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Where to get HDMI cable

CPA

Elite Member
Where's the best place to get some good HDMI cable. I don't want to pay through the nose like I would if I get it at BB or CC.
 
Just don't buy the monster cable version.
Its thick, well shielded, etc but its actually too thick.
The cable weight puts strain on the hdmi port and several people have ended up destroying the port.
 
Originally posted by: Modelworks
Just don't buy the monster cable version.
Its thick, well shielded, etc but its actually too thick.
The cable weight puts strain on the hdmi port and several people have ended up destroying the port.

Welp, in-wall spec is desirable if required but decidely undesirable otherwise. They need to offer more variety in longer lengths.

Also, the 1.3a schtuff is a bit scammy as it is priced 75% higher than 1.2a despite seeming to have the same construction (20' tin-plated 24AWG, for example). Perhaps they could transition entirely to 1.3a certification to reduce costs and prices.
 
A quick comparison resulted in two cables shipped (same service) for about $20 from monoprice versus $30 from microbarn. The difference was actually greater before adjusting a couple buckaroos in favour of the latter for shipping distance and disparate lengths (15 versus 16'). With the next better shipping (again, same service), the difference widens to $14. YRMV.
 
Beware of cables not labeled as v1.1, v1.2, or v1.3a. If you need to have v1.3a look for it. Although the difference is minor (v1.2 still supports 1080p and lossless audio) you need to remember that to bitstream TrueHD or DTS HD Master Audio from your player to a receiver to decode, you must be using v1.3 cables. The reasons behind this I don't know. Otherwise your player will decode the audio and pass it to the receiver as PCM. The difference? If the receiver is left to decode the TrueHD or DTS HD audio signal it can apply enhancements. Some receivers have audio enhancement options that the user may set to change the quality of the sound based on what they like. Using PCM offers NO LOSS in quality so there is very little reason to worry about it.


Otherwise the difference is minimal. However, at monoprice.com the price difference between v1.2 and v1.3a cables is only $2 per cable. I'd just buy v1.3a and be done with it. You then don't even have to worry about it. (FYI: the v1.3a cables at monoprice are all colored while the black cables listed as male to male are v1.2)

Just avoid monster unless you like paying $90 for a warranty you'll never use.
 
Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
Beware of cables not labeled as v1.1, v1.2, or v1.3a. If you need to have v1.3a look for it. Although the difference is minor (v1.2 still supports 1080p and lossless audio) you need to remember that to bitstream TrueHD or DTS HD Master Audio from your player to a receiver to decode, you must be using v1.3 cables. The reasons behind this I don't know. Otherwise your player will decode the audio and pass it to the receiver as PCM. The difference? If the receiver is left to decode the TrueHD or DTS HD audio signal it can apply enhancements. Some receivers have audio enhancement options that the user may set to change the quality of the sound based on what they like. Using PCM offers NO LOSS in quality so there is very little reason to worry about it.


Otherwise the difference is minimal. However, at monoprice.com the price difference between v1.2 and v1.3a cables is only $2 per cable. I'd just buy v1.3a and be done with it. You then don't even have to worry about it. (FYI: the v1.3a cables at monoprice are all colored while the black cables listed as male to male are v1.2)

Just avoid monster unless you like paying $90 for a warranty you'll never use.

someone should sticky this post, if possible 😀 I've had a hard time ironing out the differences/necessity of 1.3a, and what is actually needed to go 1.3a. lot of info packed up nice and neat right here...hoping it's all accurate, of course 😉
:beer:
 
Originally posted by: zinfamous
Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
Beware of cables not labeled as v1.1, v1.2, or v1.3a. If you need to have v1.3a look for it. Although the difference is minor (v1.2 still supports 1080p and lossless audio) you need to remember that to bitstream TrueHD or DTS HD Master Audio from your player to a receiver to decode, you must be using v1.3 cables. The reasons behind this I don't know. Otherwise your player will decode the audio and pass it to the receiver as PCM. The difference? If the receiver is left to decode the TrueHD or DTS HD audio signal it can apply enhancements. Some receivers have audio enhancement options that the user may set to change the quality of the sound based on what they like. Using PCM offers NO LOSS in quality so there is very little reason to worry about it.


Otherwise the difference is minimal. However, at monoprice.com the price difference between v1.2 and v1.3a cables is only $2 per cable. I'd just buy v1.3a and be done with it. You then don't even have to worry about it. (FYI: the v1.3a cables at monoprice are all colored while the black cables listed as male to male are v1.2)

Just avoid monster unless you like paying $90 for a warranty you'll never use.

someone should sticky this post, if possible 😀 I've had a hard time ironing out the differences/necessity of 1.3a, and what is actually needed to go 1.3a. lot of info packed up nice and neat right here...hoping it's all accurate, of course 😉
:beer:

It's gleamed from the FAQ for HDMI on the dedicated site. They claim PCM lossless is available if the player can decode the HD audio stream prior to output. They say the only tangable benefit of really using TrueHD or DTS-HD directly to the receiver is for sound enhancements on the decoder itself. They also list v1.2 cables as 1080p capable. So it depends really on what you want to do. Personally I'd spend the $2 extra for the 1.3a and be done. You're already saving $80 or so over going to bestbuy and buying a name brand cable in retail packaging with a warranty you don't need.
 
Originally posted by: zinfamous
Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
Beware of cables not labeled as v1.1, v1.2, or v1.3a. If you need to have v1.3a look for it. Although the difference is minor (v1.2 still supports 1080p and lossless audio) you need to remember that to bitstream TrueHD or DTS HD Master Audio from your player to a receiver to decode, you must be using v1.3 cables. The reasons behind this I don't know. Otherwise your player will decode the audio and pass it to the receiver as PCM. The difference? If the receiver is left to decode the TrueHD or DTS HD audio signal it can apply enhancements. Some receivers have audio enhancement options that the user may set to change the quality of the sound based on what they like. Using PCM offers NO LOSS in quality so there is very little reason to worry about it.


Otherwise the difference is minimal. However, at monoprice.com the price difference between v1.2 and v1.3a cables is only $2 per cable. I'd just buy v1.3a and be done with it. You then don't even have to worry about it. (FYI: the v1.3a cables at monoprice are all colored while the black cables listed as male to male are v1.2)

Just avoid monster unless you like paying $90 for a warranty you'll never use.

someone should sticky this post, if possible 😀 I've had a hard time ironing out the differences/necessity of 1.3a, and what is actually needed to go 1.3a. lot of info packed up nice and neat right here...hoping it's all accurate, of course 😉
:beer:


Ja, avoid like the plague unspecified cables. However, as already mentioned with one example the price difference betwixt 1.2a and 1.3a from said monger can be a significant 75% which is an increasingly significant dollar amount in longer lengths and of course for multiple units. Also, they've had 1.3a for awhile and still do in black colour. But they are all clearly described so that's a non-issue.

Most importantly, the cable is just a cable and interconnects. There are no electronics so the certification is merely a declaration that it will work for the application. Ergo, a 1.2a certified cable can easily be higher quality and "better suited" to a 1.3a application than a 1.3a certified one. Of course better than sufficient isn't really beneficial but if it actually costs the same or less then it doesn't hurt.

The point is the devices won't know the difference. It will either work or it won't due to the bandwidth the cable is capable of -which all comes down to construction: the gauge for the length, materials/conductivity, shielding, general quality, &c.
 
Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
Originally posted by: zinfamous
Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
Beware of cables not labeled as v1.1, v1.2, or v1.3a. If you need to have v1.3a look for it. Although the difference is minor (v1.2 still supports 1080p and lossless audio) you need to remember that to bitstream TrueHD or DTS HD Master Audio from your player to a receiver to decode, you must be using v1.3 cables. The reasons behind this I don't know. Otherwise your player will decode the audio and pass it to the receiver as PCM. The difference? If the receiver is left to decode the TrueHD or DTS HD audio signal it can apply enhancements. Some receivers have audio enhancement options that the user may set to change the quality of the sound based on what they like. Using PCM offers NO LOSS in quality so there is very little reason to worry about it.


Otherwise the difference is minimal. However, at monoprice.com the price difference between v1.2 and v1.3a cables is only $2 per cable. I'd just buy v1.3a and be done with it. You then don't even have to worry about it. (FYI: the v1.3a cables at monoprice are all colored while the black cables listed as male to male are v1.2)

Just avoid monster unless you like paying $90 for a warranty you'll never use.

someone should sticky this post, if possible 😀 I've had a hard time ironing out the differences/necessity of 1.3a, and what is actually needed to go 1.3a. lot of info packed up nice and neat right here...hoping it's all accurate, of course 😉
:beer:

It's gleamed from the FAQ for HDMI on the dedicated site. They claim PCM lossless is available if the player can decode the HD audio stream prior to output. They say the only tangable benefit of really using TrueHD or DTS-HD directly to the receiver is for sound enhancements on the decoder itself. They also list v1.2 cables as 1080p capable. So it depends really on what you want to do. Personally I'd spend the $2 extra for the 1.3a and be done. You're already saving $80 or so over going to bestbuy and buying a name brand cable in retail packaging with a warranty you don't need.

to that end, my 3rd monoprice HDMI cable arrived yesterday-6ft, 1.3a cert, 7 bucks. (1st two aren't the 1.3a certified--they were sold out at the time 🙁)
 
Originally posted by: montypythizzle
Originally posted by: Auric
Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

I can get 10" 1.3a cables shipped from monoprice for $13.08

That prolly doesn't come across as well as intended. What would you do with a ten inch cable anyway?

The better question would be what CAN'T you do with a ten inch cable.

Measure mein schwanstucker.

 
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