Are all HDMI cables created equal?

[steve3d]

Prices on these cables are all over the board. Gold-plated ends...cheapies...does it really matter how much one spends on an HDMI cable to hook up their equipment?

Looking for some brand/manufacturer suggestions (and internet purchase locations) on the best bang for your buck HDMI cables to buy for general hook up of TV, game consoles, Bluray players, etc.

Amazon? Newegg? Monoprice? Blue Jeans?

Thanks...and sorry if missed a previous thread on the subject!

 

[brianedm]

Amazon and mono price are your best bet. As long as you get a signal they are working just as well as any $100 monster hdmi cable. It's a 100% digital signal. You're either getting all of it or none of it. I've never had a mono price cable that didn't work for me

 

[Adam]

Hi, Steve. For cables under 6' (that's what I recall - could be longer), it doesn't really matter. If you start running 25', 50', even longer, then it becomes a bit more of a discussion.

I've used HDMI cables from Amazon and Monoprice. All have worked well, and you can get them for well under $10 for six feet. I just bought my parents a Monoprice RedMere cable (they sell some of them on Amazon, btw), and they were amazed at how thin the cable is. I don't have any myself, but I've read good things about them here. The 6' cable that I got for them was about $17, so you do pay more for the small size in those.

 

[brianedm]

Hi, Steve. For cables under 6' (that's what I recall - could be longer), it doesn't really matter. If you start running 25', 50', even longer, then it becomes a bit more of a discussion.

I've used HDMI cables from Amazon and Monoprice. All have worked well, and you can get them for well under $10 for six feet. I just bought my parents a Monoprice RedMere cable (they sell some of them on Amazon, btw), and they were amazed at how thin the cable is. I don't have any myself, but I've read good things about them here. The 6' cable that I got for them was about $17, so you do pay more for the small size in those.

Even in the case of long runs monoprice still sells some higher quality cables designed for longer runs. I've just switched all my hdmi for redmere and it really is amazing how thin they are. The back of my entertainment stand was getting too filled up with cables. Not anymore!

 

[Intamin]

Another place that's often overlooked is home depot and lowes. I picked up some GE HDMI cables for at or under $10 last month if I recall correctly. It's a good option if you need it right away, but the online options work great too.

Just noticed this is my first post...didn't realize I'd been lurking for so long...

 

[its phillip]

I love the monoprice redmere cables. Pricier than the normal ones, but super slim and flexible.

 

[ACsGreens]

no issues

The only issues I have seen with cheaper cables does not deal with picture quality but rather cable durability. Sometimes with cheaper companies cables the ends are more apt to break if pressure is applied in excess, then again that can happen with any cable. If your careful any should be fine.

 

[Archimago]

Are there many out there still advocating for high-priced HDMI cables as sound and video upgrades who actually still thinks it makes much of a difference in carrying the digital data?

Certainly in the audiophile world, high end USB cables remain highly touted for sound QUALITY rather than just durability or appearance.

 

[fuzz092888]

If you look on the top right hand side of the page you'll see a bunch of links. I am still a believer that BJC provides all the information you'll ever need about HDMI cables.

HDMI Cable from Blue Jeans Cable

 

[fuzz092888]

Certainly in the audiophile world, high end USB cables remain highly touted for sound QUALITY rather than just durability or appearance.

These are also people advocating for solid silver interconnects and speaker wire along with cable lifters and little rocks that sit on top of your components to "suck the evil out" so take those statements about the sound quality improvement with a grain or two of salt

 

[Adam]

These are also people advocating for solid silver interconnects and speaker wire along with cable lifters and little rocks that sit on top of your components to "suck the evil out" so take those statements about the sound quality improvement with a grain or two of salt

I think the original statement was poking fun at it.

 

[96cobra10101]

MonoPrice FTW. I love those guys.
Coupon codes for monoprice

 

[cpp]

Are they created equal, YES just moving data back and forth. Don't get suckered by high dollar advertising claiming there is a difference. All HDMI cables move the same data the same way.

 

[osmosis600]

No monster cables are the best!!! lol j/k . cables a cable.

 

[JerryLove]

No monster cables are the best!!! lol j/k . cables a cable.

Ignoring issues of how well the connector holds to the receptacle and flexibility; there is a maximum length that an HDMI cable will function at; and that length is affected by build quality.

They work fully, then they get very spotty, then fail completely. Most people are in the first or last category; but different cables do run longer ranges before failing.

 

[psbfan9]

All of my cables came from Blue Jeans. Great prices and great customer service.

Blue Jeans Cable -- Quality Cables at Reasonable Prices

 

[cpp]

All of my cables came from Blue Jeans. Great prices and great customer service.

Blue Jeans Cable -- Quality Cables at Reasonable Prices

BJC, excellent customer service and their products are pretty darn good

 

[panteragstk]

When I sold monster cable (retail AV and instrument) they were the most replaced cables we had. They are horrible for durability and do nothing but waste your money. That is one brand I will not purchase. Right up there with Bose.

 

[wingnutty1]

Thanks for the link to blue jeans cable!

 

[Budabear]

I've never used anything other then Monster and the cheap generic cables that can be purchased for nothing. Do these other companies like BJC also give a lifetime warranty on their cables? I just had a pair of Monster component cable replaced after not working for about 3-4 years. I hated to throw them out and just happened to call them one day for info on other cables and found I could get these components replaced. I definitely got lucky that day.

Thanks for the info guys, I definitely have to look into these other companies mentioned here.