HDMI cable - £5 vs £55 (discussion)

gjchester

The problem is most people will not have done a comparison.

Take skippi90's post (as an example nothing more), a cheap cable looks stunning, but compared to what? Even a cheap HDMI will look better than a composite lead as it can transfer the signal in HD whereas a composite can't, so even a poor quality HDMI would look better. The question is if Skippi90 paid £100 for a lead would there be any differnce. Personally I don't think my eyes are up to it, but then others probably can.

Most people buy a lead and stick with it, not buy a few and try various ones until they find the best.

aliEnRIK

Ive tried 5 upto now
A Molex (Who helped design hdmi!)
QED
Chord Silver
Van Den Hull
Wireworld Starlight

The last 3 are a definite step up from the first 2 on my setup

gjchester

JonnieHACK wrote: »

The gadget show did a test on this, and they found no difference in the cheap ones and the expensive ones, check out their website you may be able to read more or watch the test.

Gadget show reviews are as in depth as Which results, they often compare items in vastly different price categories as if they are the same quality. Gadget show recently they tested a £800 DSLR against a £400 fixed lens and suprise suprise the expensive one won. Well yes, pay twice as much and you will get better quality.

gjchester

aliEnRIK wrote: »

Ive tried 5 upto now
A Molex (Who helped design hdmi!)
QED
Chord Silver
Van Den Hull
Wireworld Starlight

The last 3 are a definite step up from the first 2 on my setup

Just out of interest what your setup, and do you keep the old ones or sell them on, ie do you compare them all at the same time or are they tested to do you test one against a 2nd rather than against all five?

aliEnRIK

gjchester wrote: »

Just out of interest what your setup, and do you keep the old ones or sell them on, ie do you compare them all at the same time or are they tested to do you test one against a 2nd rather than against all five?

My dad has the van den hull, I use the chord and wireworld. I keep the molex and qed to show friends/relatives etc what hdmi looks like on their setups

I dont test anymore as my pioneer hdmi sockets getting a little loose

I bought the qed first (Which had my jaw drop when I first powered up my PS3)
I then tested both the wireworld and the silver together (Both a clear step up from the qed)
I tried the molex seperately as a guy was convinced they couldnt be beat (He was wrong )

movilogo

I bought a gold plated HDMI cable from play.com for £6.50 and it works fine.

thescouselander

What really makes me laugh about expensive cables is the ridiculously expensive modem cables you see in PC world and the like. People buy a couple of metres of mega high quality cable forgetting there is a mile of crappy copper pair between them and the exchange.

As for HDMI cables, its all or nothing with digial - it will work properly or it wont. If you see artifacts on the screen then its not working properly, if the picture looks ok then you're fine. Its not like in the old days of analouge where the cable could effect how colours look etc.

I'm sure that doesn't stop cable companies claiming the picture will be more "crisp" or whatever non specific, non measurable, rubbish they come up with.

Marty_J

I've never heard of anyone who has been able to tell the difference between cheap and expensive HDMI cables in an ABX test, so until someone can, I'm going to side with the laws of physics and say that provided the cheap cable is properly made and you're not running 100s of metres of cabling, it won't make the slightest bit of difference.

bob_a_builder

Plus the fact is - e.g: monster cables come with a LIFETIME warranty.

Anyone selling such overpriced cables should be able to afford to give 3. 4 , 5 lifetimes warranty

Don't forget a long warranty doesn't necessarily indicate build quality or any other quality, it can just as easily be a marketing tool as long as its costs can be covered - and at monsters profit margins theres no doubt it can be

Even a cheap £5 basic gold plated one would be better!)

Why ? - if its not mated to another gold connector - no advantage

People but a couple of metres of mega high quality cable forgetting there is a mile of crappy copper pair between them and the exchange

don't mention details that when AlienR starts going on about mains conditioners and twisted mains cables - stands back to watch thread race OT

espresso

thescouselander wrote: »

What really makes me laugh about expensive cables is the ridiculously expensive modem cables you see in PC work and the like. People but a couple of metres of mega high quality cable forgetting there is a mile of crappy copper pair between them and the exchange.

Exactly but ERIK has convinced himself that a two meter aerial flylead can make a difference

* High Grade PC-OFC (Pure Crystal Free Copper) conductors significantly improve picture detail

* Gold plated 75 Ohm aerial connectors maximise signal transfer Includes Male to Female adapter for versatile multi-application

which is impossible!

:rotfl:

aliEnRIK wrote: »

hahaha

Classic

It looked MORE 3 dimensional
And if you think 2d pictures cant look 3d you should come see my Pioneer tv (Or my dads which is incredible)
Technically its 'depth of field'

Look mate. I fully understand 'digital'cables and the cliff effect. And various 'tests' that have been done.

Ive also done my own tests (As have others), with various cables (mains, hdmi, phonos etc)

Im no !!!!!! when it comes to cables, so please dont treat me as one. If you wish to believe theres no difference thats fine.
Just dont bother me with it or tell me im wrong.

See here