HDMI Cables

814man

Just bought new HD TV and upgraded Sky package. Salesman at Currys/PC World said we would need upgraded 1.3c HDMI cables to get best results from HD system. He then also said that the Sky installation man would tell me that I didnt need them but that he was right.
As predicted Sky installation engineer said I had been conned by the Currys/PC World salesman and that I didnt need the ones I had been sold in the shop, for £15.
I have reciept and the saleman did say I could take them back if not happy.
Who is right here - I cant tell if the standard cables are any different to the 1.3 ones but is there a technical reason for them.

pcombo

Sky provide HDMI cable when you get a SKY HD box. If you want to start with version why not go with 1.4 :P

custardy

814man wrote: »

Just bought new HD TV and upgraded Sky package. Salesman at Currys/PC World said we would need upgraded 1.3c HDMI cables to get best results from HD system. He then also said that the Sky installation man would tell me that I didnt need them but that he was right.
As predicted Sky installation engineer said I had been conned by the Currys/PC World salesman and that I didnt need the ones I had been sold in the shop, for £15.
I have reciept and the saleman did say I could take them back if not happy.
Who is right here - I cant tell if the standard cables are any different to the 1.3 ones but is there a technical reason for them.

okay.some folks will tell you buy the best.
others will say it doesnt matter
i fall in the middle
theres no need to spend a fortune on HDMI cables but get ones that are 1.3b certified
i got mine from Amazon for a few pounds each.
i did have an v1.2 HDMI cable(xbox 360 spec) but i couldnt get full HD with the PS3 over it and had loads of issues until i tried the newer cables
take the £15 one back
if the cable you got with the sky box is working then forget about it and enjoy the HD
Im running Avatar on the 50" right now

Phantom_Flan_Flinger

814man wrote: »

.....and that I didnt need the ones I had been sold in the shop, for £15.

It's actually surprising they sold you one for only £15.

When I bought a new TV last year, they told me I needed a £70 HDMI lead.

They even preceded to do a demonstration on the difference between the expensive and cheap HDMI leads. There was a difference, but while the salesman went to get one off the shelf at the other end of the store, I had a peek around the back of the demonstration TV. There I found they'd been demonstrating the difference between an HDMI lead and a component lead.
I actually made a complaint and got an apology from head office, though the shop manager stated to them that they'd been moving the display around, which was total b*ll*cks.

I just wonder how many other people they'd duped before me.

System

Sky HD boxes use HDMI v1.1 so it is pointless getting a better spec cable for this connection than the one supplied by Sky.

It is also worth looking at the HDMI sockets on your TV and which version they are as you probably won't improve things by getting a higher spec cable.

Esqui

One of the reasons I find to get a better cable is that they're made out of better plastic, and don't break so easily. Curse you, 99p HDMI cable!

I'm spending at least two pounds from now on

googler

Is it worth going back for the sake of £15, when you spent.... how much on the TV and Sky package?

Empty_pockets

All you need

http://www.thatcable.com/acatalog/HDMI_cables.html

spakkker

Only got an HD tv last week and poundland is doing it's bit. Ordered one of these tho' http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250702231072 so can watch anything that the pc will play. Never heard of the "b" cat 1.3 before and can live without 3D a bit longer.

macman

It's on these sort of components that DSG make most of their margin, which is why their sales people are under orders to push them just as hard as they can. Tenner for a USB printer cable?

Richie-from-the-Boro

Consensus here, I agree with every one else

If it's under three meters and you paid more than two quid you were conned !

The nice salespeople at PCWorld etc make nothing, not a penny if they sell you a £2000 quid tele, but they make all their commission out of the overpriced high margin rubbish stuff they con you into.