Cheap HDMI cable...should I?

[ZoomZoom71]

I need a roughly 25ft HDMI cable to reach from my "monitor 2" output on my PC, to my 32" LCD HDTV on the opposite wall from my PC. Parts Express has a 25ft cable for $25, and they also have a 33ft one that's $15. I realize that HDMI cables can be had for as much as $150 or more, but what benefit will I reap from spending the extra money?

My 32" LCD set is only 720p, and it's not a primary viewing TV. I may use it on occasion to play Netflix movies over the internet, while I'm working. Or, to play some picture slideshows of the kids, etc. Oh, and in case I didn't mention it, my video card has dual monitor support.

Thoughts?

[Crippler]

Check out Monoprice.com. Good, cheap cables.

I'm not sure what the max run of a HDMI cable is before the signal loss is significant. But I think it is more than 25'. Paying $150 for a HDMI cable is totally insane and I don't think you should even consider it.

[Wondermonkey]

I bought a cheap 6 ft. one for our TV in the bedroom and it's great. Sound quality and picture quality is pretty solid in my opinion.

[Crippler]

Here's a good read about run lengths of HDMIs:
How Long Can HDMI Cable be Run? -- Blue Jeans Cable

[ZoomZoom71]

Based on a skim of that article, cheap cables will work fine for me. Thanks, Crip!

[ZoomZoom71]

Of course, the next question is, can I use an 'in-wall' application where I will run the cable along the baseboard in my office?

[Crippler]

I think the "in-wall" cert means it is fire proof or along those lines. I don't see why they can't be run outside of walls. I do know 'in-wall' cables are more expensive then non cert ones.

Check out BlueJeans cables too. I use them and love 'em/ Great quality and great prices.

[alter_ego_trip]

I have run up to 50' of cable with no perceivable loss of quality. If you start to see sparklies in the picture you have gone too far. I will second Crippler's motion on the monoprice cable. While I personally run BJC, monoprice cables have never had an issue with handshaking. When the new line of 1.3 receivers were released, there were many people having issues with handshaking. The one's that didn't have any were all running monoprice cables. If you're going to purchase a new cable I'd also look into a 1.3 spec cable. This way you are future proofed.

[lovekeiiy]

with digital cables, the price has no effect. The cable either carry signal or they don't. It's not like the analog cables. Radio Shack generic work as well as the premium Monster Cable.

Granted, there are arguments about quality of signal and stuff. And really, for the common man, they're not noticeable. Most noise comes from the power sources and poor insulation. I buy more expensive cables for my hometheater because I feel safer using them. To me, it's like buying a Farerri and using the cheapest gas possible; it may still work, but doesn't mean it will work it's best possible way.

With all that said, for your application, I also back up on the monoprice cables too. Good quality stuff for the price. I use one of their DVI cables to attached my LCD monitor to my laptop.

[alter_ego_trip]

Originally Posted by lovekeiiy

with digital cables, the price has no effect. The cable either carry signal or they don't. It's not like the analog cables. Radio Shack generic work as well as the premium Monster Cable.

Boy, I feel like I'm picking on you, lol. Actually digital is much more picky than audio. In the analog domain there is much less conversion being done and much less degradation to worry about. Analog cables can withstand runs of hundreds of feet without worrying about problems. News studios have two and three hundred foot runs of component video cable. You'd never get away with this with HDMI. While a 5' "cheap" HDMI cable and expensive cable may look identical, when you start talking about runs of 40'+ there is much more to go wrong. I have compared identical length cables, and one will show sparkles and one won't. While I do agree that you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars to get one that works, digital cables are not all "equal".

[lovekeiiy]

I'm not engineer by any means, unlike someone you know (see mirror) who works in sound studios (if memory servers me well), but my understanding on the digital side, not taking into account of conversion, was the signal is purely digital on an HDMI cable. So it either works or it doesn't, similar to the an over the air digital broadcast. And at the 15ft or 25ft range, he shouldn't need to a signal amplifier to compensate for any signal loss.

It's like the Toslink cables. The problem with them is not the fiber optics, but light travel. Too much bend in the cable, and you actually block the signal; also the fiber optics are fragile too.

Although I implied cheap vs. expensive are the same. I agree they're not the same. But towards function, they are the same. Form, not even close--metal used for connectors, insulation, build quality. They're is a reason they're cheap.

[alter_ego_trip]

I agree with you that's it's not so much the digital signal being the problem in HDMI cable's, it's all the encryption that has been built into them that poses the problems. IMO, HDMI is one of the most poorly implemented technologies that I've yet to see.

I think the studio's were there own worse enemies when they implemented the system. Most consumers want a "hook up and go" type of setup. They don't want to worry if brand A is going to handshack with brand B, etc. Don't even get me started on 1.1,1.2,1.3,1.3a etc. What a joke.

[lovekeiiy]

the only nice thing I like about HDMI, which is 1.3 and beyond is that it cleans up cables a lot. You don't need three to thirteen cables to hook up all the video and audio, it's just one. I know they're is talk about limitations of the old technology on how much signal different cables can carry, but some of the stuff is ridiculous.

I do like the DVI overall.

The sad part, by the time HDMI really figures it crap out, there will something new and better, and probably, more annoying.

[alter_ego_trip]

They have already had the technology. Remember firewire? Unlimited bandwidth capability in a low maintenance cable. Only problem is "the man" couldn't figure out how to encrypt it well enough to keep people from pirating material. I feel it's only a matter of time before the masses have the ability to break HDMI, and then they will move on to something else.

[lovekeiiy]

yes, I remember firewire. I never used it, but I had on the external HDD, a laptop.

And you know it's only a matter of time before HDMI is hacked. I know pirating is an issue. But the man makes it more complicated than need be. It just needs to good enough to be inconvenient enough for the general consumer not to feel it's worth it to do.

[namehater]

i dont understand the encryption on hdmi. granted, im pretty simple minded, but how is it exactly protecting the video? is it not allowing it to be passed through, say, a dvd-r and being recorded?