Inside the HDMI cable scam

emoxley

I thought some of you would be interested in reading this article from MSNBC.com: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38731070/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/
Some of us have known this for a long time, so the article is no surprise. There's lots of people getting into HT that needs to learn this, so companies like Monster won't thrive on their naive thinking...........

mdaudioguy

Been there, done that. Thanks!

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105628

mole'

good thing i never ordered them AQ HDMI's

emoxley

mdaudioguy wrote: »

Been there, done that. Thanks!

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105628

Oops, sorry 'bout that.............:o

cstmar01

search button...been discussed so many times before. if your dumb enough to buy them and not do the research ahead of time I feel no sympathy for you.

kawizx9r

^What he said.

Lost

cstmar01 wrote: »

search button...been discussed so many times before. if your dumb enough to buy them and not do the research ahead of time I feel no sympathy for you.

I need a tissue....

cnh

It is true that this has been discussed a number of times and is well known to members here. Still most people who buy an HDMI cable or two are pretty much at the mercy of the guy who is selling them their first HDTV or Blu-ray player..etc.

Considering how much misinformation is out there for the general public and the real fact that High Tech is a big mystery to the average consumer it's EASY for Monster or any other maker to make claims that seem very very Believable to most.

It's a shame...but it is true. Maybe we need an entire box of tissues. lol

cnh

JuanR

So now that we busted open the can of worms for HDMI cables, anyone care to elaborate performance on speaker cables? Some say a lamp cord can perform just as good as those 1000 dollar cables. Any truth to that I ask?

kawizx9r

JuanR wrote: »

So now that we busted open the can of worms for HDMI cables, anyone care to elaborate performance on speaker cables? Some say a lamp cord can perform just as good as those 1000 dollar cables. Any truth to that I ask?

Search function is your friend. Both speaker cable+analog interconnect discussions have gone on way too many times to be brought up again!

In my experience, I've heard major differences. Others have not. The other group, refuses to give them a try. To each their own.

JuanR

You are right my man, their is a lot of info out there and i'm kind of gun shy right now on purchasing a pair because of the -Lack-of-moola- syndrome. But maybe if I catch a break soon i'll check some out. Snow has pair right now that i'm debating on.... DAMN Funds!

mdaudioguy

JuanR wrote: »

So now that we busted open the can of worms for HDMI cables, anyone care to elaborate performance on speaker cables? Some say a lamp cord can perform just as good as those 1000 dollar cables. Any truth to that I ask?

Nice try! :rolleyes:

TECHNOKID

JuanR wrote: »

So now that we busted open the can of worms for HDMI cables, anyone care to elaborate performance on speaker cables? Some say a lamp cord can perform just as good as those 1000 dollar cables. Any truth to that I ask?

The evil has been somewhat hibernating lately and believe me, you should leave it alone if evil is suddenly awaken, he usally gets pretty mad If you are a biliever, you spend the necessary $$$, if you are a non believer well you stay away but do so in silence

dorokusai

I just love that Monster Cable is one of the main subjects. As mentioned by Treitz, if you're not aware of how your money is spent.....

heiney9

JuanR wrote: »

So now that we busted open the can of worms for HDMI cables, anyone care to elaborate performance on speaker cables? Some say a lamp cord can perform just as good as those 1000 dollar cables. Any truth to that I ask?

Nope.

H9

JKoltner

In case it's not clear what's going on here, brick & mortar stores have shifted to a revenue model whereby they make very little money on the "Big Ticket" item such as a TV or stereo itself -- since most consumers do a fair amount of comparison shopping for that, including on-line -- and now make very healthy margins on accessories such as HDMI cables.

Basically, it's all these over-priced accessories that are keeping brick & mortar stores open: The operating cost per square foot for a Best Buy is *huge* compared to an Amazon.Com or similar.

Most people here are probably aware that places like monoprice.com have very good prices on decent quality audio/video cables. If not, check'em out next time you need some!

I do find it interesting that Polk themselves is now advertising "Monster Cable wiring inside!" on some of their speakers. I guess that's successful marketing for you -- associating a brand with "well, at least it won't suck." (Bose is a master of this!)

---Joel

mole'

JuanR wrote: »

So now that we busted open the can of worms for HDMI cables, anyone care to elaborate performance on speaker cables? Some say a lamp cord can perform just as good as those 1000 dollar cables. Any truth to that I ask?

a good starting off speaker cable for me was the MonoPrice

i used these
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023901&p_id=2817&seq=1&format=2

with these
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040115&p_id=2801&seq=1&format=2

i now have MIT cables and after the burnt in. they is a BIG DIFFERENCE!!!!

mmadden28

JKoltner wrote: »

In case it's not clear what's going on here, brick & mortar stores have shifted to a revenue model whereby they make very little money on the "Big Ticket" item... and now make very healthy margins on accessories such as HDMI cables....

That's nothing new. I recall the same thing back in the early 90's when I worked at a national chain computer store where I was able to buy at store cost--Printers had very low margin, while printer cables and the like were 50%-80% or more margin.

mmadden28

I don't know why everybody gets so hung up on having to use the incredibly powerful/all knowing search feature before posting--WTH, you have to search the whole of Club Polk before posting something that might be of interest to others? Please!

cnh wrote: »

It is true that this has been discussed a number of times and is well known to members here. Still most people who buy an HDMI cable or two are pretty much at the mercy of the guy who is selling them their first HDTV or Blu-ray player..etc.

Considering how much misinformation is out there for the general public and the real fact that High Tech is a big mystery to the average consumer it's EASY for Monster or any other maker to make claims that seem very very Believable to most.
...

+1
I also don't understand why a consumer would be considered 'dumb' because they are not all knowing. Technology is advancing at such a fast rate--it's not unexpected for 'lay' people to fall behind with respect to what is legit or hyper marketing strategies, esp., as CNH said, with all the misinformation already out there.

dorokusai

JKoltner wrote: »

Basically, it's all these over-priced accessories that are keeping brick & mortar stores open: The operating cost per square foot for a Best Buy is *huge* compared to an Amazon.Com or similar.


---Joel

No Joke.

The space that Bose, for example, occupies by contract can cost anywhere from 500,000 to 1 million per store. That's a factual number but I'm not sure if that was followed up with yearly or not.

mdaudioguy

JKoltner wrote: »

I do find it interesting that Polk themselves is now advertising "Monster Cable wiring inside!" on some of their speakers. I guess that's successful marketing for you -- associating a brand with "well, at least it won't suck." (Bose is a master of this!)

---Joel

Really? I've never seen this.

zingo

mdaudioguy wrote: »

Really? I've never seen this.

Agreed. What does it say that?

dvran

Also,

You have to watch out for those bundle "deals" Bestbuy offers. Where they throw in the HDMI cable, cleaning wipes and dumb squad installation for an extra $100. What a rip. Accessories is where places like Bestbuy make their bottom line.

tonyb

....and the extended warranties.

JuanR

...and installations... Check out what they charge to program your remote!

Bobsama

JuanR wrote: »

So now that we busted open the can of worms for HDMI cables, anyone care to elaborate performance on speaker cables? Some say a lamp cord can perform just as good as those 1000 dollar cables. Any truth to that I ask?

I'm not a believer. If someone could show that, under normal operating conditions, a cable would make a real difference, I'd be happy with that. It's too easy to spot what's simply inadequate (too thin for too long a run, picking up interference, etc.), it's very tough to say what's enough versus too much.




Anyways, there's a reason that error correction is included in most digital standards. Technology is unfortunately a mystery for many people. To me, it's not. To my mum, it is. To my stepfather, it is but he sees more money as equaling a better product.

cstmar01

heiney9 wrote: »

nope.

H9

+1111

concealer404

JKoltner wrote: »

I do find it interesting that Polk themselves is now advertising "Monster Cable wiring inside!" on some of their speakers. I guess that's successful marketing for you -- associating a brand with "well, at least it won't suck." (Bose is a master of this!)

---Joel

Huh?

heiney9

Deleted since it doesn't really perain to HDMI cables

tonyb

JuanR wrote: »

So now that we busted open the can of worms for HDMI cables, anyone care to elaborate performance on speaker cables? Some say a lamp cord can perform just as good as those 1000 dollar cables. Any truth to that I ask?

We didn't bust open anything. HDMI has been discussed to death along with high end cables. If your happy with your lamp cord,rock on, the truth comes from experience. If you have none,then you have nothing to add to the thread.

DarqueKnight

JuanR wrote: »

...anyone care to elaborate performance on speaker cables? Some say a lamp cord can perform just as good as those 1000 dollar cables. Any truth to that I ask?

There really is no need for anyone to elaborate. Just use the same common sense and reasoning you would use for any other consumer purchase. Let's apply your question to other fields of merchandise:

"Some say a $100 off-the-rack men's suit can perform just as good as those tailor made 1000 dollar suits. Any truth to that I ask?"

"Some say a $3000 used car can perform just as good as those 100,000 dollar sports cars. Any truth to that I ask?"

"Some say a $100 set of tires can perform just as good as those 1000 dollar high performance tires. Any truth to that I ask?"

In the three previous examples, most people have no difficulty understanding that under certain use circumstances:

There may be little or no performance difference between a $100 suit and a $1000 suit.

For traveling to work and the grocery store, there may be little to no difference between a $3000 used car and a $100,000 sports car.

For normal driving, with a vehicle of modest to low performance, there may be little to no difference between a set of $100 tires and a set costing $1000.

In some systems, there will be no discernible difference between lamp cord and a $1000 high performance, well engineered speaker cable. However, I would hope that people would have the presence of mind to match the performance level of cables and other accessories to the performance level of the electronics and speakers in their audio and video systems.