

With HDMI, either it works or it doesn't. $60 for a cable is a complete waste of money. I connect my PS3 and satellite box to my HDTV via cables I bought for like $5 on monoprice.com. The picture couldn't be any better.

It's not really that simple. It only "either works or doesn't" on a packet level. In Full HD (RGB mode), the red, green and blue level of each of the ~two million pixels is transmitted as a separate packet. If there is too much interference, "random" packets can be corrupted. There is no error correction and no possibility of retransmitting it, so the result is a reduction in quality.

That said, there's little evidence of any correlation between price and quality of the cables, so just buy a cheap cable. If there are problems, simply return it as defective.

Psi Baba · 14th June 2010, 01:53 PM

I bought my HDMI cables at Radio Shack. I think I paid around $10 or $11. I know they can be had for a bit less, but I wanted to pick them up right away rather than ordering them, and that was the best option. Hint: never buy your cables at the same place you buy your TV or DVD player, etc. They're only going to carrying the over-priced rip-offs, figuring if you're new to the technology, you won't know the difference and think that's what you're supposed to pay.

ETA: I wouldn't be surprised if by now you could get them at Dollar General for about $3.

dtugg · 14th June 2010, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by jsiv

It's not really that simple. It only "either works or doesn't" on a packet level. In Full HD (RGB mode), the red, green and blue level of each of the ~two million pixels is transmitted as a separate packet. If there is too much interference, "random" packets can be corrupted. There is no error correction and no possibility of retransmitting it, so the result is a reduction in quality.

That said, there's little evidence of any correlation between price and quality of the cables, so just buy a cheap cable. If there are problems, simply return it as defective.

Well, I suppose I may have not phrased it correctly, but a reduction in HDMI quality will be clearly visible (well so I have heard, it has never happened to me) and as far as I am concerned, it means it didn't work.

dtugg · 14th June 2010, 02:15 PM

Best Buy is probably the worst. They will always try to pressure you to buy the expensive cables. It is pretty much their job. They will actually make more money off of a $100 Monster cable sale than they do off of a $2000 HDTV sale.

ETA: I suppose I am glad that this is how they choose to make their money. It means that I can get their products for cheaper than I otherwise could.

a_unique_person · 14th June 2010, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by Jeff Corey

Just got a HD TV and I can connect it to my cable box with either the five separate cables provided by the cable company or a HDMI cable for $60. Is it worth it?

I buy mine off ebay for $10. It works fine.

thaiboxerken · 14th June 2010, 03:00 PM

Fry's electronics sells HDMI cables for big $$$ in the video/television section. However, if you walk to the other side of the store to the electrical section, you can buy cheap ones for less than $15. This is the same section where I get optical cables for very cheap as well.

William Parcher · 14th June 2010, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by Jeff Corey

Just got a HD TV and I can connect it to my cable box with either the five separate cables provided by the cable company or a HDMI cable for $60. Is it worth it?

You haven't mentioned if you opted for HD transmission from your cable company. If you did not, then the HDMI connection will give an inferior picture and aspect ratio as compared to the component (the 3 colors) connection. I found this out myself after assuming the HDMI would be better under all possible circumstances.

BobTheDonkey · 14th June 2010, 03:28 PM

Here's an article Gizmodo did, including testing, on HDMI cables (Monster Cable vs cheapos):

http://gizmodo.com/268788/the-truth-...keep-upusually

Interestingly, there is a difference in cable quality - but not at today's resolutions.

ToddH · 14th June 2010, 03:39 PM

Another vote for monoprice.com.

ponderingturtle · 14th June 2010, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by Jeff Corey

Just got a HD TV and I can connect it to my cable box with either the five separate cables provided by the cable company or a HDMI cable for $60. Is it worth it?

Well I like useing HDMI cables for HDTV, but really they shouldn't cost more than $10 or so. Buy them online at say newegg or amazon.

Jeff Corey · 14th June 2010, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by Psi Baba

I bought my HDMI cables at Radio Shack. I think I paid around $10 or $11. I know they can be had for a bit less, but I wanted to pick them up right away rather than ordering them, and that was the best option. Hint: never buy your cables at the same place you buy your TV or DVD player, etc. They're only going to carrying the over-priced rip-offs, figuring if you're new to the technology, you won't know the difference and think that's what you're supposed to pay.

ETA: I wouldn't be surprised if by now you could get them at Dollar General for about $3.

The local Radio Shack gets $35 for the 3 foot cable.
I don't know what Dollar General is.

Uncayimmy · 14th June 2010, 11:08 PM

I get mine from Fry's Electronics, which is local to me. I believe you can order on-line.

http://www.frys.com/

lionking · 14th June 2010, 11:21 PM

I wish I had read this before getting suckered into buying a Monster HDMI a couple of years ago. The "salesman" (just out of school by the look of him) told me that if I didn't buy Monster cables I may as well save my money and buy a not-so HD TV, because I would just not get proper HD without them. And I believed him. The store had TVs set up with and without Monster cables, and you could see the difference, but the non-Monster TVs were no doubt of lesser specification.

And to any Aussies here, this was from Harvey Norman, the biggest electrical retailer in the land.

JoeyDonuts · 15th June 2010, 12:05 AM

Originally Posted by William Parcher

You haven't mentioned if you opted for HD transmission from your cable company. If you did not, then the HDMI connection will give an inferior picture and aspect ratio as compared to the component (the 3 colors) connection. I found this out myself after assuming the HDMI would be better under all possible circumstances.

If your cable box is not receiving HD signals from the provider (I don't know why a person would do this if they owned an HDTV) you are providing the highest fidelity signal. Using the D/A conversion of stepping down to component video, while still giving you a maximum resolution of 1080i, still give you a 480i signal that has been upconverted.

Why would you have an HDTV with a cable box attached if you weren't going to get HD content piped to it? Even the most basic of basic cable plans still provide the HD versions of local stations. Do you at least have a VHF/UHF OTA antenna?

Also, the ability or inability to show a clear 480i signal on a native 1080i/p television set is intrinsic to the equipment, not the cabling. It's possible that your particular set locks in the component inputs at a 720p native mode rather than 1080i, thus making the "downconversion" less pronounced through component cable setup than through HDMI. But again, this doesn't have anything to do with an inherent quality of HDMI cabling versus component - it's the video processing in your particular setup on either your cable box, TV, or both.

Oh, and for the OP: If you want to hook your setup through a decent 5.1 channel surround system, you're going to want to use HDMI. Use that component cable and you're limited to stereo audio only depending on your setup. If you don't have a 5.1 system, I would highly recommend getting one. Sony has a great 3-HDMI input 1000w system that is more than sufficient for most viewing needs for about 350 dollars, though it isn't as customizable or user-friendly as other systems out there.

Darat · 15th June 2010, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by Psi Baba

I bought my HDMI cables at Radio Shack. I think I paid around $10 or $11. I know they can be had for a bit less, but I wanted to pick them up right away rather than ordering them, and that was the best option. Hint: never buy your cables at the same place you buy your TV or DVD player, etc. They're only going to carrying the over-priced rip-offs, figuring if you're new to the technology, you won't know the difference and think that's what you're supposed to pay.

ETA: I wouldn't be surprised if by now you could get them at Dollar General for about $3.

Couldn't agree more.

I bought a HD TV about a month ago along with a BluRay player and the shop nearly lost my order because the sales assistant tried to sell me a "hi quality" HDMI cable that was £65, ($90+)- and I only paid £99 for the BluRay player! I was still ripped off as I bought their cheapest and shortest HDMI cable for £14.99 but I was impatient and just wanted to get home and start playing.

ETA: UK folk - Argos generally has some cheap HDMI cables in stock, for around a fiver.

JoeyDonuts · 15th June 2010, 12:19 AM

Originally Posted by Darat

Couldn't agree more.

+1. When I did my recent stero install, I had a serious desire to get it up and working as soon as I got home, so I went ahead and bought a spool of speaker wire for the L/R rear surround mounts. (Had to fish them through the attic and down through the all.)

How much d'ya think 100ft of speaker wire should cost?

How much d'ya think I paid for the least expensive one they sold at Ultimate Electronics?

About thirty dollars for 100ft worth of speaker wire. And this was after the salesman spent twenty minutes telling me how my new system was going to sound "muddy" if I purchased their "economy" brand.

William Parcher · 15th June 2010, 07:24 AM

Originally Posted by JoeyDonuts

If your cable box is not receiving HD signals from the provider (I don't know why a person would do this if they owned an HDTV) you are providing the highest fidelity signal. Using the D/A conversion of stepping down to component video, while still giving you a maximum resolution of 1080i, still give you a 480i signal that has been upconverted.

Why would you have an HDTV with a cable box attached if you weren't going to get HD content piped to it? Even the most basic of basic cable plans still provide the HD versions of local stations. Do you at least have a VHF/UHF OTA antenna?

Also, the ability or inability to show a clear 480i signal on a native 1080i/p television set is intrinsic to the equipment, not the cabling. It's possible that your particular set locks in the component inputs at a 720p native mode rather than 1080i, thus making the "downconversion" less pronounced through component cable setup than through HDMI. But again, this doesn't have anything to do with an inherent quality of HDMI cabling versus component - it's the video processing in your particular setup on either your cable box, TV, or both.

Oh, and for the OP: If you want to hook your setup through a decent 5.1 channel surround system, you're going to want to use HDMI. Use that component cable and you're limited to stereo audio only depending on your setup. If you don't have a 5.1 system, I would highly recommend getting one. Sony has a great 3-HDMI input 1000w system that is more than sufficient for most viewing needs for about 350 dollars, though it isn't as customizable or user-friendly as other systems out there.

I found this out when helping a friend set up her cable box to a HDTV. She opted to not pay extra for HD signal from the provider which is AT&T Uverse. It apparently comes through as 480i 4:3 including the local channels. The box offers RF, RCA, Component or HDMI as video outputs. I presumed that HDMI would give the best picture and also have the convenience of carrying the audio signal to the TV. After hooking it up I found the picture to be dark and crappy. None of the aspect ratios offered looked proper either. I went online and found forums discussing this same situation. Everybody recommended the component cables instead of HDMI.

I switched them and it suddenly looked much better including the aspect ratio. Well, I suppose it's as good as 480i may look - which is what you get unless you pay extra for the HD signal. For audio I used an optical output from the box to an amp/receiver that puts out 5.1 to a typical surround speaker arrangement plus subwoofer.

This may be an issue with AT&T Uverse and not other cable companies.

WildCat · 15th June 2010, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by JoeyDonuts

Oh, and for the OP: If you want to hook your setup through a decent 5.1 channel surround system, you're going to want to use HDMI. Use that component cable and you're limited to stereo audio only depending on your setup. If you don't have a 5.1 system, I would highly recommend getting one. Sony has a great 3-HDMI input 1000w system that is more than sufficient for most viewing needs for about 350 dollars, though it isn't as customizable or user-friendly as other systems out there.

If you're going the 5.1 route why have the sound turned on to your TV speakers at all? I keep my TV speakers off, the sound goes from my satellite receiver to my 5.1 receiver via optical digital cable.

Cuddles · 15th June 2010, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by William Parcher

You haven't mentioned if you opted for HD transmission from your cable company. If you did not, then the HDMI connection will give an inferior picture and aspect ratio as compared to the component (the 3 colors) connection. I found this out myself after assuming the HDMI would be better under all possible circumstances.

Interesting. I have a non-HD signal going to my TV via an HDMI cable. I've noticed that the left and right of the picture tends to be clipped. Has my problem all along been simply that I've used the wrong cables to plug everything in?

Originally Posted by JoeyDonuts

If your cable box is not receiving HD signals from the provider (I don't know why a person would do this if they owned an HDTV)

Because it's virtually impossible to buy a TV that isn't HD these days, but it costs a lot more, both up front and monthly fees, to have an HD Sky or cable box.

Paulhoff · 15th June 2010, 09:31 AM

They should of course have good ends and be not cheap on the wire. I have'nt priced them, but don't be too cheap.

Paul

dtugg · 15th June 2010, 09:44 AM

I can't even watch the standard definition channels. They look horrible.

Ernie M · 15th June 2010, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by Jeff Corey

Just got a HD TV and I can connect it to my cable box with either the five separate cables provided by the cable company or a HDMI cable for $60. Is it worth it?

Question: Is your cable company asking you to pay $60 for an HDMI cable?

Do I understand correctly, that you are paying your cable TV provider for a channel package that includes High Definition channels?

And, if you pay for an HD cable box, I believe your cable provider should provide one HDMI cable free of charge. It is my understanding the cable company is responsible for the integrity of their wiring and cable signal to your tv(s), and in order to meet their company standards, they may use company-spec materials, including cable connectors, and cables.

Depending on who your cable provider is, you should be able to get one type of cabling, example: one HDMI cable or a component video cable set (YPbPr cables plus white, and red cables, for the audio) free of charge. I don't understand why the cable company would charge you for an HDMI cable... but they might and might be able to charge, as I don't know your terms of agreement.

William Parcher · 15th June 2010, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by Cuddles

Interesting. I have a non-HD signal going to my TV via an HDMI cable. I've noticed that the left and right of the picture tends to be clipped. Has my problem all along been simply that I've used the wrong cables to plug everything in?

I saw a clipped picture as well when using the HDMI. Trying all available aspects on the box (in the menu) and the TV didn't help. This clipping was in addition to the poor picture quality.

I ended up switching to component cable and choosing 480i as the menu setting for the cable box. This gives the best picture and no clipping.

I'm not the only one experiencing this because web forums have posts on the exact same thing - but my forum searching was specific for folks with AT&T Uverse.

Psi Baba · 15th June 2010, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by Jeff Corey

The local Radio Shack gets $35 for the 3 foot cable.

That's what they charge for Monster Cable:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=4014916
but they also sell a 6-ft. cable for $11.49
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=4023605
I'm sure there are regional price variations, though.

Originally Posted by Jeff Corey

I don't know what Dollar General is.

It's just a chain of really cheap discount stores (not quite an Everything's-A-Dollar store, but nearly). They're mostly in the East and mid-West; there are 235 stores in the state of New York.
http://www.dollargeneral.com/Pages/index.aspx

Jeff Corey · 15th June 2010, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by Ernie M

Question: Is your cable company asking you to pay $60 for an HDMI cable?

Do I understand correctly, that you are paying your cable TV provider for a channel package that includes High Definition channels?

And, if you pay for an HD cable box, I believe your cable provider should provide one HDMI cable free of charge. It is my understanding the cable company is responsible for the integrity of their wiring and cable signal to your tv(s), and in order to meet their company standards, they may use company-spec materials, including cable connectors, and cables.

Depending on who your cable provider is, you should be able to get one type of cabling, example: one HDMI cable or a component video cable set (YPbPr cables plus white, and red cables, for the audio) free of charge. I don't understand why the cable company would charge you for an HDMI cable... but they might and might be able to charge, as I don't know your terms of agreement.

They don't charge - they just do not provide the HDMI cable. They do provide the component video and audio component sets.
The company is Optimum (Cablevision) and they have a monopoly on cable here.

RhodyDave · 15th June 2010, 01:16 PM

Others have already said it, but again - monoprice.com

mike81 · 15th June 2010, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by William Parcher

I saw a clipped picture as well when using the HDMI. Trying all available aspects on the box (in the menu) and the TV didn't help. This clipping was in addition to the poor picture quality.

I ended up switching to component cable and choosing 480i as the menu setting for the cable box. This gives the best picture and no clipping.

I'm not the only one experiencing this because web forums have posts on the exact same thing - but my forum searching was specific for folks with AT&T Uverse.

Actually, if you are watching TV on an HDTV, then some of the programs will have black bars on the sides. Some shows are shot in 4:3 aspect ratio and will not fill up a 16:9 screen. Any attempt at changing the aspect ratio, zooming, stretching, or doing anything else to the picture will result in a lower quality image. You may also get an incorrectly proportioned image or some of the top & bottom of the image will be cut off. The correct way is to watch it with the black bars on the sides.

14th June 2010, 12:08 PM	#1
Jeff Corey New York Skeptic Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 13,794	HDMI Cables - worth it? Just got a HD TV and I can connect it to my cable box with either the five separate cables provided by the cable company or a HDMI cable for $60. Is it worth it?

14th June 2010, 12:10 PM	#2
Belz... Fiend God Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: In the details... Posts: 28,500	Nope. HDMI cables are worth it if you have an HD tv but regardless of the price, they are basically all the same. They're just wires. Audiophiles have the same problem with their own cables. Usually, the 250$ cables will perform pretty much the same as 1$ ones, in the sense that human ears/eyes won't be able to tell the difference. If you're willing to order on the internet you might be able to find those cables for 99 cents or a few dollars. Otherwise I'm sure you can find some for about 8$, somewhere in your area. ETA: And since your area is New York, I can only assume you have lots of stores there
	__________________ The Onmyouza Theatre, An unofficial international fanclub forum dedicated to the Japanese heavy metal band Onmyo-Za: "In the interests of time and space, it is not unreasonable to cite one point at a time. Citing 30 is the equivalent of citing none. Obviously." - Robert Prey "Physical evidence must be observed and interpreted by witnesses which makes it subjective and subject to mistakes and to fraud." - Robert Prey Last edited by Belz...; 14th June 2010 at 12:12 PM.

14th June 2010, 12:28 PM	#3
OnlyTellsTruths Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 5,788	Originally Posted by Belz... <snip>, they are basically all the same. They're just wires.<snip> He's mostly right that a cheap one will be just as good as a pricey one. I say mostly in that: make sure you don't get a shoddy scam cable (a good tip off would be the cord isn't much thicker than a human hair ). Something that shoddy wouldn't last long on Amazon, so I would guess you can buy the cheapest set of HDMI cables at Amazon in confidence. Just go to Amazon, search HDMI, select Electronics category, then you can sort by price.... and of course get a new one, you probably don't want used cables (used cables usually come complete with cat/dog/mouse/ferret gnaw holes).
OnlyTellsTruths Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 5,788	__________________ ________________________

14th June 2010, 12:29 PM	#4
elgarak Graduate Poster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: No matter where I go, there I am Posts: 1,859	Well, the five cables is probably component (3 video cables) plus 2 audio cables. Which means the signal they carry is analog, while HDMI signals are digital. Theoretically, could mean interference on the analog 5 cable connection. But, in my experience, that is practically not observable on cable lengths of a few feet from a cable box to a TV. HDMI is a bit simpler. Just one cable and you're done. As always, get the cheapest good quality cable you can get. For online ordering, check out monoprice.com. Cheap, but never got junk cables from them.
	Last edited by elgarak; 14th June 2010 at 12:30 PM.

14th June 2010, 12:31 PM	#5
paximperium Penultimate Amazing Join Date: May 2008 Location: Silicon Valley-Stuck between Google and Apple Posts: 10,727	Uh Belz, I think Jeff is asking about the YPbPr Analog cable vs HDMI cable. HDMI is the current industry standard when it comes to HDTV. It will allow your HDTV to talk and exchange information with what you plug it into. The fact that it is digital as well supposedly means that youn't lose any picture quality since your TV doesn't have to convert analog signals. I believe it is worth it. Just buy the cheapest HDMI cables.
	__________________ "The method of science is tried and true. It is not perfect, it's just the best we have. And to abandon it with its skeptical protocols is the pathway to a dark age." -Carl Sagan "They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance."-Terry Pratchett

14th June 2010, 12:36 PM	#6
Belz... Fiend God Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: In the details... Posts: 28,500	Yes I misread him on the first try, which is why I amended my post. HDMI is better, but buy the cheapest HDMI you can trust.
	__________________ The Onmyouza Theatre, An unofficial international fanclub forum dedicated to the Japanese heavy metal band Onmyo-Za: "In the interests of time and space, it is not unreasonable to cite one point at a time. Citing 30 is the equivalent of citing none. Obviously." - Robert Prey "Physical evidence must be observed and interpreted by witnesses which makes it subjective and subject to mistakes and to fraud." - Robert Prey

14th June 2010, 12:37 PM	#7
Jeff Corey New York Skeptic Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 13,794	Thanks, all. I figured that the Monster HDMI cables were just as superior as Monster audio cables are to regular cable. That is, not at all. I am going have to get a HDMI cable sometime soon to avoid having plug and unplug cables to the dvd player when I want to use it.

14th June 2010, 12:38 PM	#8
Giggywig Master Poster Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,853	Just make sure you wrap it in paper and ground it with some garden soil.

14th June 2010, 12:57 PM	#9
WildCat NWO Master Conspirator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany Park, Chicago Posts: 49,010	They're right, you can just get a cheap cable at Amazon. Where you should be pouring all your money is in a good line conditioner.

14th June 2010, 01:11 PM	#10
Michael Redman Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 3,063	I've bought several types of cables from monoprice.com. The manufacture quality seems very good, and they're about the cheapest you'll find anywhere.
	__________________ The rule is perfect; in all matters of opinion our adversaries are insane. - Mark Twain

14th June 2010, 01:19 PM	#11
dtugg Banned Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NWO headquarters Posts: 7,898	With HDMI, either it works or it doesn't. $60 for a cable is a complete waste of money. I connect my PS3 and satellite box to my HDTV via cables I bought for like $5 on monoprice.com. The picture couldn't be any better.

14th June 2010, 01:26 PM	#12
Michael Redman Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 3,063	While we're on Monoprice, I'll threadjack this further, and mention that I recently bought an HDMI splitter from Monoprice that allows me to show the same thing in the living room and the kitchen (via a 25 foot Monoprice HDMI cable). Its HDCP compliant. $50.
	__________________ The rule is perfect; in all matters of opinion our adversaries are insane. - Mark Twain

14th June 2010, 01:30 PM	#13
dtugg Banned Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NWO headquarters Posts: 7,898	To be totally fair, I must say that I have had a monoprice cable break. The connector actually broke off in the TV. It wasn't really a problem, I just pulled it out. And since it cost only about $5 (and I had spares), cost wasn't really an issue.

14th June 2010, 01:42 PM	#14
jsiv King of Svalbard Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bortenfor alle blåner Posts: 4,492	Originally Posted by dtugg With HDMI, either it works or it doesn't. $60 for a cable is a complete waste of money. I connect my PS3 and satellite box to my HDTV via cables I bought for like $5 on monoprice.com. The picture couldn't be any better. It's not really that simple. It only "either works or doesn't" on a packet level. In Full HD (RGB mode), the red, green and blue level of each of the ~two million pixels is transmitted as a separate packet. If there is too much interference, "random" packets can be corrupted. There is no error correction and no possibility of retransmitting it, so the result is a reduction in quality. That said, there's little evidence of any correlation between price and quality of the cables, so just buy a cheap cable. If there are problems, simply return it as defective.
	__________________ Panama er landet eg drøymer om!

14th June 2010, 01:53 PM	#15
Psi Baba Homo Skepticalis Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Occupying my barstool Posts: 3,179	I bought my HDMI cables at Radio Shack. I think I paid around $10 or $11. I know they can be had for a bit less, but I wanted to pick them up right away rather than ordering them, and that was the best option. Hint: never buy your cables at the same place you buy your TV or DVD player, etc. They're only going to carrying the over-priced rip-offs, figuring if you're new to the technology, you won't know the difference and think that's what you're supposed to pay. ETA: I wouldn't be surprised if by now you could get them at Dollar General for about $3.
	__________________ Save Caribbean Rum! (seriously) Last edited by Psi Baba; 14th June 2010 at 01:55 PM.

14th June 2010, 02:07 PM	#16
dtugg Banned Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NWO headquarters Posts: 7,898	Originally Posted by jsiv It's not really that simple. It only "either works or doesn't" on a packet level. In Full HD (RGB mode), the red, green and blue level of each of the ~two million pixels is transmitted as a separate packet. If there is too much interference, "random" packets can be corrupted. There is no error correction and no possibility of retransmitting it, so the result is a reduction in quality. That said, there's little evidence of any correlation between price and quality of the cables, so just buy a cheap cable. If there are problems, simply return it as defective. Well, I suppose I may have not phrased it correctly, but a reduction in HDMI quality will be clearly visible (well so I have heard, it has never happened to me) and as far as I am concerned, it means it didn't work.

14th June 2010, 02:15 PM	#17
dtugg Banned Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NWO headquarters Posts: 7,898	Best Buy is probably the worst. They will always try to pressure you to buy the expensive cables. It is pretty much their job. They will actually make more money off of a $100 Monster cable sale than they do off of a $2000 HDTV sale. ETA: I suppose I am glad that this is how they choose to make their money. It means that I can get their products for cheaper than I otherwise could.
	Last edited by dtugg; 14th June 2010 at 02:20 PM.

14th June 2010, 02:51 PM	#18
a_unique_person Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Mt Disappointment Posts: 33,326	Originally Posted by Jeff Corey Just got a HD TV and I can connect it to my cable box with either the five separate cables provided by the cable company or a HDMI cable for $60. Is it worth it? I buy mine off ebay for $10. It works fine.
	__________________ *Continually pushing the boundaries of mediocrity.* Everything is possible, but not everything is probable. For if a man pretend to me that God hath spoken to him supernaturally, and immediately, and I make doubt of it, I cannot easily perceive what argument he can produce to oblige me to believe it. Hobbes

14th June 2010, 03:00 PM	#19
thaiboxerken Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 20,963	Fry's electronics sells HDMI cables for big $$$ in the video/television section. However, if you walk to the other side of the store to the electrical section, you can buy cheap ones for less than $15. This is the same section where I get optical cables for very cheap as well.
	__________________ All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power & profit - Thomas Paine

14th June 2010, 03:26 PM	#20
William Parcher Show me the monkey! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 8,504	Originally Posted by Jeff Corey Just got a HD TV and I can connect it to my cable box with either the five separate cables provided by the cable company or a HDMI cable for $60. Is it worth it? You haven't mentioned if you opted for HD transmission from your cable company. If you did not, then the HDMI connection will give an inferior picture and aspect ratio as compared to the component (the 3 colors) connection. I found this out myself after assuming the HDMI would be better under all possible circumstances.
	__________________ Bigfoot believers and Bigfoot skeptics are both plumb crazy. Each spends more than one minute per year thinking about Bigfoot.

14th June 2010, 03:28 PM	#21
BobTheDonkey Illuminator Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 4,501	Here's an article Gizmodo did, including testing, on HDMI cables (Monster Cable vs cheapos): http://gizmodo.com/268788/the-truth-...keep-upusually Interestingly, there is a difference in cable quality - but not at today's resolutions.
	__________________ TSIG: Everyone wants to be 'special' but nobody wants to admit they ride the bus.

14th June 2010, 03:39 PM	#22
ToddH Critical Thinker Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Heart of the bible belt Posts: 334	Another vote for monoprice.com.

14th June 2010, 04:32 PM	#23
ponderingturtle Orthogonal Vector Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tarrytown, NY Posts: 26,424	Originally Posted by Jeff Corey Just got a HD TV and I can connect it to my cable box with either the five separate cables provided by the cable company or a HDMI cable for $60. Is it worth it? Well I like useing HDMI cables for HDTV, but really they shouldn't cost more than $10 or so. Buy them online at say newegg or amazon.
	__________________ Sufficiently advanced Woo is indistinguishable from Parody "There shall be no poofing in science" Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Force ***** on reasons back" Ben Franklin

14th June 2010, 04:54 PM	#24
Jeff Corey New York Skeptic Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 13,794	Originally Posted by Psi Baba I bought my HDMI cables at Radio Shack. I think I paid around $10 or $11. I know they can be had for a bit less, but I wanted to pick them up right away rather than ordering them, and that was the best option. Hint: never buy your cables at the same place you buy your TV or DVD player, etc. They're only going to carrying the over-priced rip-offs, figuring if you're new to the technology, you won't know the difference and think that's what you're supposed to pay. ETA: I wouldn't be surprised if by now you could get them at Dollar General for about $3. The local Radio Shack gets $35 for the 3 foot cable. I don't know what Dollar General is.

14th June 2010, 11:08 PM	#25
Uncayimmy Banned Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 7,485	I get mine from Fry's Electronics, which is local to me. I believe you can order on-line. http://www.frys.com/
Uncayimmy Banned Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 7,485

14th June 2010, 11:21 PM	#26
lionking In the Peanut Gallery Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 29,650	I wish I had read this before getting suckered into buying a Monster HDMI a couple of years ago. The "salesman" (just out of school by the look of him) told me that if I didn't buy Monster cables I may as well save my money and buy a not-so HD TV, because I would just not get proper HD without them. And I believed him. The store had TVs set up with and without Monster cables, and you could see the difference, but the non-Monster TVs were no doubt of lesser specification. And to any Aussies here, this was from Harvey Norman, the biggest electrical retailer in the land.
	__________________ A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject. Sir Winston Churchill

15th June 2010, 12:05 AM	#27
JoeyDonuts Frequencies Not Known To Normals Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Parts Unknown Posts: 10,636	Originally Posted by William Parcher You haven't mentioned if you opted for HD transmission from your cable company. If you did not, then the HDMI connection will give an inferior picture and aspect ratio as compared to the component (the 3 colors) connection. I found this out myself after assuming the HDMI would be better under all possible circumstances. If your cable box is not receiving HD signals from the provider (I don't know why a person would do this if they owned an HDTV) you are providing the highest fidelity signal. Using the D/A conversion of stepping down to component video, while still giving you a maximum resolution of 1080i, still give you a 480i signal that has been upconverted. Why would you have an HDTV with a cable box attached if you weren't going to get HD content piped to it? Even the most basic of basic cable plans still provide the HD versions of local stations. Do you at least have a VHF/UHF OTA antenna? Also, the ability or inability to show a clear 480i signal on a native 1080i/p television set is intrinsic to the equipment, not the cabling. It's possible that your particular set locks in the component inputs at a 720p native mode rather than 1080i, thus making the "downconversion" less pronounced through component cable setup than through HDMI. But again, this doesn't have anything to do with an inherent quality of HDMI cabling versus component - it's the video processing in your particular setup on either your cable box, TV, or both. Oh, and for the OP: If you want to hook your setup through a decent 5.1 channel surround system, you're going to want to use HDMI. Use that component cable and you're limited to stereo audio only depending on your setup. If you don't have a 5.1 system, I would highly recommend getting one. Sony has a great 3-HDMI input 1000w system that is more than sufficient for most viewing needs for about 350 dollars, though it isn't as customizable or user-friendly as other systems out there.
	__________________ _{EXIT STAGE LEFT! EXIT STAGE RIGHT! THERE IS NO PLACE TO RUN; ALL THE FUSES IN THE EXIT SIGNS HAVE BEEN BURNED OUT!} Last edited by JoeyDonuts; 15th June 2010 at 12:15 AM.

15th June 2010, 12:10 AM	#28
Darat Lackey Administrator / JREF Forum Liaison Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: South East, UK Posts: 64,770	Originally Posted by Psi Baba I bought my HDMI cables at Radio Shack. I think I paid around $10 or $11. I know they can be had for a bit less, but I wanted to pick them up right away rather than ordering them, and that was the best option. Hint: never buy your cables at the same place you buy your TV or DVD player, etc. They're only going to carrying the over-priced rip-offs, figuring if you're new to the technology, you won't know the difference and think that's what you're supposed to pay. ETA: I wouldn't be surprised if by now you could get them at Dollar General for about $3. Couldn't agree more. I bought a HD TV about a month ago along with a BluRay player and the shop nearly lost my order because the sales assistant tried to sell me a "hi quality" HDMI cable that was £65, ($90+)- and I only paid £99 for the BluRay player! I was still ripped off as I bought their cheapest and shortest HDMI cable for £14.99 but I was impatient and just wanted to get home and start playing. ETA: UK folk - Argos generally has some cheap HDMI cables in stock, for around a fiver.
	__________________ If it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart? - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 1918-2008 Last edited by Darat; 15th June 2010 at 12:11 AM.

15th June 2010, 12:19 AM	#29
JoeyDonuts Frequencies Not Known To Normals Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Parts Unknown Posts: 10,636	Originally Posted by Darat Couldn't agree more. +1. When I did my recent stero install, I had a serious desire to get it up and working as soon as I got home, so I went ahead and bought a spool of speaker wire for the L/R rear surround mounts. (Had to fish them through the attic and down through the all.) How much d'ya think 100ft of speaker wire should cost? How much d'ya think I paid for the least expensive one they sold at Ultimate Electronics? About thirty dollars for 100ft worth of speaker wire. And this was after the salesman spent twenty minutes telling me how my new system was going to sound "muddy" if I purchased their "economy" brand.
	__________________ _{EXIT STAGE LEFT! EXIT STAGE RIGHT! THERE IS NO PLACE TO RUN; ALL THE FUSES IN THE EXIT SIGNS HAVE BEEN BURNED OUT!}

15th June 2010, 07:24 AM	#30
William Parcher Show me the monkey! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 8,504	Originally Posted by JoeyDonuts If your cable box is not receiving HD signals from the provider (I don't know why a person would do this if they owned an HDTV) you are providing the highest fidelity signal. Using the D/A conversion of stepping down to component video, while still giving you a maximum resolution of 1080i, still give you a 480i signal that has been upconverted. Why would you have an HDTV with a cable box attached if you weren't going to get HD content piped to it? Even the most basic of basic cable plans still provide the HD versions of local stations. Do you at least have a VHF/UHF OTA antenna? Also, the ability or inability to show a clear 480i signal on a native 1080i/p television set is intrinsic to the equipment, not the cabling. It's possible that your particular set locks in the component inputs at a 720p native mode rather than 1080i, thus making the "downconversion" less pronounced through component cable setup than through HDMI. But again, this doesn't have anything to do with an inherent quality of HDMI cabling versus component - it's the video processing in your particular setup on either your cable box, TV, or both. Oh, and for the OP: If you want to hook your setup through a decent 5.1 channel surround system, you're going to want to use HDMI. Use that component cable and you're limited to stereo audio only depending on your setup. If you don't have a 5.1 system, I would highly recommend getting one. Sony has a great 3-HDMI input 1000w system that is more than sufficient for most viewing needs for about 350 dollars, though it isn't as customizable or user-friendly as other systems out there. I found this out when helping a friend set up her cable box to a HDTV. She opted to not pay extra for HD signal from the provider which is AT&T Uverse. It apparently comes through as 480i 4:3 including the local channels. The box offers RF, RCA, Component or HDMI as video outputs. I presumed that HDMI would give the best picture and also have the convenience of carrying the audio signal to the TV. After hooking it up I found the picture to be dark and crappy. None of the aspect ratios offered looked proper either. I went online and found forums discussing this same situation. Everybody recommended the component cables instead of HDMI. I switched them and it suddenly looked much better including the aspect ratio. Well, I suppose it's as good as 480i may look - which is what you get unless you pay extra for the HD signal. For audio I used an optical output from the box to an amp/receiver that puts out 5.1 to a typical surround speaker arrangement plus subwoofer. This may be an issue with AT&T Uverse and not other cable companies.
	__________________ Bigfoot believers and Bigfoot skeptics are both plumb crazy. Each spends more than one minute per year thinking about Bigfoot.

15th June 2010, 08:28 AM	#31
WildCat NWO Master Conspirator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany Park, Chicago Posts: 49,010	Originally Posted by JoeyDonuts Oh, and for the OP: If you want to hook your setup through a decent 5.1 channel surround system, you're going to want to use HDMI. Use that component cable and you're limited to stereo audio only depending on your setup. If you don't have a 5.1 system, I would highly recommend getting one. Sony has a great 3-HDMI input 1000w system that is more than sufficient for most viewing needs for about 350 dollars, though it isn't as customizable or user-friendly as other systems out there. If you're going the 5.1 route why have the sound turned on to your TV speakers at all? I keep my TV speakers off, the sound goes from my satellite receiver to my 5.1 receiver via optical digital cable.

15th June 2010, 09:19 AM	#32
Cuddles Decoy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: A magical land full of pink fluffy sheeps and bunnies Posts: 16,580	Originally Posted by William Parcher You haven't mentioned if you opted for HD transmission from your cable company. If you did not, then the HDMI connection will give an inferior picture and aspect ratio as compared to the component (the 3 colors) connection. I found this out myself after assuming the HDMI would be better under all possible circumstances. Interesting. I have a non-HD signal going to my TV via an HDMI cable. I've noticed that the left and right of the picture tends to be clipped. Has my problem all along been simply that I've used the wrong cables to plug everything in? Originally Posted by JoeyDonuts If your cable box is not receiving HD signals from the provider (I don't know why a person would do this if they owned an HDTV) Because it's virtually impossible to buy a TV that isn't HD these days, but it costs a lot more, both up front and monthly fees, to have an HD Sky or cable box.
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15th June 2010, 09:31 AM	#33
Paulhoff You can't expect perfection. Join Date: May 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 12,570	They should of course have good ends and be not cheap on the wire. I have'nt priced them, but don't be too cheap. Paul
	__________________ For our money "IN WHICH GOD DO YOU TRUST" Much worse than the Question not asked, is the Answer not Given Don't accept an answer that can't be questioned - God is Surperfluous A society fails when ignorance outweighs knowledge Science doesn’t know everything, but religion doesn’t know anything Life is so horrent and also so beautiful, but without it there is nothing

15th June 2010, 09:44 AM	#34
dtugg Banned Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NWO headquarters Posts: 7,898	I can't even watch the standard definition channels. They look horrible.

15th June 2010, 09:56 AM	#35
Ernie M Critical Thinker Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 444	Originally Posted by Jeff Corey Just got a HD TV and I can connect it to my cable box with either the five separate cables provided by the cable company or a HDMI cable for $60. Is it worth it? Question: Is your cable company asking you to pay $60 for an HDMI cable? Do I understand correctly, that you are paying your cable TV provider for a channel package that includes High Definition channels? And, if you pay for an HD cable box, I believe your cable provider should provide one HDMI cable free of charge. It is my understanding the cable company is responsible for the integrity of their wiring and cable signal to your tv(s), and in order to meet their company standards, they may use company-spec materials, including cable connectors, and cables. Depending on who your cable provider is, you should be able to get one type of cabling, example: one HDMI cable or a component video cable set (YPbPr cables plus white, and red cables, for the audio) free of charge. I don't understand why the cable company would charge you for an HDMI cable... but they might and might be able to charge, as I don't know your terms of agreement.
Ernie M Critical Thinker Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 444	__________________ paranormalstateillustrated.com Taking a close look at what you see and hear on a "Real Life. Drama." TV series. Last edited by Ernie M; 15th June 2010 at 09:59 AM. Reason: added some words.