Enter to Win: Super High Resolution DVI or HDMI cables and T-Shirts from DVIGear

[Tritonman]

1) When designing or installing a Home Theater system, are DVI and/or HDMI cable runs always included in your plans?

Yes. My Sony VPL-HS20 projector uses DVI and HDMI.

2) For DVI and/or HDMI cable runs, what is the:

a) Typical cable length you use I need a good 30ft run from the pc to the projector on the DVI side. And another good 30ft run for the HDMI run from the DVD player to make use of the upconversion

b) Maximum cable length you have used successfully 30ft DVI.

c) Maximum cable length you really need 45ft to be safe

3) Do you need to pull DVI / HDMI cable through conduit? If Yes, is this a frequent requirement? Nope..In my instance all my cables are ran thru the ceiling to the projector.

4) In your opinion, what percentage of the total system price should be set aside for all audio and video cabling? Tough question. Certain cables will cost more than others based on the equipment purchased. ie. DVI,HDMI Also less expensive equipment doesnt necessarily require top notch cables. Some people dont want to buy a $100 DVD player and spend $100 on a cable for it. I would say..a variable from 5%-10% depending on situation...sometimes more depending on long runs or quality of components used.

 

[jthomp27]

1) When designing or installing a Home Theater system, are DVI and/or HDMI cable runs always included in your plans?
Definitely - how could it not be?

2) For DVI and/or HDMI cable runs, what is the:

a) Typical cable length you use
b) Maximum cable length you have used successfully
c) Maximum cable length you really need
A - 25'
B - 15'
C - 25'

3) Do you need to pull DVI / HDMI cable through conduit? If Yes, is this a frequent requirement?

Yes, No

4) In your opinion, what percentage of the total system price should be set aside for all audio and video cabling?

10%

 

[PSU80]

1) Yes, included DVI in my last system upgrade.
2) Only one installation and I used 6' DVI cable
3) Did not need to install in conduit
4) 5-10%

 

[bwood]

1) When designing or installing a Home Theater system, are DVI and/or HDMI cable runs always included in your plans?
Yes, have to accomidate the projector

2) For DVI and/or HDMI cable runs, what is the:

a) Typical cable length you use = 3m
b) Maximum cable length you have used successfully = 10m
c) Maximum cable length you really need = 15m

3) Do you need to pull DVI / HDMI cable through conduit? If Yes, is this a frequent requirement?
Yes, have a conduit from my rack through my ceiling to the projector. Only 1 run so not frequent

4) In your opinion, what percentage of the total system price should be set aside for all audio and video cabling?
with long runs around 15%

 

[mbonneau]

HDMI Cable

1) When designing or installing a Home Theater system, are DVI and/or HDMI cable runs always included in your plans?
Definitely, the fewer cables the better.


2) For DVI and/or HDMI cable runs, what is the:
a) Typical cable length you use: Haven't used yet as not currently a requirement.
b) Maximum cable length you have used successfully: Haven't used yet as not currently a requirement.
c) Maximum cable length you really need: 10 - 15 Feet

3) Do you need to pull DVI / HDMI cable through conduit? If Yes, is this a frequent requirement? No

4) In your opinion, what percentage of the total system price should be set aside for all audio and video cabling? ~10%

 

[bricor]

1. Always.
2a. 1m and 2m.
2b. 10m HDMI
2c. 10m
3. No.
4. 5%-10%

 

[awesomebase]

My Response

1) When designing or installing a Home Theater system, are DVI and/or HDMI cable runs always included in your plans?
Yes! The home-theater in my family room requires it for HDTV content and the theater that I'm building in the basement will certainly require it.

2) For DVI and/or HDMI cable runs, what is the:

a) Typical cable length you use
b) Maximum cable length you have used successfully
c) Maximum cable length you really need​

a) Cable length varies, but I like to have at least 6ft in case items need to be rearranged.
b) That I don't know yet, but will find out soon because I'll need something around 20ft for the basement theater.
c) For upstairs I would say 6ft, for the basement, I would say 25ft.

3) Do you need to pull DVI / HDMI cable through conduit? If Yes, is this a frequent requirement?
For the basement installation this will need to be done. It is a "cleaner" way of installing cable and it makes it easier to replace the cable if needed. I would only do that with HDMI cable though because the size of the DVI connectors means having to use much larger diameter conduit. It is not a frequent requirment, but any "built-in" system should absolutely require using conduit.

4) In your opinion, what percentage of the total system price should be set aside for all audio and video cabling?
Realistically, I would budget between 15% and 25% of the system cost for a/v cabling. It is an integral part of the system and it is important to have the quality of the cable match or be better than that of the components.

 

[JohnnyM]

DVI Gear Cable Contest

1) When designing or installing a Home Theater system, are DVI and/or HDMI cable runs always included in your plans?

Yes, DVI cables have been included in the last 5 HT systems I have installed and HDMI in the last 2.

2) For DVI and/or HDMI cable runs, what is the:
a) Typical cable length you use
Typically 2M

b) Maximum cable length you have used successfully
15M with Gefen driver

c) Maximum cable length you really need
10-15M for projector runs, 3M for flat panels

3) Do you need to pull DVI / HDMI cable through conduit? If Yes, is this a frequent requirement?
Never have pulled through conduit, though I suppose it could be done without too much difficulty for HDMI terminations.

4) In your opinion, what percentage of the total system price should be set aside for all audio and video cabling?
Typically, I average about 25%

 

[Alex]

1) When designing or installing a Home Theater system, are DVI and/or HDMI cable runs always included in your plans?

Yes, when I upgrade my Video I will definitely use one or the other.

2) For DVI and/or HDMI cable runs, what is the:

a) Typical cable length you use

2 meters

b) Maximum cable length you have used successfully

6 meters

c) Maximum cable length you really need

3 meters

3) Do you need to pull DVI / HDMI cable through conduit? If Yes, is this a frequent requirement?

No.

4) In your opinion, what percentage of the total system price should be set aside for all audio and video cabling?

5 to 8%

 

[kearaboss]

1) When designing or installing a Home Theater system, are DVI and/or HDMI cable runs always included in your plans?
no not really

2) For DVI and/or HDMI cable runs, what is the:
a) Typical cable length you use 2 meters
b) Maximum cable length you have used successfully 2 meters
c) Maximum cable length you really need pretty much 2 meters

3) Do you need to pull DVI / HDMI cable through conduit? If Yes, is this a frequent requirement? no

4) In your opinion, what percentage of the total system price should be set aside for all audio and video cabling? 10-15%

 

[ldrnc2000]

1. In my Home Theater I use VGA, DVI, s-video, and RCA. Using a projector and laptops from work. Future installations...once I get my own projector will probably be HDMI. Though...my receiver doesnt support it, so I'll have to get a seperate box that'll convert to HDMI from VGA/DVI/Component.
2a/b. 12ft
2c. 20ft if I want to hide the cable.
3. Nope. Not in my house.
4. Like others have said..10% is a good starting point.

 

[lbjazz]

1) When designing or installing a Home Theater system, are DVI and/or HDMI cable runs always included in your plans?

Nowdays, Of course

2) For DVI and/or HDMI cable runs, what is the:
a) Typical cable length you use

under 8 ft.

b) Maximum cable length you have used successfully

8 ft.

c) Maximum cable length you really need

could need about a 25 ish ft. cable

3) Do you need to pull DVI / HDMI cable through conduit? If Yes, is this a frequent requirement?

no

4) In your opinion, what percentage of the total system price should be set aside for all audio and video cabling?

10-20%

 

[CouchPotato]

1) Yes, they have to be; you can have the best beer on tap but if the lines aren’t clean the taste will suffer.
2 a) I think it’s best to keep them as short as possible; under 6 feet and I think the differences in performance versus price are largely irrelevant. Longer than 8 feet it’s time to pay up.
2 b) 12 feet
2 c) 12 feet
3) No
4) Well it depends on what your configuration is going to be. If you are going to run components that are close together, I think you should be in the 5% range, but if you need longer cabling then you’ll have to saddle up and pay bigger bucks for the best and that easily moves you into the 10% range.

 

[0246HSE]

Dvi Gear

1. I have just completed switching out all of the direct view TVs in a home that I am having built. I replaced all TVs with either an LCD, DLP and for the theater I am waiting for the new Sony SXRD front projector VPL-VW100. DVI cables were my first choice for the theater and HDMI was used for all other rooms because of the combined video and audio capabilities. DVI and HDMI were the only cables I was interested in for the new home.

2. a)The typical cable length that I used was roughly 4 meters
b)The maximum cable length I used successfully was 10 meters I tested
the length with another projector to see if there would be any
degregation prior to installing behind drywall, there was none.
c)I would have to say the maximum length is roughly 4 meters

3.I did have conduit installed at all TV connection points. I ran cables prior
to the drywall being installed, I was concerned about the cable head being
able to fit through the conduit mainly DVI.

4.This is a good question because with the new cables the price point is
much different than before. I allowed myself in the area of 15 to 20
percent of my budget for audio and video cabling.

 

[soundsfine]

1) HDMI appears to be where things are going.
2a) Typical: 8ft.
2b) Maximum: 15ft.
2c) Maximum: I could imagine needing 30ft.
3) Conduit: Only if the HDMI standards settle down.
4) Never planned, but always seems to end up around 10%

 

[DZP1]

1) When designing or installing a Home Theater system, are DVI and/or HDMI cable runs always included in your plans?

Absolutely.

2) For DVI and/or HDMI cable runs, what is the:
a) Typical cable length you use
Most cables are less than 6'. Run to the monitor, around 12-15' to accomodate a display mounted on an articulating arm.

b) Maximum cable length you have used successfully
15'

c) Maximum cable length you really need
15', however when I make the move to dedicated home theater room with a front projector, that number will increase substantially - possibly 40'?

3) Do you need to pull DVI / HDMI cable through conduit? If Yes, is this a frequent requirement?

Currently, no conduit - however, I imagine will require conduit runs in the future.

4) In your opinion, what percentage of the total system price should be set aside for all audio and video cabling?

10% seems about right, but all depends on how crazy one gets with the components.



-sp

 

[alpharetta]

1) When designing or installing a Home Theater system, are DVI and/or HDMI cable runs always included in your plans?

I did not think about the DVI/HDMI calbe before even though I got samsung DLP 6 months ago. Just recently I bought Denon 2910 dvd player, and I need DVI cable to hook up with my TV. I may not need HDMI cable because I will run audio thru my receiver though

2) For DVI and/or HDMI cable runs, what is the:

a) Typical cable length you use

About 12 f. 12 is standard lenght for me. Most of my cables, exept speaker wires, are 12 f.

b) Maximum cable length you have used successfully

12 f

c) Maximum cable length you really need

12 f

3) Do you need to pull DVI / HDMI cable through conduit? If Yes, is this a frequent requirement?

No. I have not thought any conduit in HT planning. No need one at the moment

4) In your opinion, what percentage of the total system price should be set aside for all audio and video cabling?

5%

 

[enigma1406]

1) Yes. I'm the kind of person that makes a diagram of what I'll be doing. Fortunately for me my current setup is simple and all of my A/V equipment is in a cabinet that doubles as my TV stand.

2a) Currently I use 2m/6ft cables as all of my equipment is close.
b) 3m/10ft cable that came with my STB
c) 2m/6ft due to the close proximity of components

3) Not in my current setup. Maybe in the future.

4) This depends on the components really, but in my case the total cost is about 5%. That seems about right to me.

 

[mike c]

1) When designing or installing a Home Theater system, are DVI and/or HDMI cable runs always included in your plans?

it didnt. but i will in the future

2) For DVI and/or HDMI cable runs, what is the:
a) Typical cable length you use

shortest possible (1 meter to 2 meters)

b) Maximum cable length you have used successfully

none

c) Maximum cable length you really need

2 meters

3) Do you need to pull DVI / HDMI cable through conduit? If Yes, is this a frequent requirement?

no

4) In your opinion, what percentage of the total system price should be set aside for all audio and video cabling?

less than 8%

 

[KC23]

DVIGear wants your opinion about DVI and HDMI cables

…and we’re willing to give you the shirt off our backs for it !​

​

​

We’re giving away one of our Super High Resolution DVI or HDMI cables, in any length up to 10 meters /33 ft. (up to $200 MSRP value) to five (5) randomly selected winners that respond to the questions below. In addition, ten (10) randomly selected winners will receive an attractive DVIGear T-Shirt in the size of their choice. Each cable or T-Shirt will be delivered to the respective winners at absolutely no charge.

To enter, post your specific responses to the questions below:

1) When designing or installing a Home Theater system, are DVI and/or HDMI cable runs always included in your plans?

2) For DVI and/or HDMI cable runs, what is the:

a) Typical cable length you use
b) Maximum cable length you have used successfully
c) Maximum cable length you really need​

3) Do you need to pull DVI / HDMI cable through conduit? If Yes, is this a frequent requirement?

4) In your opinion, what percentage of the total system price should be set aside for all audio and video cabling?

Extra BONUS for Audioholics Readers!!!
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Note this contest ends on November 30th, 2005. Winners will be drawn shortly thereafter

Have fun and good luck!

1) Yes

2) c

3) no

4) approx 5%