I've got 4 dirt cheap HDMI cables on my Home Cinema setup, all of them about £1.50 each. I've been getting some funny crackles when watching some movies, so I've decided to upgrade them.
I had a quick look on WhatHiFi, and chuckled to myself about the morons who fall for the £60 for 1.5meter cables I stumbled across a brand called "That Cable". 5 Stars on WhatHifi, and £5.50 each. I thought to myself that this could be what I'm looking for!
Found their ebay shop http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330415551056?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_2685wt_905
Ordered 4 new ones.
Will report back when I've received them.
I can not remember the ratio but it is something like 2-3 feet when you need to get well shielded/boosters.
Cheaper HDMI cables also tend to be lacking the latest version. Still good deals out there for the latest version but it is always important to check the box.
Those are version 1.3b which are not the latest. Cheaper to clear stock. If you not fussed that is fine but the latest is V1.4.
1.4 has..
- HDMI Ethernet ChanneHDMI Ethernet Channel
- Audio Return Channel
- 3D – Defines input/output protocols for major 3D video format.
- 4K Support - These will be the next TV spec's I think starting from next year.
- Content Type – Real-time signaling of content types between display and source devices, enabling a TV to optimize picture settings based on content type
- Additional Color Spaces - For use in video game consoles/pc/cameras. I noticed some issues with my older 1.3 cable plugged in, much better now.
I have some I got recently and the Audio return is very handy!
I am hoping HDBaseT takes off though, none of that pricing nonsense since they are basically cat5 cables.
No intention of getting anything 3D, or a 4k TV just yet.
All I'm running is a PS3, 360, XBMC and Onkyo Amp.
No need for the latest and greatest.
I bought a 10/15m cable from Thatcable a while ago. Works perfectly, no issues, reasonably priced, you can't go wrong. :thumbup:
Also, its not worth buying a latest spec cable unless your hardware supports all the gumph for them either, 1.3b covers the spec sufficiently.
Quote from: neXus on November 25, 2011, 13:04:54 PM
I am hoping HDBaseT takes off though, none of that pricing nonsense since they are basically cat5 cables.
Prices will be just the same, a fool and his money are easily parted :)
What...Like this? :D
http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AKDL1-Dedicated-Link-Cable/dp/B000I1X6PM
Quote from: soopahfly on November 25, 2011, 13:17:44 PM
No intention of getting anything 3D, or a 4k TV just yet.
All I'm running is a PS3, 360, XBMC and Onkyo Amp.
No need for the latest and greatest.
True, as long as you have 1.3b, 1.3 has issues.
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on November 25, 2011, 14:21:50 PM
I bought a 10/15m cable from Thatcable a while ago. Works perfectly, no issues, reasonably priced, you can't go wrong. :thumbup:
Also, its not worth buying a latest spec cable unless your hardware supports all the gumph for them either, 1.3b covers the spec sufficiently.
Quote from: neXus on November 25, 2011, 13:04:54 PM
I am hoping HDBaseT takes off though, none of that pricing nonsense since they are basically cat5 cables.
Prices will be just the same, a fool and his money are easily parted :)
Of course they will but the tech is a lot more available and the cable ends etc are all there already to buy. We wont have any issues picking them up. I bet people will have guides on how to use switches as splitters and boosters etc if it takes off.
@soopahfly - Well it is not being used by anyone really so if it is for their hardware only they can charge what they like at the moment.
Well the cables are fitted. The sound is definitely "Fuller" especially in the rear channels.
The wife spotted it when she came and sat down, she had no idea I'd done anything.
Money well spent.
When the next episode of NCIS comes out, I'll be able to see if the clicking noise has gone.
Quote from: soopahfly on November 25, 2011, 12:51:48 PM
I had a quick look on WhatHiFi, and chuckled to myself about the morons who fall for the £60 for 1.5meter cables I stumbled across a brand called "That Cable". 5 Stars on WhatHifi, and £5.50 each. I thought to myself that this could be what I'm looking for!
LOL true - some of the reviews are criminal quite frankly.... people talking about better colours, contrast etc... from high end cables need to be shot. I don't think they appreciate that these cables are carrying a digital signal and are designed to tolerate 1 error in a billion at worst. Whether they're £1 or £100 they still have to meet HDMIs standards.
Its like claiming that a gold plated power lead on your kettle made your tea taste better or your shielded printer cable made the colours on your printed document really stand out compared with your old printer cable. There is no way a shielded/gold plated cable alone can affect the contrast or colours or anything else on a digital signal - all it could do in theory is minimize the chance of errors but since the cheap cables can cope with a 10-9 bit rate error anyway it is all pointless.
Maybe I should get a gold plated antenna for my wi:fi router and see if the colours on the forums really 'pop'....
Quote from: neXus on November 25, 2011, 13:04:54 PM
I can not remember the ratio but it is something like 2-3 feet when you need to get well shielded/boosters.
Nah... cat5 can carry a HDMI signal over 300 meters - you don't need shielding...
Quote from: Dave on November 28, 2011, 21:43:08 PM
Quote from: neXus on November 25, 2011, 13:04:54 PM
I can not remember the ratio but it is something like 2-3 feet when you need to get well shielded/boosters.
Nah... cat5 can carry a HDMI signal over 300 meters - you don't need shielding...
And USB :)
Cat6 is flipping cheap and if your doing a wire job you may as well get that installed because it can do HDMI, Audio, USB, Network and more. Nothing supports it yet but I am thinking things will.
I just think my old cables were sh*t, they got all sort of artefacts if you moved the cable.
These are solid, and a nice connection to my equipment.
Quote from: Dave on November 28, 2011, 21:41:13 PM
Maybe I should get a gold plated antenna for my wi:fi router and see if the colours on the forums really 'pop'....
I'm on wireless N, it has a similar effect, and it looks awesome, it comes right out of the screen at you! :muttley: