Overpriced HDMI cables...???

wavejockglw · 11-12-2007, 11:19

I recently got a new Full HD LCD TV, Sky HD (which comes supplied with an HDMI lead) + and Upscaling DVD Recorder and shopped around for some decent quality interconnects to use the HDMI inputs.

Knowing a little about digital data transmission I was a bewildered at the complexity of some of the offerings available. There appears to be more than a bit of overkill going on I suspect and some retailers and suppliers are perhaps playing on consumer ignorance selling vastly over spec interconnects at upwards of £50 a piece for a standard 3 metre cable.

I bought gold plated high spec cables for just £9.99 from Amazon and these appear on closer inspection to be identical to the offerings in some High Street stores priced at £39.99 each!

If anyone is thinking about HD and interconnects it is good advice to shop around and take whatever the sales staff say about premium cabling in High Street stores with a mountain of salt!

Kojack · 11-12-2007, 11:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

I recently got a new Full HD LCD TV, Sky HD (which comes supplied with an HDMI lead) + and Upscaling DVD Recorder and shopped around for some decent quality interconnects to use the HDMI inputs.

Knowing a little about digital data transmission I was a bewildered at the complexity of some of the offerings available. There appears to be more than a bit of overkill going on I suspect and some retailers and suppliers are perhaps playing on consumer ignorance selling vastly over spec interconnects at upwards of £50 a piece for a standard 3 metre cable.

I bought gold plated high spec cables for just £9.99 from Amazon and these appear on closer inspection to be identical to the offerings in some High Street stores priced at £39.99 each!

If anyone is thinking about HD and interconnects it is good advice to shop around and take whatever the sales staff say about premium cabling in High Street stores with a mountain of salt!

Yep for sure, I just paid £9.99 for mine from Asda and it works fine.
Most people on these forums agree, its a digital signal so unless the signal is actually breaking up then the cable would be working just as good as a £30+ cable

wavejockglw · 11-12-2007, 11:46

That's what I thought. It's digital and the bandwidth of a decent copper cable should more than cope with the data. For longer distances I suppose it could be worth paying a bit more for premium cable but for 3 metres or less I suspect it does not make a difference.

I pity all those poor souls who have paid upwards of £50 for a standard length HDMI interconnect and the only winners will have been the retailers. There appears to be a need for some consumer education to stop this blatent rip-off.

Pete Baker. · 11-12-2007, 12:10

That reminds me I need to get some. Just got the standard one that came with Sky HD that I keep swapping between that and the PS3.

I was put off tho when I looked in Maplin the other day...and saw a HD cable (OK so it was quite long and "flat") ..... a staggering £119.99 !

I couldn't believe that a cable was 120 quid!

sancheeez · 11-12-2007, 12:11

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...d.php?t=690931

£4.76, free delivery. - http://www.cclonline.com/product-inf...ategory_id=182

colinstone · 11-12-2007, 12:14

I got a 10m cable for around £20 from CPC.

hamid84 · 11-12-2007, 12:37

What about here

http://etopshop.co.uk/index.php?main...ex&cPath=35_40

howley20 · 11-12-2007, 14:56

i got mine from currys £14.99 gold plated seems to do the trick, plus its a reasonable price, comet where selling a philips for £30 and another make at £55 what a joke.

sancheeez · 11-12-2007, 16:43

Gold plating on a digital cable is pointless.

It either works or it doesn't (it's digital!) .... it can't "reduce interference" or any of the other garbage they put on the packaging to sell over-priced cables.

bobcar · 11-12-2007, 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by sancheeez

Gold plating on a digital cable is pointless.

It either works or it doesn't (it's digital!) .... it can't "reduce interference" or any of the other garbage they put on the packaging to sell over-priced cables.

It depends what the sockets are, if the sockets are gold plated then it makes sense for the cables to be as well - for reliability not to improve quality.

Kojack · 11-12-2007, 21:17

Another rip off is the HDMI switch selling for £50+ with remote control.

I just bought mine off ebay for £18.50 a 5port one at that and auto switching.

11-12-2007, 11:19	#1
wavejockglw Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 10,276	Overpriced HDMI cables...??? I recently got a new Full HD LCD TV, Sky HD (which comes supplied with an HDMI lead) + and Upscaling DVD Recorder and shopped around for some decent quality interconnects to use the HDMI inputs. Knowing a little about digital data transmission I was a bewildered at the complexity of some of the offerings available. There appears to be more than a bit of overkill going on I suspect and some retailers and suppliers are perhaps playing on consumer ignorance selling vastly over spec interconnects at upwards of £50 a piece for a standard 3 metre cable. I bought gold plated high spec cables for just £9.99 from Amazon and these appear on closer inspection to be identical to the offerings in some High Street stores priced at £39.99 each! If anyone is thinking about HD and interconnects it is good advice to shop around and take whatever the sales staff say about premium cabling in High Street stores with a mountain of salt!

11-12-2007, 11:36	#2
Kojack Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Pomgolia Posts: 1,162	Quote: Originally Posted by wavejockglw I recently got a new Full HD LCD TV, Sky HD (which comes supplied with an HDMI lead) + and Upscaling DVD Recorder and shopped around for some decent quality interconnects to use the HDMI inputs. Knowing a little about digital data transmission I was a bewildered at the complexity of some of the offerings available. There appears to be more than a bit of overkill going on I suspect and some retailers and suppliers are perhaps playing on consumer ignorance selling vastly over spec interconnects at upwards of £50 a piece for a standard 3 metre cable. I bought gold plated high spec cables for just £9.99 from Amazon and these appear on closer inspection to be identical to the offerings in some High Street stores priced at £39.99 each! If anyone is thinking about HD and interconnects it is good advice to shop around and take whatever the sales staff say about premium cabling in High Street stores with a mountain of salt! Yep for sure, I just paid £9.99 for mine from Asda and it works fine. Most people on these forums agree, its a digital signal so unless the signal is actually breaking up then the cable would be working just as good as a £30+ cable

11-12-2007, 11:46	#3
wavejockglw Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 10,276	That's what I thought. It's digital and the bandwidth of a decent copper cable should more than cope with the data. For longer distances I suppose it could be worth paying a bit more for premium cable but for 3 metres or less I suspect it does not make a difference. I pity all those poor souls who have paid upwards of £50 for a standard length HDMI interconnect and the only winners will have been the retailers. There appears to be a need for some consumer education to stop this blatent rip-off.

11-12-2007, 12:10	#4
Pete Baker. Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Staffordshire Posts: 634	That reminds me I need to get some. Just got the standard one that came with Sky HD that I keep swapping between that and the PS3. I was put off tho when I looked in Maplin the other day...and saw a HD cable (OK so it was quite long and "flat") ..... a staggering £119.99 ! I couldn't believe that a cable was 120 quid!

11-12-2007, 12:11	#5
sancheeez Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,762	http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...d.php?t=690931 £4.76, free delivery. - http://www.cclonline.com/product-inf...ategory_id=182

11-12-2007, 12:14	#6
colinstone Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 86	I got a 10m cable for around £20 from CPC.

11-12-2007, 12:37	#7
hamid84 Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 977	What about here http://etopshop.co.uk/index.php?main...ex&cPath=35_40

11-12-2007, 14:56	#8
howley20 Forum Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 355	i got mine from currys £14.99 gold plated seems to do the trick, plus its a reasonable price, comet where selling a philips for £30 and another make at £55 what a joke.

11-12-2007, 16:43	#9
sancheeez Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,762	Gold plating on a digital cable is pointless. It either works or it doesn't (it's digital!) .... it can't "reduce interference" or any of the other garbage they put on the packaging to sell over-priced cables.

11-12-2007, 20:59	#10
bobcar Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 14,718	Quote: Originally Posted by sancheeez Gold plating on a digital cable is pointless. It either works or it doesn't (it's digital!) .... it can't "reduce interference" or any of the other garbage they put on the packaging to sell over-priced cables. It depends what the sockets are, if the sockets are gold plated then it makes sense for the cables to be as well - for reliability not to improve quality.

11-12-2007, 21:17	#11
Kojack Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Pomgolia Posts: 1,162	Another rip off is the HDMI switch selling for £50+ with remote control. I just bought mine off ebay for £18.50 a 5port one at that and auto switching.

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Overpriced HDMI cables...???