HDMI cable: cheap Toslink or Monster?

Gabor
Gabor Posts: 8
edited July 2007 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
Before spending (or wasting) my money on a very tempting Toslink HDMI cable on Amazon.com, I'd like to hear your opinions and experiences with cheap versus brand name HDMI and optical cables.
This is digital, folks, does it really matter?
And if it does, how, and how much?
I just upgraded my old battered JVC receiver for a Yamaha rx v661 for my Rti 10 babies, and 'd like to replace my old analog cables with digital ones (at this point it is hard to believe that the sound gets any better, but I still have the bi-amping option besides the digital cables - just want to enjoy each consecutive level).
Post edited by Gabor on
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited July 2007
    I use Monoprice.com for all my digital interconnects. SignalCable and Alpha Core for analog.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • daboyz
    daboyz Posts: 5,207
    edited July 2007
    I would pass on the Monster and try Blue Jeans Cable.
    Excellent cables for the money.

    http://bluejeanscable.com
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  • scottvamp
    scottvamp Posts: 3,277
    edited July 2007
    Monoprice.com
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  • jtgranby
    jtgranby Posts: 887
    edited July 2007
    http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024004&p_id=2412&seq=1&format=2&style=

    I third monoprice.com

    Jim
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  • Gabor
    Gabor Posts: 8
    edited July 2007
    Thank you guys, I just checked out the sites you'd suggested. Blue Jeans Cable is very informative, monoprice.com is awsome with its prices and selection.
    I'll pass on Monster.
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  • olilugo
    olilugo Posts: 405
    edited July 2007
    before you buy, check this hdmi cable from panasonic.
    http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-RP-CDHG15-High-Speed-Cable/dp/B000GKQL70/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-5008667-2381627?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1184178495&sr=8-1
    for a 4.9f
    or
    http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-RP-CDHG30-High-Speed-Cable/dp/B000G62F88/ref=pd_bbs_3/002-5008667-2381627?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1184178585&sr=8-3
    for a 9.8f cable.
    why do I mentioned this cables, these are hdmi 1.3a certified.
    I have the 4.9f and after comparing to another generic brand this cable had better picture and resolution.
    Current HT setup
    Mains: B&W 804s
    Center: Polk CSi5
    Surround: Polk FXi3
    Sub: Velodyne DLS-3750R
    Receiver: Pioneer SC-07
    Amplifier: Sunfire TGA5200
    TV: Sony KDS60A2020
    DBP: Sony DBP-S350
    CDP: Pioneer DV-48AV
    Interconnect cables: SignalCable analog II
    speaker cables: SignalCable Ultra Speaker Cables Bi-wire
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  • louthewiz
    louthewiz Posts: 581
    edited July 2007
    All hdmi cables are the same , if you buy any expensive cables all you are paying for is the name..
    My gear,
    Acer PH530 720P PJ
    100 inch Da-Lite Video Spectra screen
    Yamaha HTR 5790
    Toshiba HD-A3
    Denon 1600 dvd player with sdi out,
    DVDO iSCAN HD+
    Panasonic Dmr E-80H
    Dishnetwork HD pvr
    1 Audiosource amp300 150 wpc Fronts
    1 Audiosource ampone bridged 200 watts powering center
    1 Onkyo M-282 105 wpc amplifier sides
    polk cs400 center
    polk RT400 mains
    Polk mkII back surrounds,
    Polk FX300fxi dipole surrounds
    Velodyne DPS-10 sub
    Klipsch KSW-10 sub.:cool:
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  • MikeC78
    MikeC78 Posts: 2,315
    edited July 2007
    louthewiz wrote: »
    All hdmi cables are the same , if you buy any expensive cables all you are paying for is the name..

    :confused: Really?? So, the wire(guage) size and length of runs don't matter?:rolleyes:
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  • AndyGwis
    AndyGwis Posts: 3,655
    edited July 2007
    supposedly, HDMI is purely digital, so as long as the 0s and 1s are getting from point A to point B, nothing else should matter.

    Basically, it should either work 100% or not work at all. But, I guess you could say the same for Coaxial and Optical cables, and people spend out the butt for those.

    I think having a nice, thick cable gives me good piece of mind, so I paid the extra couple bucks to get my HDMI and HDMI to DVI cables from BlueJean.

    I did get suckered into buying a Monster HDMI cable for $120 two years ago when I bought my Plasma and Samsung upconvert player. Returned it the next day. Absolutely the worse money you can spend.
    Stereo Rig: Hales Revelation 3, Musical Fidelity CD-Pre 24, Forte Model 3 amp, Lexicon RT-10 SACD, MMF-5 w/speedbox, Forte Model 2 Phono Pre, Cardas Crosslink, APC H15, URC MX-950, Lovan Stand
    Bedroom: Samsung HPR-4252, Toshiba HD-A2, HK 3480, Signal Cable, AQ speaker cable, Totem Dreamcatchers, SVS PB10-NSD, URC MX-850
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  • MikeC78
    MikeC78 Posts: 2,315
    edited July 2007
    Andy,

    You are correct, and this is where the size of wire and length of runs come in. In most cases a 28g HDMI cable will suffice in 10' or shorter lengths, longer runs (i.e 50') need larger guage of wire to keep the signal from degrading. Usually causing a form of "pixelization".
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  • louthewiz
    louthewiz Posts: 581
    edited July 2007
    With hdmi anything under 10ft really won't matter the signal will remain the same,
    And for longer lengths the wire size must increase of course that goes without saying.
    My gear,
    Acer PH530 720P PJ
    100 inch Da-Lite Video Spectra screen
    Yamaha HTR 5790
    Toshiba HD-A3
    Denon 1600 dvd player with sdi out,
    DVDO iSCAN HD+
    Panasonic Dmr E-80H
    Dishnetwork HD pvr
    1 Audiosource amp300 150 wpc Fronts
    1 Audiosource ampone bridged 200 watts powering center
    1 Onkyo M-282 105 wpc amplifier sides
    polk cs400 center
    polk RT400 mains
    Polk mkII back surrounds,
    Polk FX300fxi dipole surrounds
    Velodyne DPS-10 sub
    Klipsch KSW-10 sub.:cool:
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  • MikeC78
    MikeC78 Posts: 2,315
    edited July 2007
    louthewiz wrote: »
    With hdmi anything under 10ft really won't matter the signal will remain the same,
    And for longer lengths the wire size must increase of course that goes without saying.

    :cool: Just don't want people to think that "any" cable will do, all depends on your application.
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  • olilugo
    olilugo Posts: 405
    edited July 2007
    Guys, not to disagree,
    I bought a Panasonic dvd player that has 1.3a output, also bought a Panasonic 1.3a cat 2 hdmi cable and a new sony 60”tv, and I have to say I went back and forth testing the Panasonic cable vs a cheaper hdmi cable that was not rated 1.3a and I can see a big difference in the picture. I think if everything you own is hdmi 1.1 or 1.2 then a you will not get a better picture or sound.
    However I don’t see the point on buying a 100$ dvd player an paying 160$ for a monster cable, or any other cable manufacturer for that matter, I don’t even care is if made out of gold.
    Current HT setup
    Mains: B&W 804s
    Center: Polk CSi5
    Surround: Polk FXi3
    Sub: Velodyne DLS-3750R
    Receiver: Pioneer SC-07
    Amplifier: Sunfire TGA5200
    TV: Sony KDS60A2020
    DBP: Sony DBP-S350
    CDP: Pioneer DV-48AV
    Interconnect cables: SignalCable analog II
    speaker cables: SignalCable Ultra Speaker Cables Bi-wire
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2007
    From what I read, all the HDMI cable needs is the offical standards mark and its 100% good to go no matter if it costs $25 or $300.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • Gabor
    Gabor Posts: 8
    edited July 2007
    Well, to me it looks like an overkill to by $50 or so cable for a short distance, for what I need (2ft).
    Digital signals (in the form of square waves of the change of voltage) will be conducted for this short distance with no attenuation. Pixelization (or decrease of resolution), as MikeC78 mentioned, and loss of signal is due to the rounding of these square waves to the degree that the decoder can't read them anymore.
    But I just came across an interesting information concerning optical cables. They conduct signal on the analogous way. What a surprise! Maybe there is a reason why Blue Jeans Cable recommends coaxial instead off optical cable.
    What do you think?
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  • auto_pilot
    auto_pilot Posts: 256
    edited July 2007
    Mono-price here...

    But don't be like me and break off your HDMI connection from your DVD player:mad:
    Cambridge Audio AZUR 640R
    KEF IQ2C Center, Fronts KEF IQ1 , Rears KEF Ci302Q
    Sub Outlaw LFM2
    Panasonic Plasma 1080i (50u)
    Sony DVP-NS70H (DVD)
    Belkin Pure Audio PF31 Line Conditioner
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  • NewOrlnsDukie
    NewOrlnsDukie Posts: 24
    edited July 2007
    monoprice is the place to go for all cables.

    I've saved at least a grand in the last yr using monoprice for cables and switchers.
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  • marc32
    marc32 Posts: 5
    edited July 2007
    I used the standard, very thin HDMI cable that came with my DirectTV high-def box to temporarily connect my Sony XBR 60". Next day I replaced it with a heavier $150 6' cable from Tweeter with no difference that I can tell. For shorter distances, save your money.
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