HDMI Cables - worth the extra $$?

T

TXEric

Active Member
Just moved and had Best Buy Geek Squad over to install some new in-wall front and rear B&Ws.

He does not work on commission and has 21 years AV experience and swears I need expensive HDMI cables such as Audioquest for around $129 each.

He was not pushy or salesy at all so I was buying his info..
Until - I hit the web and found articles that it is a scam/marketing ploy, that $20 HDMI cables are all that I will ever need.

So I thought I would come to the nice folks here to get your experience on HDMI cables. Thanks!
 
Register to hide this ad
For HDMI cables I have noticed no difference between Audioquest Cinnamon ($68.75) and Blue Rigger ($5.99). Both were purchased from Amazon.

FWIW: My analog cables are a mix of DH Labs Silver Sonic BL1 and Air Matrix. My speaker cables are DH Labs Q-10 Signature.
 
I've never tried any expensive ones, only brand quality like from Blue Jeans Cable who uses Belden wire for their better HDMI cables.

If I were making long runs again (currently using 35ft Series 1 from Blue Jeans Cable ~$120 @ 35ft), I'd look at cables with Redmere technology. They're an active cable so they tend to be thinner and less stress on the connectors, yet still full performance over long runs and relatively inexpensive.

If all you're talking about are the 3 to 6ft cables then something like BJC FE-series would be fine.
 
Unless you're needing long runs, no difference. The only difference will be a lighter wallet & a salesperson with a good line of BS. How do you really know that he's only salaried? He said so?
 
I use BJC HDMI cables as they have a tighter connection and work well. I did this mainly because I got tired of cheaper cables that either never worked or failed after only a few months. I don't spend the extra money because they sound better or work better but because they last a LOT longer. I also have some I got at the local Sam's Club that had ethernet as well which are made to a higher standard which have surprised me how well they worked and lasted despite my many moves and playing with various room positioning. Don't go overboard as having tried many different ones much more expensive, none of them made any difference whatsoever in either picture or sound. I will say the BJC's meet or exceed every spec out there so far and the few in the works. Yes they are a little more than your typical store brand but for me it's worth not having to buy several in order find ones that will work consistently and last me for a long time.
 
I have a lot of HDMI stuff between sources, splitters, AVRs, HDMI over CAT6e, HDMI out from computer, and I use the AmazonBasics branded ones. I can't find any shortcomings with them.
 
Jeffery said:
I have a lot of HDMI stuff between sources, splitters, AVRs, HDMI over CAT6e, HDMI out from computer, and I use the AmazonBasics branded ones. I can't find any shortcomings with them.
Click to expand...
Same here with the Amzn Basics hdmi cables - a mixture of 1 and 3 meter ones. I would get them again or BJC hdmi cables.

BTW, I recently got new BJC speaker cables for mains and center channel. Canare 4S11 in black with the locking bananas on both ends. Cool.

Murray
 
I'd read this and other articles

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/articles/premium-hdmi-cable.htm

Most of my stuff is hooked up with Monoprice "metallic series" 3' HDMIs. I've had one go bad in a few years, and I've been using the snot out of them. Lots of "let's hook up a thrift store BDP to a computer monitor and make a spare bedroom streamer" kind of things, so the price is definitely appreciated, if I were paying $20 a cable I wouldn't be doing this kind of stuff. If I needed a really long run or a concealed cable I probably would go BJC because I appreciate their no nonsense functional approach.

I have some Monoprice HDMI switches somewhere, but I'll be damned if I can find them now that I want to use them so I can't comment on those. (I always tack a few extras of things I may need when I order from them because it's so damned cheap and I always end up using the stuff eventually... my junk box seems to remain a constant size)
 
It depends... Mostly, NO, you don't need expensive HDMI cables. For under 20 feet it doesn't really matter... However if you are doing long runs and run into endless HDCP and handshake issues with your gear, you may find better cables to be worthwhile.. $129 seems way too steep though.
 
I'll add that I also carry in my laptop bag a bunch of Monoprice stuff. Rather than carry a DVI cable I carry a HDMI cable and two HDMI to DVI adapters for multifunctionality. Also my CAT6 cable is from Monoprice and I also carry a 3.5mm audio cable. I've picked so many VGA cables out of the recycling that I haven't ever had to buy one of those. This allows me to hook up to pretty much any conference room system if I need to throw something up on the big screen, or hotel room system if I want to watch something that isn't on cable. The stuff all works, and it's cheap enough that I don't feel bad tossing it at someone if they need it and replacing it on my next order if I don't have it in my junk box.
 
In my collection of odds & ends I have a very expensive HDMI cable with 6% silver wire in it, it listed for around $300 10 years ago. I've compared it with the cheapos I got from Newegg for $3.49 each including free shipping and saw absolutely no difference at all on my big 65" Panasonic VT30 plasma or any of my 4K displays. I truly WANTED to see a difference but in all honesty it's just not there. As for Monoprice I've bought numerous different cables from them and have no complaints about any of them. Just because something costs more doesn't actually mean it's "better" all of the time.
 
IMHO if something is carrying data in the digital domain this is where *not* to concentrate your money on your system... I know I've said it before but IMHO it's worth reiterating...
 
I have BJC and Amazon Basic HDMI as much as I like the BJC the Amazon Basic's are very good and I have several of them in use.
 
I've found that Monoprice HDMI cables are too thick and can damage ports with that stiffness of the cable when trying to cram them into a wall or corner of a cabinet. I use the Bluerigger models from Amazon for nearly all my HDMI cables in the last couple years. Very high quality moulded ends, plating and flex construction at great prices! I have them up to 25 feet with my HD/3D projector and have had zero issues!
 
The monoprice 'premium' cables I agree they suck but the 'metallic' are just good and cheap.

I had the same experience with monoprice S/PDIF opticals... the fancy ones with the metal ends and braided techflex like cover suck... one broke off in my TV and I had to pick the broken bits out of the socket... the plain black cheap ones work great though
 
Dennis Gardner said:
I've found that Monoprice HDMI cables are too thick and can damage ports with that stiffness of the cable when trying to cram them into a wall or corner of a cabinet. I use the Bluerigger models from Amazon for nearly all my HDMI cables in the last couple years. Very high quality moulded ends, plating and flex construction at great prices! I have them up to 25 feet with my HD/3D projector and have had zero issues!
Click to expand...
Putting a 90° angle adaptor will solve that.
 
chadnliz said:
Putting a 90° angle adaptor will solve that. (Monoprice HDMIs too thick and heavy)
Click to expand...

No it really won't, I know the cables he's talking about, don't make the mistake of buying the big heavy 'premium' ones, they really can't be made to work reliably as HDMI has no way to positively retain the cables. Good news is there's several budget friendly options that work great including some from Monoprice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom