Cable purchases - help me spend my cash

[ThA tRiXtA]

I am going to be ordering a few new cables from either blue jeans or monoprice and I was wondering if the HDMI cables from either store would be better or worse from one store or the other, same with subwoofer cables.

Here is what I specifically need:

3 HDMI cables
2 subwoofer cables
1 digital optical cable

Does BJC sell better HDMI cables or sub cables than monoprice, or they are probably all the same in the end?

As for the HDMI, what kind of cable should I get that is going to do everything with 1080P with no errors and will support future deep color?

I have no experience when it comes to HDMI, I am upgrading my gear so I want to make sure everything works together with no issues and I don't want to get an HDMI cable that will limit the performance of my system.

Thanks guys.

Edit: also need a few packs of banana plugs - what do you guys prefer?

 

[The Dukester]

Beyond a doubt, I would go with Blue Jeans. I have bought from both in the past. Both gave great service and had good prices. I like BJ because they use Beldon cable in most of there cables which is made in the US. Besides that, Monster is threatening litigation against BJ for their Tartan line of cables, which is their import line. The more you support BJ the more we "stick it to the man".
Aside from that, I bought the upgrade cables from both companies and I like the build quality of the BJ better than I do the Monoprice ones. Both seem to work well, however.

 

[stratman]

All my HDMI stuff is from BJC, no handshake issues ever. I happen to like how BJC puts their stuff together, reminds me of pro gear.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I am 100% in favor of Blue Jeans Cables for ALL the cable needs and 0% for monoprice.
Subwoofer cables: BJC
Digital Optical: BJC
HDMI: if not in-wall, the Tartan HDMI cables will do for 1080p. Otherwise, get the BJC series.

Banana: definitely get the Locking Bananas from BJC.

My experience with monoprice: cheap connectors come loose and cheap banana plugs come loose. You need high quality connectors.

 

[ThA tRiXtA]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback.

Time to go spend some cash!

Oh, and by the way I need one HDMI cable to run in wall. Does that make a difference?

 

[MUDSHARK]

All my HDMI stuff is from BJC, no handshake issues ever. I happen to like how BJC puts their stuff together, reminds me of pro gear.

Can upgrading the HDMI cables help the handshake problems? Not a smart aleck question as I would do this if likely to help.

 

[jostenmeat]

One vote for Monoprice here. But I never bought BJC. Mono is cheaper, everything works perfectly. My HDMI cable is 35 ft, and BD + HD look great on a huge screen. BJC is typically more expensive. And as I live in CA, the next day arrival of cables for just $1 is hard to pass up!

 

[ThA tRiXtA]

For someone with no HDMI experience, what are these handshake problems and what kind of troubles do they cause?

Aside from being capable of a certain resolution, what other criteria should today's HDMI cables be judged on?

 

[MUDSHARK]

They cause the screen to go blank for a second or three. Last night we rented In the name of the king and the movie was interrupted at least 50 times. The wife has no patience for HT problems and now rarely even tries to watch a DVD n the family room. I would not attempt to convince her of the desirability of Hd-DVD or Blu-Ray. No wonder she thinks we are all AV idiots.

 

[jostenmeat]

I delayed responding till now, hoping that others here that know much more would chime in. Since I have to run soon, what I have seen is that handshake issues are most common with cable boxes (the signal dies at receiver due to lack of HDCP repeaters in cable box). I've read once or twice that HDCP issues (implementation) of any given receiver may cause less than ideal performance (digital clock timing, etc). Im sure this is the tip of the iceberg....

HDMI cables are rated for bandwidth. The 1.3 cables are about double the rated bandwidth of 1.1, IIRC. However, that does not mean the 1.1 cannot have the same bandwidth as a 1.3 cable. (you know how some stuff may surpass THX specs, while not being THX certified... like that kind of analogy).

I presume the bandwidth has a part to play in any decrease of cable performance for very long runs. I think people were saying that Monoprice suffered in tests with a 50 ft run? My 35 ft cable works great, and I have zero inkling to swap cables.

 

[MinusTheBear]

I have purchased all my interconnects and speaker wire from BJC and I am very pleased (optical, dig coax, sub cable, speaker wire, hdmi cable). What I like the most about their cables is that they use canare connections and I find they fit the best on my equipment. Not too loose, not to tight...just perfect. Other cables I have had in the past fitted way to tight and it was a real pain taking the cable off by twisting it and I was actually afraid I might comprise the receiver input and/or the cable trying to take them off. With the BJC their is a perfect medium with my stuff. They ship fast too and have great customer service.

 

[Alex2507]

I need one HDMI cable to run in wall. Does that make a difference?

Yes it does. BJC has different grades of HDMI cables and different ratings on them. Check out their site. They have all the info there.

I just bought two 15' cables for $38 a piece with some locking banana plugs which were around $5 a pair. They're pretty slick. This was my first HDMI purchase and they work fine. I didn't know you could have issues until I read this thread.

I got the more flexible 2nd most expensive Made in USA offering and they're pretty stiff. They do offer the made in China cables for a lot less money. My TV was $1850 so I didn't think $76 was out of hand for cables. I could have chosen shorter lengths for less money but I will need more length later and didn't want to be buying them again.

 

[stratman]

Can upgrading the HDMI cables help the handshake problems? Not a smart aleck question as I would do this if likely to help.

In short runs like mine no, but if you have loooong runs, getting something more robust might.

 

[Midcow2]

main HDMI handshake problems occur with different levels of HDMI

For someone with no HDMI experience, what are these handshake problems and what kind of troubles do they cause?

Aside from being capable of a certain resolution, what other criteria should today's HDMI cables be judged on?

If all of your devices are the newer HDMI 1.3, 1.3a or 1.3b then you shouldn't have any problems. Problems occur sometimes when you try to conenct HDMI 1.1 or 1.2 with 1.3; sometimes they don't pass audio.

Also the receiver can repeat, switch or upconvert. Each is a little different.

Typically repeating will only repeate the video signal not the audio; Switching with HDMI 1.3 switches audio and video. Upconvert will take 480 and 720 and upconvert it to 1080 resolution. Some upconversion will even take composite and paly through HDMI.

The recommnedations for Blue jean Cables are good. All cables are based on copper wire; both chepa nad expensive cable. The diferentiation is the end connectors and the cable duarability. Shileding from spurious EMF radation is taken care of by almost all cables; the positive is the center conductor and the ground is a wire mesh braid around the center separated by a dielectric.

You asked earlier about a HDMI cable in the wall. It should be no problem. However, if you secure the cable make sure you do not penetrate the cable.

Good Luck!

 

[BMXTRIX]

I have bought from both BJC and Monoprice, and I strongly recommend Monoprice cables across the board. Actaully, I recommend either, but I have had zero issues with Monoprice cabling and with over 100 cables from them installed I think that says something. This includes 20-50 foot HDMI runs without issues including 1080p runs.

You always have a choice in cabling, but your money is very well spent with either product, yet one of them will leave some extra cash in your pocket.

 

[ThA tRiXtA]

Thanks for all the feedback guys, much appreciated!!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback.

Time to go spend some cash!

Oh, and by the way I need one HDMI cable to run in wall. Does that make a difference?

For in-wall, you better get the Tartan CL2 rated 24 AWG HDMI Cables:
http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/hdmi-cables/tartan-hdmi-cables.htm

You could also spend more on the BJC Series-1 or Series-2 or Series F-2, but the Tartan CL2 rated cables are probably good enough.
http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/hdmi-cables/index.htm

 

[Jack Hammer]

I've bought from both. I think the Tartan line from BJC and the hdmi from Monoprice are about the same. The cables made by BJC(non-Tartan line) are much nicer and made with american wire and connectors. I prefer to buy from BJC mainly because of the no BS info on their site. They tell you where everything is made and will recommend the least expensive cable to you to suit your needs.

The first cable I ordered from them was a 3' hdmi cable. I called to ask about the higher end stuff and they told me for a 3' hdmi that the $4 Tartan was more than enough. It works fine and I've ordered many cables from them several times since. I have a few of their house brand cables too and they are very nice. All good experiences and my order shows up in 2-3 days.

Jack

 

[jcPanny]

Monoprice

I have had good results with several cables cables from monoprice. I had an issue with one analog audio cable and they shipped me a new one no questions asked. Monoprice offers good quality and low prices. Blue Jeans offers better, made in the USA quality and custom lengths for reasonable prices.

I am not aware of any HDMI handshake issues related to the cable, these are problems with the source, display, and receiver. The HDMI cable either works, or it doesn't. On long runs, the quality of the cable is much more important.

Hopefully AH will post their review of the HDMI cable testing soon.

 

[MinusTheBear]

I have heard complaints from time to time that monoprice speaker wire oxidizes over time. Can anyone verify this?