is there really any reason to buy a £80 hdmi cable over a £9 cable? I watched the gadget show and they said there was no difference in the cables. I was in a highstreet store yesterday and they had 3 different cables ranging from £49 - £80 each had a different speed rating up to 1000mhz, is this just a marketing ploy?
HDMI Cables
- Thread starter arfur
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If it were Analogue... then Yes (sort of) and Yes it is all a marketing ploy!!...
Because its Digital... No (unless you'r running 10m or more of cable) and Yes it is all a marketing ploy!!...
Just get a Cheapie 2-3m cable for a tenner off the bay!!...
Because its Digital... No (unless you'r running 10m or more of cable) and Yes it is all a marketing ploy!!...
Just get a Cheapie 2-3m cable for a tenner off the bay!!...
It's all marketing BS, gadget show were correct. You will either get a perfect picture, one with loads of errors and will be breaking up, or it won't work at all.
There are no improvements in picture like black levels, noise reduction, greater contrast, just not possible.
But there are people at avforums and especially what hi-fi forums and mag who fiercly defend their cable purchases. But over at what hi-fi there are even people who talk about picture and sound qulaity improvements when using a better quality mains lead with their PS3. I'm not a violent person but seriously want to throttle them until near death
On another note my tea tastes better today with this £1000 lead on the work kettle, and these cryo treated USB cables are actually improving my digi pic quality and exceeding the transfer rate of the USB2 tech
There are no improvements in picture like black levels, noise reduction, greater contrast, just not possible.
But there are people at avforums and especially what hi-fi forums and mag who fiercly defend their cable purchases. But over at what hi-fi there are even people who talk about picture and sound qulaity improvements when using a better quality mains lead with their PS3. I'm not a violent person but seriously want to throttle them until near death
On another note my tea tastes better today with this £1000 lead on the work kettle, and these cryo treated USB cables are actually improving my digi pic quality and exceeding the transfer rate of the USB2 tech
The only thing you do tend to get with more expense cables is a better quality connection. some of the cheapo ones iv tried fall out if you much as look at them.
I did try a £8 cables against a £60 cable and noticed absolutly no difference at all, and I am a fussy sod at the best of times, and a advocate of using qualty speaker cables and anolouge interconnects.
I buy mine from here, very well made cables for the cash http://ukhdmi.com/
I did try a £8 cables against a £60 cable and noticed absolutly no difference at all, and I am a fussy sod at the best of times, and a advocate of using qualty speaker cables and anolouge interconnects.
I buy mine from here, very well made cables for the cash http://ukhdmi.com/
Soldato
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It tends to be a bit of a grey area from what I've read.
Often cables that would fail testing by industry standards can be deployed quite happily in the home or whatever without consequence.
This will become less true as data rates increase.
http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/long-hdmi-cable-bench-tests
The conclusion was that your best bet is to figure out what data rate you need, over what distance, and buy the cheapest one which is guarenteed for that. You can always take it back to get your money back should it ever fail.
It's annoying, but as you can see, some very expensive cables aren't good at all.
Often cables that would fail testing by industry standards can be deployed quite happily in the home or whatever without consequence.
This will become less true as data rates increase.
http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/long-hdmi-cable-bench-tests
The conclusion was that your best bet is to figure out what data rate you need, over what distance, and buy the cheapest one which is guarenteed for that. You can always take it back to get your money back should it ever fail.
It's annoying, but as you can see, some very expensive cables aren't good at all.
I got a few cheap hdmi leads from ebay. They were cheap but not crap if you get my meaning.
A good way of thinking about it is that you wouldn't (at least I hope you wouldn't!) use expensive DVI cables for your PC monitor so why do any different for the TV?
A good way of thinking about it is that you wouldn't (at least I hope you wouldn't!) use expensive DVI cables for your PC monitor so why do any different for the TV?
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Associate
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- 107
This is an interesting discussion!
I've shelled out for two QED HDMI cables. One DVI-HDMI for the HTPC and one HDMI-HDMI for Onkyo to TV. I was considering adding another HDMI-HDMI when I eventually opt for Sky HD, but after reading this thread, I might go for a much cheaper alternative.
I firmly believe that digital optical cables are all identical in terms of performance but I remain completely unsure about digital coaxial and HDMI. As has been said above, What Hi-Fi et al all rave about better cables and better mains leads etc, but I haven't seen any concrete evidence either way.
Maybe the answer is to try both and decide for yourself whether it makes any visible/audible difference to you. I might adopt this mantra from now on!
I've shelled out for two QED HDMI cables. One DVI-HDMI for the HTPC and one HDMI-HDMI for Onkyo to TV. I was considering adding another HDMI-HDMI when I eventually opt for Sky HD, but after reading this thread, I might go for a much cheaper alternative.
I firmly believe that digital optical cables are all identical in terms of performance but I remain completely unsure about digital coaxial and HDMI. As has been said above, What Hi-Fi et al all rave about better cables and better mains leads etc, but I haven't seen any concrete evidence either way.
Maybe the answer is to try both and decide for yourself whether it makes any visible/audible difference to you. I might adopt this mantra from now on!
Soldato
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- Newbury
I got a cheapy Woolies HDMI cable for £2.50 in a bundle (think it was a pricing error).
Same picture as my expensive cable.
Same picture as my expensive cable.
i havent got cheap or expensive cables. Mine are in the middle range. Wheather they actually make any difference i dont know, im not a tech guru.
I just wouldnt feel comfortable getting something cheap. Not because im rich or a snob but purely because of peace of mind.
I just wouldnt feel comfortable getting something cheap. Not because im rich or a snob but purely because of peace of mind.