I love puppies, do you?

digitalvideo

I talked to a Crutchfield customer service rep on the phone yesterday about wires and connections and he told me the AudioQuest HDMI cables that are in their top of the line series (HDMI-3) that sell for around $400 dollars are the same cables that are in their lowest end series (HDMI-A) for $40 bucks, and in his own words: "The $400 cable is just a prettier cable on the outside, you're paying for outside cosmetics." AudioQuest has four HDMI cables in it's HDMI lineup and they are all the same, it's a complete scam and rip off.

When I asked about speaker cables he said to just go with Monster's Standard basic cable which is their cheapest one as they are all the same. I looked at BlueJeans website and their speaker cables and HDMI cables are thicker for the same price or cheaper.

When it comes to HDMI ratings the AudioQuest $400 cable is CL-3 rated and the BlueJeans HDMI cable Series-F2 is rated CM for in-wall installation (higher than the typical CL2 or CL3). So just stick to Bluejeans cables.

shack

Since when is a Crutchfield customer rep an EXPERT. I smell **** here.

leroyjr1

I'd never buy a $400 HDMI cable anyway

thuffman03

Have not used an HDMI yet. I am currently using DVI for video.

digitalvideo

shack wrote: »

Since when is a Crutchfield customer rep an EXPERT. I smell **** here.

What did the Crutchfield rep **** me on? Did you read what I posted carefully? He DIDN'T try to sell the the most expensive cable like many others would, he told me that the $40 HDMI cable was the same as the $400 cable and told me to just buy the $40 cable, where as I bet most employees at Circuit City and Best Buy, Radio Shack and most electronic stores would have told me to get the $100 dollar Monster cable. The Crutchfield rep was being honest to me and keeping it real. Crutchfield is a licensed dealer of AudioQuest and Monster cables, those are the only two HDMI cable companies they offer so props to him for not telling me to buy their expensive cables, he openly mocked AudioQest's HDMI rip off scam.

I bought a Mediabridge HDMI cable off amazon.com for $10 bucks that works fine.

Face

How convenient that you left HDMI out of the thread title.

shack

The Crutchfield rep was being honest to me and keeping it real. Crutchfield is a licensed dealer of AudioQuest and Monster cables, those are the only two HDMI cable companies they offer so props to him for not telling me to buy their expensive cables, he openly mocked AudioQest's HDMI rip off scam.

The Crutchfield rep told you what you wanted to hear. He's probably a telephone sales hack that knows as much about audio as my dead aunt.

If he is mocking one of their products and calling it a scam (as you allege)...I'm sure Mr. Crutchfield and Audioquest would like to know about it. Your sales rep may be looking for work soon.

zingo

Face wrote: »

How convenient that you left HDMI out of the thread title.

+1 I think there is a little funniness on both ends.

F1nut

That BS smell is getting stronger.

polkatese

I can smell it from here too.

ben62670

BS tends to come out of AH's;)

Knucklehead

since you dont have thousands of posts....you will not be taken seriously....if someone with thousands of posts had said this they would all have been in agreement.....sorry the truth hurts.

shack

Knucklehead wrote:

since you dont have thousands of posts....you will not be taken seriously....if someone with thousands of posts had said this they would all have been in agreement.....sorry the truth hurts.

1 post or 10,000 posts...doesn't matter...it is still ****.

ben62670

Knucklehead wrote: »

since you dont have thousands of posts....you will not be taken seriously....if someone with thousands of posts had said this they would all have been in agreement.....sorry the truth hurts.

No when we see someone who wants attention with another cable thread comparing ~M~ to AQ. Then you open it, and see it is about HDMI. Then to have some kid from Crutchfield voice his opinion it is taken as word. The thing with post counts being fairly high in general it kinda shows that the people posting spend a lot of time in audio;) Either they have tried, or auditioned much more gear than some newb that comes in telling people what they hear.
Thanks for your insight:rolleyes:
Ben

unc2701

Gizmodo did a rundown on monster vs monoprice HDMI awhile back. In short cable lengths, or resolutions less than 1080p, they were identical both in the lab and with real-world tests.

With long runs and 1080p, Monster outperformed Monoprice. Given the lenient return policies, I'd get both and if you can't tell, keep the cheap one.

...Unless you're pulling it through a wall and only want to do that once


EDIT: Forgot to say HDMI. Can't speak for anything else.

Willow

Knucklehead wrote: »

since you dont have thousands of posts....you will not be taken seriously....if someone with thousands of posts had said this they would all have been in agreement.....sorry the truth hurts.

.

I think this comment is more dumb then the original thread!

Knucklehead

why not just let others take what they want from his post and not bash the sh%@! outta him...its ridiculous.....geez its just an opinion...

Knucklehead

Willow wrote: »

.

I think this comment is more dumb then the original thread!

oooooooooooooo....yer very clever.:cool:

Fongolio

This is an interesting watch. About 9 minutes total.

http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/marketplace/packing_the_deal.wmv

digitalvideo

shack wrote: »

The Crutchfield rep told you what you wanted to hear. He's probably a telephone sales hack that knows as much about audio as my dead aunt.

If he is mocking one of their products and calling it a scam (as you allege)...I'm sure Mr. Crutchfield and Audioquest would like to know about it. Your sales rep may be looking for work soon.

So you believe $100 to $450 dollar HDMI cables are worth it and that the sales rep is wrong? Can you prove a $100 to $450 HDMI cable will outperform a $30 dollar one?

Now should sales reps lie to customers to make a profit or be honest and help work with the customer to find what they need?

If you're defending Monster cables you're in the very very small minority on this website and the vast majority of electronic website forums.

digitalvideo

Knucklehead wrote: »

since you dont have thousands of posts....you will not be taken seriously....if someone with thousands of posts had said this they would all have been in agreement.....sorry the truth hurts.

I agree, something smells fishy around here and it's not Crutchfield reps lol

Why is it when Polk members bash Monster and every $100+ HDMI cable on this thread it's welcomed and agreed upon but if a sales rep says the same exact thing it's looked upon as a big conspiracy? There is a lack of consistency.

digitalvideo

The vast majority of posts on this website and most other websites on the forum sections that I have read and seen have negative things to say about Monster, and many have very good things to say about their experiences with Bluejeans, Monoprice and so on.

I notice that the only people who have been criticizing my post about Monster cables has been the Polk mods, so I can assume too that Monster and Audioquest "possibly" could be a sponsor or contributor "of some sort" to the Polk Audio company and vice versa. So profit before honesty.

Face

None of the above posters are mods.

shack

digitalvideo wrote: »

So you believe $100 to $450 dollar HDMI cables are worth it and that the sales rep is wrong? Can you prove a $100 to $450 HDMI cable will outperform a $30 dollar one?

Can you or the so called customer service rep prove they don't?

digitalvideo wrote:

Now should sales reps lie to customers to make a profit or be honest and help work with the customer to find what they need

No, they should speak about things they know to be fact. Not make up things as you allege to be a HOAX. I have no problem with them discussing the relative differences between products...but to call something a hoax when it is not is wrong...and is a lie. There IS a difference between the various AQ HDMI cables. Whether it meets ones needs from a price/performance ratio is something totally different.

digitalvideo wrote:

If you're defending Monster cables you're in the very very small minority on this website and the vast majority of electronic website forums.

I never mentioned Monster Cables. While they may be overpriced and overhyped, there is a difference between their various levels of cables both from a performance and quality level. My beef with M is their business practices.

If you want to know if what the customer service rep said is true...call up Bill Crutchfield and ask him. I think he would be willing to listen to your story. He has been in the business for almost 40 years. He would be the expert. If you can't trust what the owner tells you...you shouldn't be dealing with the company.

shack

I am not a mod. I am someone who has spent many years in this hobby. I am someone who believes that some can tell the difference between cables...some cannot. I have NO problem paying less for a product that will perform BUT I also have a problem with those who want to make blanket statements and to spread inuendos about something that is simply not true. Blue Jean makes good products, but there are better. I have no experience with Monoprice and have never said anything about them...good or bad. I have had extensive experience with AudioQuest and know them to be a reputable company that makes and sells excellent products. I will not stand by and allow a sales rep and a poster on the forum to call them a scam when I know it to not be the case.

digitalvideo

shack wrote: »

Can you or the so called customer service rep prove they don't?

I asked you if you can prove they can first.

No, they should speak about things they know to be fact. Not make up things as you allege to be a HOAX. I have no problem with them discussing the relative differences between products...but to call something a hoax when it is not is wrong...and is a lie. There IS a difference between the various AQ HDMI cables. Whether it meets ones needs from a price/performance ratio is something totally different.

What is the difference between a $400 cable of a $4 dollar cable if both cables are certified 1.3a Category 2 and have the same wall thickness?

I never mentioned Monster Cables. While they may be overpriced and overhyped, there is a difference between their various levels of cables both from a performance and quality level. My beef with M is their business practices.

If you want to know if what the customer service rep said is true...call up Bill Crutchfield and ask him. I think he would be willing to listen to your story. He has been in the business for almost 40 years. He would be the expert. If you can't trust what the owner tells you...you shouldn't be dealing with the company.

If Bill Crutchfield is such a respected man who runs such a great business then why do you rip his sales reps and make fun of them as you said above assuming they don't know anything? How do you know what that sales rep knows and doesn't know? If Bill was such a great ceo wouldn't a good ceo know what type of people work for him and have much more control over things?

TECHNOKID

Knucklehead wrote: »

since you dont have thousands of posts....you will not be taken seriously....if someone with thousands of posts had said this they would all have been in agreement.....sorry the truth hurts.

I think it is more of being part of the religion of this forum (the cable sect) if not, you definitely will get chewed-up! Hey, the titlle is there and the while "beleivers" don't like the title, they are compelled to jump in with the insults and bullying! Afterall, that is how religion sects work, isn't it?

The thing with post counts being fairly high in general it kinda shows that the people posting spend a lot of time in audio

...or maybe it shows they are spending a lot of time posting

The vast majority of posts on this website and most other websites on the forum sections that I have read and seen have negative things to say about Monster, and many have very good things to say about their experiences with Bluejeans, Monoprice and so on.

I notice that the only people who have been criticizing my post about Monster cables has been the Polk mods, so I can assume too that Monster and Audioquest "possibly" could be a sponsor or contributor "of some sort" to the Polk Audio company and vice versa. So profit before honesty.

If we think about it, maybe there are more productive subject to talk about than cable religion/sect?? I personnally think it would be nice for members to get both side of the story but I also think it is a big waiste of time and energy to furiously debate who's right or wrong. You know, discussing politics on this forum is forbidden, I think the same should apply with religion :rolleyes: All the scientific/logic/technical tests are useless when you are addressing relative beliefs.

Since when is a Crutchfield customer rep an EXPERT. I smell **** here.

How can that be ****? I mean wouldn't Crushfield make more more money on the more expensive cables? I would tend to believe this is honesty form a CSR ratter than trying to push a product where he makes more money, right?

Cheers

digitalvideo

AudioQuest's own website lists it's description for it's lineup of HDMI cables, now what are the differences of the internals of the wires in the lineup? The only difference AudioQuest posts is the outside wall colors, their $400 wire has a nice colorful artsy design.

A respectable company would post the specs of each of it's products if there were any of the product whether it be a cable company or a car company and so on.

I'm glad AudioQuest and Monster aren't in the food industry, they would lie so much about the ingredients on the label and left off the label.

TECHNOKID

digitalvideo wrote: »

If Bill Crutchfield is such a respected man who runs such a great business then why do you rip his sales reps and make fun of them as you said above assuming they don't know anything? How do you know what that sales rep knows and doesn't know? If Bill was such a great ceo wouldn't a good ceo know what type of people work for him and have much more control over things?

From my personal encounter with Crutshfield, I have high respect for the men and I would tend to believe he hires people that would represent his own beliefs and would typically have the same integrity that he has thus I believe what the CSR would have told you would typically be what Crustshfield as a company would believe (otherwise, a man that doesn't represent a company's belief should be fired).

cnh

Any Engineers in the Audience? HDMI cabling at short ranges (less than 12)...comments! I can't tell you myself. I've tried cables from 12 dollars (discount) to 200 (1.3) on a Samsung Series 6. I can't 'see' a difference in picture quality--sound I don't know because I haven't yet hooked up my HDMI AVR.

My best friend is an Indie filmmaker...we've looked at these pictures together with the same results. This guy runs a 1st rate computer video editing system and video quality is his business-he can't afford to produce less than the best image nor view a degraded one.

Now I admit we didn't run 400+ dollar cable. And I'm not saying 'anything at all about blu-ray audio signals.

I'm just trying to get a handle on this debate. Because I'm with everyone on there being a REAL difference in cabling. I'm not sure about HDMIs though?

Am willing to listen to others on this. Crutchfield is a good guy for sure. But I don't know that that necessarily implies that 'all' his guys and gals are 'experts'.

cnh

digitalvideo

The question yet to be answered is:

"What is the difference between a $400 dollar HDMI cable or a $4 dollar HDMI cable if both cables are HDMI Certified 1.3a Category 2 and have the same wall thickness on the outside?"

But you will most likely never know that you are not getting the best picture possible unless you see a category 1 cable side by side next to a category 2 cable. It is even more critical to buy Category 2 cables for PS3 gamers because of the deep color capabilities of PS3.

The critical standard to look for in an HDMI cable is HDMI certification to Category 2 (High Speed) standards. Alot of emphasis is put on whether cables are version 1.3 or not, but any cable that is certified and has been manufactured in the past 3 years will in fact be version 1.3 because the 1.2 revision is almost 3 years old. So it is not the version (1.2 or 1.3) that is critical. It is the speed rating that makes the difference. It is far more important that the cable is certified "category 2".

Category 1 cables are tested up to 75MHz while Category 2 cables are tested to 340MHz. According to the HDMI website, Category 1 cables may give you 1080P, but they are not guaranteed to do so. Category 1 are only guaranteed up to 1080i resolution. Only Category 2 cables are guaranteed to give 1080P FullHD.

In addition , category 2 cables are high-speed cables and according to the HDMI website, they are required not only to guarantee 1080P but also for 120Hz refresh rates and deep color.

That's something Monster and AudioQuest don't tell you, they want to make you think the price is the determining factor in a wires function when it's not.