does the price of your hdmi cable REALLY matter?

ivang666 · 03-10-2009, 11:59

was wanting to know how much difference there is between a standard hdmi cable and an expensive one in real terms?,is there much visible picture difference

hardeep · 03-10-2009, 12:15

I've had a variety of HDMI cables over the years - from the freebie which came with SkyHD to an £80 IXOS cable. I've never noticed any difference in quality. (Athough the free Sky cable couldn't cope with a 1080p signal from my Blu-ray player.)

On the other hand the likes of What HiFI and Home Cinema Choice swear blind that it does make a difference - maybe my eyes are just too poor to tell.

Having said that I tend to buy QED HDMI cables - around £25 - rather than the cheaper no-name cables. I think for short runs - upto 2m - any cable should be OK. But for longer runs - say 10m - I would think about paying the premium for a IXOS or QED cable. (Bear in mind the amount of data if you have hidef video AND audio being sent.) Although for that length there are probably better solutions than HDMI.

tellytart1 · 03-10-2009, 13:06

There is going to be no difference, the same way there's no difference in optical cables or co-ax cables for digital audio transfer.

Where the more expensive cables will help is if you're using a long cable run, as they'll be using better quality cable which will reduce the effect of timing jitter, and also the connecters will be better constructed and assembled.

However, do not pay too much money for HDMI cables, as the super-expensive ones will offer no advantage to you, and just give more profit to the manufacturer.

Nigel Goodwin · 03-10-2009, 13:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by tellytart1

However, do not pay too much money for HDMI cables, as the super-expensive ones will offer no advantage to you, and just give more profit to the manufacturer.

And even more to the shop - on a £5 lead they might make £1 - on a £50 lead they are more likely to make £40!!!!.

This is why they try and sell you expensive leads all the time.

grimtales1 · 03-10-2009, 13:38

I'm using a £7-8 HDMI cable with my Blu-Ray player and its working fine IMO

Nigel Goodwin · 03-10-2009, 13:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by grimtales1

I'm using a £7-8 HDMI cable with my Blu-Ray player and its working fine IMO

As it will - and if you swap it for a £200 HDMI lead you won't see the slightest improvement.

jzee · 03-10-2009, 14:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivang666

was wanting to know how much difference there is between a standard hdmi cable and an expensive one in real terms?,is there much visible picture difference

Digital is either on or off, so unless your picture is constantly blacking out the answer is no

.

martysport · 03-10-2009, 15:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardeep

I've never noticed any difference in quality. (Athough the free Sky cable couldn't cope with a 1080p signal from my Blu-ray player.)

Same here and I noticed that the freebie Sky cable is thinner than most other HDMI cables

The signal is digital so it either works or it don't

I can't belive that some fools part with their money on 'bogus' cables

Analouge is a differant story

John Currie · 03-10-2009, 16:02

Please, no more of this...it's been done to death on here.

jackthom · 03-10-2009, 18:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Currie

Please, no more of this...it's been done to death on here.

I agree but people are still being pressured by salesmen out there in order to increase their sales commission.

If What Hi-Fi and Home Cinema Choice are also peddling this misinformation they should be ashamed.

kev · 03-10-2009, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by tellytart1

There is going to be no difference, the same way there's no difference in optical cables or co-ax cables for digital audio transfer.

Where the more expensive cables will help is if you're using a long cable run, as they'll be using better quality cable which will reduce the effect of timing jitter, and also the connecters will be better constructed and assembled.

Indeed - I have always used quite cheap co-ax and optical audio cables and being digital they work fine - however the construnction can be a bit dodgy so they will fail before more expensive ones - my £2 optical audio cables have a habit of breaking, but even then buying ten of them works out cheaper and buying a dear one, and let's face it how often do you actually touch them!

S-T-E-V-E · 03-10-2009, 21:47

The only point at which you need a higher quality cable is at distances over 2M and when resolution is higher than 1080p

Have a read of this article if you doubt what i'm saying

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

MrGiles2 · 04-10-2009, 09:02

It is worth paying about £25 for a decent HDMI cable, but theres no justification at all in paying £90 which is what Currys Digital is charging, hoping that some idiot will be daft enough to pay that.

Read the reviews before making up your mind, but at the end of the day its basic common sense, so dont be ripped off.

One more thing, I read the magazines quite regular, and much of the equipment they test is for the high end of the market, much of it is grossly overpriced, so do shop around.

Richersounds are pretty good offering great deals, so avoid Currys Digital if you can.

They are owned by a certain Ronny Rip-Off.

martysport · 04-10-2009, 11:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrGiles2

It is worth paying about £25 for a decent HDMI cable.

Bollox M8

You can get perfectly good ones for a quid (plus postage) off ebay.

They work fine for me (Sky-HD-Sony STR-DH800 AV AMP and LG BD370)

Heres a link.

Cheapo HDMI cables

The only differance between your £25 cable and mine for a quid (plus postage) is that have enougth change left to buy a couple of BD movies

bobcar · 04-10-2009, 13:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by martysport

Bollox M8

You can get perfectly good ones for a quid (plus postage) off ebay.

They work fine for me (Sky-HD-Sony STR-DH800 AV AMP and LG BD370)

Heres a link.

Cheapo HDMI cables

The only differance between your £25 cable and mine for a quid (plus postage) is that have enougth change left to buy a couple of BD movies

Not necessarily, being really cheap might mean they fall apart quickly or don't always work properly. I can't comment on those particular ones you linked but looking at the comments of similarly priced ones on Amazon there are a lot of negative comments about them falling apart. I saw some for £1 with negative comments and so bought the next ones up for £7 that had no such comments - I couldn't be bothered looking over the internet to save a couple of quid.

For a few quid extra (say £5) you are likely to get much better quality. Okay the PQ won't be improved but to me at least paying say £5 extra for something that is less likely to fail at some point is well worth it.

martysport · 04-10-2009, 13:22

Why would they fall apart? does your telly walk around the room at night after you go to bed

They are digital, they either work or they don't and just cos some hamfisted fool trys to insert the cable the wrong way up and forces it and breaks it is no fault of the cable

Your money and your choice

If like me you need 3 HDMI cable and spend £25 on each one it doesn't take a genius to work out the maths

£75 vs £3

A fool and his money is easily parted

martysport · 04-10-2009, 13:38

I just found the ebay cheapo ones on Amazon.com (not listed on Amazon UK)

Same cable on Amazon

Many other people are selling the same cable for £5-£25 depending on where you go

So basically you are getting a decent cable for a quid

kev · 04-10-2009, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by martysport

Why would they fall apart? does your telly walk around the room at night after you go to bed

DVDs falling off the back of the Amp and pulling the cable out...

John Currie · 04-10-2009, 14:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by kev

DVDs falling off the back of the Amp and pulling the cable out...

Only an eejit would sit DVDs on the back of a hot amp

kev · 04-10-2009, 14:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Currie

Only an eejit would sit DVDs on the back of a hot amp

Well actually they are on top of the DAB Tuner which runs cold and is on the shelf above the AV Amp....

stvn758 · 04-10-2009, 15:04

Yes it does matter, I paid £45 for mine and I can sit there for ages just looking at it it's so nice.

jackthom · 04-10-2009, 16:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by stvn758

Yes it does matter, I paid £45 for mine and I can sit there for ages just looking at it it's so nice.

Does it have flashing LEDs all down it's length?

Nigel Goodwin · 04-10-2009, 17:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackthom

Does it have flashing LEDs all down it's length?

No, he stares at it thinking "If I'd bought a £5 cable I'd have exactly the same results, and £40 worth of beer to enjoy it with"

linkinpark875 · 04-10-2009, 17:46

They use to charge the earth for scart leads and when one's came on the market cheaper they soon vanished.

There's no different in picture quality but the cheap Argos one's are not as firm and good quality as a more expensive one.

Because HD is a premium they will make everybody think it's worth over paying for leads.

Mark. · 04-10-2009, 17:47

Whilst I agree that expensive cables aren't needed, what about this video from Monster:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-zbIBERGk4

03-10-2009, 11:59	#1
ivang666 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 95	does the price of your hdmi cable REALLY matter? was wanting to know how much difference there is between a standard hdmi cable and an expensive one in real terms?,is there much visible picture difference

03-10-2009, 14:48	#7
jzee Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 19,460	Quote: Originally Posted by ivang666 was wanting to know how much difference there is between a standard hdmi cable and an expensive one in real terms?,is there much visible picture difference Digital is either on or off, so unless your picture is constantly blacking out the answer is no.

03-10-2009, 12:15	#2
hardeep Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 2,163	I've had a variety of HDMI cables over the years - from the freebie which came with SkyHD to an £80 IXOS cable. I've never noticed any difference in quality. (Athough the free Sky cable couldn't cope with a 1080p signal from my Blu-ray player.) On the other hand the likes of What HiFI and Home Cinema Choice swear blind that it does make a difference - maybe my eyes are just too poor to tell. Having said that I tend to buy QED HDMI cables - around £25 - rather than the cheaper no-name cables. I think for short runs - upto 2m - any cable should be OK. But for longer runs - say 10m - I would think about paying the premium for a IXOS or QED cable. (Bear in mind the amount of data if you have hidef video AND audio being sent.) Although for that length there are probably better solutions than HDMI.

03-10-2009, 13:06	#3
tellytart1 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: London Posts: 3,638	There is going to be no difference, the same way there's no difference in optical cables or co-ax cables for digital audio transfer. Where the more expensive cables will help is if you're using a long cable run, as they'll be using better quality cable which will reduce the effect of timing jitter, and also the connecters will be better constructed and assembled. However, do not pay too much money for HDMI cables, as the super-expensive ones will offer no advantage to you, and just give more profit to the manufacturer.

03-10-2009, 13:11	#4
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by tellytart1 However, do not pay too much money for HDMI cables, as the super-expensive ones will offer no advantage to you, and just give more profit to the manufacturer. And even more to the shop - on a £5 lead they might make £1 - on a £50 lead they are more likely to make £40!!!!. This is why they try and sell you expensive leads all the time.

03-10-2009, 13:38	#5
grimtales1 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: St. Albans, UK, Team Wagner Posts: 42,874	I'm using a £7-8 HDMI cable with my Blu-Ray player and its working fine IMO

03-10-2009, 13:41	#6
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by grimtales1 I'm using a £7-8 HDMI cable with my Blu-Ray player and its working fine IMO As it will - and if you swap it for a £200 HDMI lead you won't see the slightest improvement.

03-10-2009, 15:53	#8
martysport Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Exciled in France Posts: 363	Quote: Originally Posted by hardeep I've never noticed any difference in quality. (Athough the free Sky cable couldn't cope with a 1080p signal from my Blu-ray player.) Same here and I noticed that the freebie Sky cable is thinner than most other HDMI cables The signal is digital so it either works or it don't I can't belive that some fools part with their money on 'bogus' cables Analouge is a differant story

03-10-2009, 16:02	#9
John Currie Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: South Lanarkshire. Scotland Posts: 2,005	Please, no more of this...it's been done to death on here.

03-10-2009, 18:11	#10
jackthom Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Northumberland Posts: 4,536	Quote: Originally Posted by John Currie Please, no more of this...it's been done to death on here. I agree but people are still being pressured by salesmen out there in order to increase their sales commission. If What Hi-Fi and Home Cinema Choice are also peddling this misinformation they should be ashamed.

03-10-2009, 20:29	#11
kev Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: South Notts (Waltham TV TX) Posts: 20,200	Quote: Originally Posted by tellytart1 There is going to be no difference, the same way there's no difference in optical cables or co-ax cables for digital audio transfer. Where the more expensive cables will help is if you're using a long cable run, as they'll be using better quality cable which will reduce the effect of timing jitter, and also the connecters will be better constructed and assembled. Indeed - I have always used quite cheap co-ax and optical audio cables and being digital they work fine - however the construnction can be a bit dodgy so they will fail before more expensive ones - my £2 optical audio cables have a habit of breaking, but even then buying ten of them works out cheaper and buying a dear one, and let's face it how often do you actually touch them!

03-10-2009, 21:47	#12
S-T-E-V-E Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Leeds, UK Posts: 844	The only point at which you need a higher quality cable is at distances over 2M and when resolution is higher than 1080p Have a read of this article if you doubt what i'm saying http://gizmodo.com/268788/the-truth-...keep-upusually

04-10-2009, 09:02	#13
MrGiles2 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Teesside Posts: 1,940	It is worth paying about £25 for a decent HDMI cable, but theres no justification at all in paying £90 which is what Currys Digital is charging, hoping that some idiot will be daft enough to pay that. Read the reviews before making up your mind, but at the end of the day its basic common sense, so dont be ripped off. One more thing, I read the magazines quite regular, and much of the equipment they test is for the high end of the market, much of it is grossly overpriced, so do shop around. Richersounds are pretty good offering great deals, so avoid Currys Digital if you can. They are owned by a certain Ronny Rip-Off.

04-10-2009, 11:00	#14
martysport Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Exciled in France Posts: 363	Quote: Originally Posted by MrGiles2 It is worth paying about £25 for a decent HDMI cable. Bollox M8 You can get perfectly good ones for a quid (plus postage) off ebay. They work fine for me (Sky-HD-Sony STR-DH800 AV AMP and LG BD370) Heres a link. Cheapo HDMI cables The only differance between your £25 cable and mine for a quid (plus postage) is that have enougth change left to buy a couple of BD movies

04-10-2009, 13:00	#15
bobcar Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 14,718	Quote: Originally Posted by martysport Bollox M8 You can get perfectly good ones for a quid (plus postage) off ebay. They work fine for me (Sky-HD-Sony STR-DH800 AV AMP and LG BD370) Heres a link. Cheapo HDMI cables The only differance between your £25 cable and mine for a quid (plus postage) is that have enougth change left to buy a couple of BD movies Not necessarily, being really cheap might mean they fall apart quickly or don't always work properly. I can't comment on those particular ones you linked but looking at the comments of similarly priced ones on Amazon there are a lot of negative comments about them falling apart. I saw some for £1 with negative comments and so bought the next ones up for £7 that had no such comments - I couldn't be bothered looking over the internet to save a couple of quid. For a few quid extra (say £5) you are likely to get much better quality. Okay the PQ won't be improved but to me at least paying say £5 extra for something that is less likely to fail at some point is well worth it.

04-10-2009, 13:22	#16
martysport Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Exciled in France Posts: 363	Why would they fall apart? does your telly walk around the room at night after you go to bed They are digital, they either work or they don't and just cos some hamfisted fool trys to insert the cable the wrong way up and forces it and breaks it is no fault of the cable Your money and your choice If like me you need 3 HDMI cable and spend £25 on each one it doesn't take a genius to work out the maths £75 vs £3 A fool and his money is easily parted

04-10-2009, 13:38	#17
martysport Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Exciled in France Posts: 363	I just found the ebay cheapo ones on Amazon.com (not listed on Amazon UK) Same cable on Amazon Many other people are selling the same cable for £5-£25 depending on where you go So basically you are getting a decent cable for a quid

04-10-2009, 13:56	#18
kev Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: South Notts (Waltham TV TX) Posts: 20,200	Quote: Originally Posted by martysport Why would they fall apart? does your telly walk around the room at night after you go to bed DVDs falling off the back of the Amp and pulling the cable out...

04-10-2009, 14:13	#19
John Currie Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: South Lanarkshire. Scotland Posts: 2,005	Quote: Originally Posted by kev DVDs falling off the back of the Amp and pulling the cable out... Only an eejit would sit DVDs on the back of a hot amp

04-10-2009, 14:41	#20
kev Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: South Notts (Waltham TV TX) Posts: 20,200	Quote: Originally Posted by John Currie Only an eejit would sit DVDs on the back of a hot amp Well actually they are on top of the DAB Tuner which runs cold and is on the shelf above the AV Amp....

04-10-2009, 15:04	#21
stvn758 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 17,338	Yes it does matter, I paid £45 for mine and I can sit there for ages just looking at it it's so nice.

04-10-2009, 16:38	#22
jackthom Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Northumberland Posts: 4,536	Quote: Originally Posted by stvn758 Yes it does matter, I paid £45 for mine and I can sit there for ages just looking at it it's so nice. Does it have flashing LEDs all down it's length?

DS Forums

does the price of your hdmi cable REALLY matter?

04-10-2009, 17:34	#23
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by jackthom Does it have flashing LEDs all down it's length? No, he stares at it thinking "If I'd bought a £5 cable I'd have exactly the same results, and £40 worth of beer to enjoy it with"

04-10-2009, 17:46	#24
linkinpark875 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 24,424	They use to charge the earth for scart leads and when one's came on the market cheaper they soon vanished. There's no different in picture quality but the cheap Argos one's are not as firm and good quality as a more expensive one. Because HD is a premium they will make everybody think it's worth over paying for leads.

04-10-2009, 17:47	#25
Mark. Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: The dark side of the moon Posts: 51,381	Whilst I agree that expensive cables aren't needed, what about this video from Monster: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-zbIBERGk4