Please help with HDMI cables

Gregory Suarez · 05-17-2007, 10:07 AM

I will be getting the new Onkyo TX-SR605 receiver with HDMI v1.3 inputs and built-in Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD decoding. This will be the hub for my home theater, including a Toshiba HD-DVD player, PlayStation 3 (for Blu-ray) and JVC LCoS HDTV (with one HDMI input). So I need several HDMI cables to get everything up and running. I desperately need advice on HDMI cables because I just don't trust salesmen who are plugging Monster Cables as the ONLY cables to buy but also cures for cancer.

I do not have unlimited funds, so the price/performance ratio is extremely important. Are $120+ Monster Cables really that much better? Are standard $50 HDMI cables good enough? Should I choose something in between?

Should I also consider the fact that I don't exactly have the most advanced equipment? I mean, if I don't have a $50,000 projector and a $10,000 pre-amp will the upgrade to Monster Cables even be noticeable?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Bluzman · 05-17-2007, 12:01 PM

monoprice.com is an excellent source of inexpensive AND reliable HDMI cables. I've had three of their 2 meter HDMI cables installed in my HT for some time now - no problems. They cost approximately $6 (that's six dollars) each - stay away from Monster's!!

Bob McElfresh · 05-17-2007, 09:28 PM

Monster cables are over 50% mark up so salesmen push them.

Digital signals are very insensitive to the 'quality' of the cable. Long runs of analog component cables - you should buy respected cables, but not retail ones.

My favorite place is www.bluejeanscables.com. Good prices and the owner is a member here and takes care of us. You cant check the tweeks and connections form for many discussions and lots of happy customers.

joseph westcott · 05-17-2007, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob McElfresh

Monster cables are over 50% mark up so salesmen push them.

Digital signals are very insensitive to the 'quality' of the cable. Long runs of analog component cables - you should buy respected cables, but not retail ones.

My favorite place is www.bluejeanscables.com. Good prices and the owner is a member here and takes care of us. You cant check the tweeks and connections form for many discussions and lots of happy customers.

I will second BJ's. Broadcast quality for a decent price with money back guarantee.

Gregory Suarez · 05-18-2007, 02:41 PM

Thanks, guys!

These are excellent sources that I might not have found otherwise. If I need a cable I usually just go to Best Buy, but when I went shopping there the other day I just KNEW there had to be a more affordable way to buy these. I mean, HDMI is just a digital bitstream.

The one positive thing I will say about Monster Cables is that they really do make superior instrument cables. I play guitar and record music and I have tried many different brands of 1/4" guitar cables. The Monster Rock line of cables are some of the best I have ever used and do have a very noticeable boost in quality over cheapie cables. My guitars, amp, effects, pedals and looper are all interconnected with Monster Rock cables.

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