HT Buffs - $100 component cables worth it?

[TGregg]

Almost done with my new home theatre system, soon as I dump a few more items on Fleabay and get a nice deal on my monitor I?ll be watching in style . Anyway, I noticed that you can buy some hideously expensive component cables that retail for over a hundred bucks! I?m not sure that the Super Cables are really going to be worth it. It?ll be 480p coming over the wire, which is digital ? it?s either going to work or not, right?

 

[zixxer]

I go with acoustic research.

 

[rh71]

Right... it's either going to work or not. So don't waste money on expensive cables when $25 AR cables are sufficient. I personally use composite cables as my component cables and they're fine.

 

Originally posted by: rh71
Right... it's either going to work or not. So don't waste money on expensive cables when $25 AR cables are sufficient. I personally use composite cables as my component cables and they're fine.

Can you do that? I mean I know the connectors are the same, but is that doable?

 

[DaveSimmons]

No.

 

[EvilYoda]

Of course they are...but at what cost, is the question. i.e. what else could you buy with the money you save. Our store sells Tara Labs highest stuff, and I've seen $15K cables that had a noticeable difference from the $8K ones...

Personally, for $100, go make your own, or get them made. The Belden/Canare DIY cable route is a great way to go, and that's what I'm using for all of my cables.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: rh71
Right... it's either going to work or not. So don't waste money on expensive cables when $25 AR cables are sufficient. I personally use composite cables as my component cables and they're fine.

I've heard AR has been sold. There might be some issues in locating AR cables at the moment. Not sure what's going on with them. Sears also sells AR cables - or, they did the last time I was in there.

I'd pick up the AR cables or the Radio Shack Gold cables which shouldn't run more than $40 for component cables. Both are well insulated and should perform well for you.

 

[TC2181]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: rh71
Right... it's either going to work or not. So don't waste money on expensive cables when $25 AR cables are sufficient. I personally use composite cables as my component cables and they're fine.

Can you do that? I mean I know the connectors are the same, but is that doable?

Yes, and depending on the source, it makes a difference. I tried using composite cables for HDTV, and it looked terrible. Of course they weren't high quality cables, but it still made a difference.

I've seen component video cables that sell for thousands...

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: rh71
Right... it's either going to work or not. So don't waste money on expensive cables when $25 AR cables are sufficient. I personally use composite cables as my component cables and they're fine.

Yes, any 75 ohm coax terminated in RCA will carry component video. The yellow video cable for a composite connection is 75 ohm, so three of those would work.

However, component is an analog signal - There will be a quality difference.

Depending on the length I would pay $100 for good component interconnects.

I would much rather make myself a set of $100 cables, should easily outperform any $100 pre-built cable.

Viper GTS

 

[richardycc]

lowe's sell AR 6ft comp cable for 27$, cheaper than radio shack.

 

[T2T III]

Actually, the 2 metre AR component cables from Accessories4Less are pretty cheap - $29 - Link

 

[TGregg]

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
Of course they are...but at what cost, is the question. i.e. what else could you buy with the money you save. Our store sells Tara Labs highest stuff, and I've seen $15K cables that had a noticeable difference from the $8K ones...

Personally, for $100, go make your own, or get them made. The Belden/Canare DIY cable route is a great way to go, and that's what I'm using for all of my cables.

I don't understand why it would be different. Not trying to be offensive or anything (a couple months ago I didn't even know the difference between 480p and 1080i), but there is no signal degradation on digital, right? It?s either a 1 or a zero, it?s not going to be a .873231. Unless it gets lost on El Cheapo cables. But how could that happen?

 

[TC2181]

Originally posted by: TGregg

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
Of course they are...but at what cost, is the question. i.e. what else could you buy with the money you save. Our store sells Tara Labs highest stuff, and I've seen $15K cables that had a noticeable difference from the $8K ones...

Personally, for $100, go make your own, or get them made. The Belden/Canare DIY cable route is a great way to go, and that's what I'm using for all of my cables.

I don't understand why it would be different. Not trying to be offensive or anything (a couple months ago I didn't even know the difference between 480p and 1080i), but there is no signal degradation on digital, right? It?s either a 1 or a zero, it?s not going to be a .873231. Unless it gets lost on El Cheapo cables. But how could that happen?

Cause the video signal is analog.

 

[T2T III]

Sounds like we could submit this request to Myth Busters. They could determine how much better the $15K cables are over the $25 cables.

 

[TGregg]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

However, component is an analog signal - There will be a quality difference.

Hmmm, perhaps I made a mistake. Isn't 480p all digital? And 1080i analog? I'll be running only 480p in (from my DVD player), so it'll only be digital from what I understand.

 

[LikeLinus]

The best cables i've found are Blue Jean Cables. They use the same cabling and ends that are used in production studios and cables that cost around $400. I ordered from on a Saturday and got the cables on a monday. They are THICK and very nice cables.

I feel like a sales person, but everyone I've talked to on HTSpot also loves them that uses them.

 

[TC2181]

Originally posted by: TGregg

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

However, component is an analog signal - There will be a quality difference.

Hmmm, perhaps I made a mistake. Isn't 480p all digital? And 1080i analog? I'll be running only 480p in (from my DVD player), so it'll only be digital from what I understand.

The P stands for progressive, which means it scans the image all at one time, instead of interlaced (i) which scans a portion at a time (in a nutshell).


(Its not digital)

 

[Amused]

In a word: NO.

 

[Rufio]

get a/r cables, or the radio shack gold series cables.

 

[ATLien247]

Like someone already mentioned, the signal you get via component cable is analog. For a digital signal you would need DVI or HDMI.

I haven't done any double-blind tests on high priced vs. low priced component cables, but I would think that if your cable is 75 Ohm and is well shielded, that you should be just fine.

On the other hand, why not live a little and buy some silver interconnects?

 

[bandana163]

100$ is too much for cables. You can get decent cables for less and needlessly expensive ones for more as well.

 

[TGregg]

Rats, here I went and made sure my DVD player could do 480p out `cuz I thought it was digital. Oh well. Thanks for all the help. I might end up buying some very nice cables and some ARs and see for myself. If I do, I'll post what I found.

This brings up another question. Isn't 480p=480 lines progressive and 1080i=1080 lines interlaced? So the 1080i is going to be way higher rez, right? If so, it's hard to believe that folks would be so excited about 480p over 1080i, I don't even notice the current flicker on my 13 year old TV.

 

[TC2181]

Originally posted by: TGregg
Rats, here I went and made sure my DVD player could do 480p out `cuz I thought it was digital. Oh well. Thanks for all the help. I might end up buying some very nice cables and some ARs and see for myself. If I do, I'll post what I found.

This brings up another question. Isn't 480p=480 lines progressive and 1080i=1080 lines interlaced? So the 1080i is going to be way higher rez, right? If so, it's hard to believe that folks would be so excited about 480p over 1080i, I don't even notice the current flicker on my 13 year old TV.

1080i is a much higher resolution, and much better picture. 480p is the same as normal dvd/television, but progressive scan. 13 year old tv? Is your TV an HDTV/EDTV? If not, progressive scan wont make any difference at all.

 

[cjchaps]

I had a thread(right here) similar to this one. I made my own cable for around $3.00 (before shipping). I just bought 3 independent 75ohm RCA cables, and that's basically the same thing as a regular component cable. They look just find on my 52" HDTV

 

[TGregg]

Originally posted by: TC2181
13 year old tv? Is your TV an HDTV/EDTV? If not, progressive scan wont make any difference at all.

Yeah, my TV that is overscanning and on the way out is 13 years old. Gonna buy a new one here shortly that is progressive. Maybe. Gonna buy a new one for sure though. Thanks for your help TC2181.