All HDMI cables the same?
- Thread starter mrapoc
- Start date
As far as signal quality goes, all HDMI cables are the same. Less-expensive HDMI and DVI cables should offer nearly identical performance compared to expensive name brands. The exceptions are long runs of say, more than 10 feet where high-quality cables often work better. Higher priced HDMI cables do tend to be better insulated though.
fruityness
New member
Indeedy, HDMI cables are digital, so only send 1's and 0's. So the signal is either received or it isnt. Pricier cables as PV5150 said would have a better build quality. Also saw a comparison (i think it was on channel 5 (uk) gadget show), cheapo cables vs. the expensive Van Den Hul type extravagence - no difference.
http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_7&products_id=105192
That's what I have just ordered, cheap and cheerful.
That's what I have just ordered, cheap and cheerful.
FarFarAway
New member
Got a Sony cable, a Cambridge Audio Cable and a QED HDMI cable here and they all do the same trick frankly
FarFarAway
New member
Aye agreed, I felt with my equipment I had to buy some decent stuff, hence the QED and Cambridge stuff. My Sony one is for the PS3 and is designed for it. I have had bad experiences with rubbish HDMI cables in the past.
I like Ixos stuff, have a couple of their quality RCA cables connecting stuff here...
I like Ixos stuff, have a couple of their quality RCA cables connecting stuff here...
a5ian300zx
New member
hi all,
i know users say they are digital but i have tried the cheaper ones and the higher quality ones and they do make a difference, it mainly the quality of build which contributes to the signal quality.
h**p://ukhdmi.com/
the above make cables of high quality and decent price (you might find there cables on ebay slightly cheaper
)
edit: i noticed more depth and better colour range on mine i have the top of range one from above and also some monster 1000 ones (which i cant see difference compare to the above company ones)
i know users say they are digital but i have tried the cheaper ones and the higher quality ones and they do make a difference, it mainly the quality of build which contributes to the signal quality.
h**p://ukhdmi.com/
the above make cables of high quality and decent price (you might find there cables on ebay slightly cheaper
)edit: i noticed more depth and better colour range on mine i have the top of range one from above and also some monster 1000 ones (which i cant see difference compare to the above company ones)
Rastalovich
New member
I'm a bit up in the air with this regarding quality of cable.
It's historically true that with the older vga cables, u do get degridation that appears more with syncing, or ghosting as it appears. Both in length and thickness of cable. A cheap one connected to a kvm can give u all types of blurred vision.
The digital leads tho. They kinda work on a different basis. Either the signal is present or not - in theory. The strength of the signal not really being called into question, length of the cable dependant, as long as the message is received if u like.
Many of these theories I have had to call into debate during work and testing of studios. Mainly on the basis of "why u using this?" sort of thing.
What I would stress in terms of quality of a lead in the digital sense, is it's shield construction and, using really basic terms, thickness of the cable per length.
I see £40 for a 50cm HDMI lead with "gold contacts" as bolox.
It's historically true that with the older vga cables, u do get degridation that appears more with syncing, or ghosting as it appears. Both in length and thickness of cable. A cheap one connected to a kvm can give u all types of blurred vision.
The digital leads tho. They kinda work on a different basis. Either the signal is present or not - in theory. The strength of the signal not really being called into question, length of the cable dependant, as long as the message is received if u like.
Many of these theories I have had to call into debate during work and testing of studios. Mainly on the basis of "why u using this?" sort of thing.
What I would stress in terms of quality of a lead in the digital sense, is it's shield construction and, using really basic terms, thickness of the cable per length.
I see £40 for a 50cm HDMI lead with "gold contacts" as bolox.
FarFarAway
New member
Well yes and no Rast. a 0-5mtr HDMI lead £50 is overkill, but I have found that shelling out £25 on a decent QED cable makes a difference as some cheaper HDMI cables don't fully support the DTS-HD MA/Dolby True-HD and 1080p Deep Colour standards properley and you end up with a degraded signal.
For longer cable lengths (5mtr+), a high quality and/or powered HDMI cable is almost a must
Analogue interconnects are totally different of course and I would always advise buying quality shielded cables.
Mark Grant are superb for anyone who's not heard of them. Quality hand-built cables from superb quality materials at decent prices. Fantastic, personal service to boot.
For longer cable lengths (5mtr+), a high quality and/or powered HDMI cable is almost a must
Analogue interconnects are totally different of course and I would always advise buying quality shielded cables.
Mark Grant are superb for anyone who's not heard of them. Quality hand-built cables from superb quality materials at decent prices. Fantastic, personal service to boot.
Rastalovich
New member
That's the thing. I got a 5m cable that wasn't expensive from some amazon store - works fine. It is a good build, tough enough that the bending of it isn't exactly easy. Was by no means expensive.
Thing being, u won't get any picture degrading, u'll either get it or not - being it's a signal not an analogue strength. I would imagine the same could be said for audio.
Gonna need to speak to some broadcast engineers on the matter.
Thing being, u won't get any picture degrading, u'll either get it or not - being it's a signal not an analogue strength. I would imagine the same could be said for audio.
Gonna need to speak to some broadcast engineers on the matter.
name='Rastalovich' said:
DITTO
I have 3 cheapy HDMI cables round my TV unit for various items. Cost me no more that about £5 each I think.
Now there's wires everywhere so you'd expect interferance between the amount of cables but....nothing...quality is totally fine.
I could possibly be made to believe that over a longer distance a better quality cable may be advisable but quite frankly I'm not going to fall for the gold plated tiger skin alternative. (Sony Centre advised a friend that with their new TV they needed a £170 HDMI cable, again a cheapo one was used and the picture quality is faultless)
a5ian300zx
New member
i was like you guys thinking it does not make a difference, but anything over 2m i will go for better quality i noticed the difference myself, btw i bought mine used will never pay the full price for them not worth it
When you talk about better quality, better quality can just mean a £15 cable over a £10 one.
I looked into this the other day as my girlfriend needed a HDMI cable for her laptop.
While I agree fully in the belief that they will not improve picture quality in the slightest as Rast says, the image either gets there or it does, I also know that quite a lot the el cheapo ones off ebay are no use for full 1080P and DTS/TrueHD audio as Matt has said. It's all to do with the revision of the HDMI cable and which specification it was made to as to what resolution can get through and at what refresh rate.
I will only buy cables on the HDMI version 1.3 and above.
Within the versions there are also categories as below (from wiki):
I looked into this the other day as my girlfriend needed a HDMI cable for her laptop.
While I agree fully in the belief that they will not improve picture quality in the slightest as Rast says, the image either gets there or it does, I also know that quite a lot the el cheapo ones off ebay are no use for full 1080P and DTS/TrueHD audio as Matt has said. It's all to do with the revision of the HDMI cable and which specification it was made to as to what resolution can get through and at what refresh rate.
I will only buy cables on the HDMI version 1.3 and above.
Within the versions there are also categories as below (from wiki):
FarFarAway
New member
Depends though. My cables need to send a full 48-bit deep colour 1080p HDMI signal, along with fully bitstreamed DTS-HD MA/True HD to my receiver. This requires a decent cable. I'm not talking £60 cable, but a decent Mark Grant/QED/Chord/Ixos/Van Den Halle or somethign will do the trick for £18ish upwards.
I also get mine second hand (though usually sealed), so that knocks off a bit.
For anyone wanting a good high quality cable at a nice price, grab one of these
I also get mine second hand (though usually sealed), so that knocks off a bit.
For anyone wanting a good high quality cable at a nice price, grab one of these
Rastalovich
New member
Jesus flip ! The cheapest xlr cable on there is £24.
