What HDMI Cables Are You Using (Brands, Speeds)?

Dave ©

Dave ©

Well-known member
HDMI cables can be really expensive ($100+ depending on cable length, guaranteed transfer speed, brand, etc). But there are also cheap options available ($2 or less).

Based on your experience, what advice can you offer? Have you used cheap HDMI cables? Avoid 'em? Work just fine? Certain brands that you'd recommend/avoid?

I'm specifically wondering about the HDMI cables you use for your home/business theater solutions like BluRay-to-HDTV and AppleTV-to-HDTV. However, I'm also asking a more general question about HDMI cables. Is it necessary to buy the expensive cables? Or are HDMI cables at the point when even cheap cables work fine?

Hopefully my question is clear but let me know if I can clarify it further. Thanks in advance for your input!

Dave ©
 
All HDMI cables, if they're made according to spec, should be pretty equal electrically. The conductors are arranged as differential pairs so they're pretty much immune to noise, etc. The only real difference between cheap and expensive cables should be the physical traits -- how well they stand up to flexing, the fit of the connector and so on. Personally, I use the cheapest cables I can find for static setups -- bluray-to-TV, for example, or computer-to-monitor. I spend a little more on cables that are going to be plugged and unplugged a lot or routinely flexed. But even then, I don't go overboard. I think I own one $40 6-foot cable. All the rest are cheapies and I'm OK with that. ;-)
 
Excellent! That's what I was hoping/thinking. But without knowing, I didn't want to inadvertently compromise video/sound quality.
 
Phil1076 said:
Google "HDMI cable scam" and read the articles. An HDMI cable is an HDMI cable; plain and simple.
Click to expand...
Totally agree. I use cheap cable from a local electronic store I used to work for, and they were buying the cables from Tomauri.com. Label BlueDiamond cables. Cheap, and works well. I only have that at home for BD player/Computer screen/Camcorder/Camera.
 
I wouldn't say that all cables are alike, but for the most part paying big bucks is a waste of money. I've had brand new 1/8" audio cables have static because of weakness where the cable joins the plug. I would never EVER buy a cable at BestBuy. Why would I spend $30 on an HDMI cable when I can get one that is the same length from NewEgg for more than 50% cheaper?
 
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