Explaining the HDMI cable scam

[TheCount]

This applies to all cables that send digital content.

http://gizmodo.com/5506527/the-great-cable-rip+off-for-visual-learners

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Reminds me of a company that made contact lenses...I believe it was bausch and lomb (sp?).

They sold one set for a low price and another set that was a high price.

Later it was found out that they were the exact same contact lenses but they just put them in a different box and charged more for one...think they actually admitted to it.

Can not remember if they got in trouble for it though.

 

[Illini88228]

I generally follow the principle that if nobody can provide a good reason for the expensive version of something and I can't tell a difference, I go with the cheaper option.

I do not pay for "the name".

 

[Eskimo]

I bought some off ebay for $6 each for 6-foot cables. They work perfectly. Buying them from those scamming manufacturers for exorbitant prices is lunacy.

 

[theebs]

ahh a cable debate.

I saw the markup on monster about 12 years ago when Buying some stuff from a dealer. he was laughing when he showed us the cost and then the price...

On my nice tv in the living room I have a tributarie hdmi which I payed a good price for and then in my extra room I have a 8 dollar hdmi with my small lcd.

 

[Hoofbite]

Yep. Moster Cable is a ****ing joke. They are thieves.

 

[MetalHead]

Good post Count.
I became a believer when I saw an ad on craigslist selling HDMI cables for $6.
I went to that store which by the way also serves as a whole seller to contractors for both cable and satellite companies.
I got a 10' gold plated HDMI cable for $6.
Works wonderfully with my blu ray and plasma tv....no difference from an old expensive cable I had.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Yep. Moster Cable is a ****ing joke. They are thieves.

You steal air that the rest of us could be breathing. What makes you any different?

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

I always just buy all my cables off http://www.monoprice.com

Watching people get suckered into paying those insane prices for Monster cables or something always makes me a sad panda.

 

[ethiostar]

We just got the PS3 slim and bought an 6 ft HDMI cable for $4.66 from Amazon.

 

[Cajuncowboy]

Thanks for that. I LOL'd at the last part. I had asked about HDMI cables on this forum a few months back and got a lot of great advice. I really didn't know what to buy. I was willing to buy the expensive cables if it made a difference.

I took the advice of the board and bought a 6' Gold plated HDMI cable for 6.00. The TV looks great.

No we are going to get a PS3 here soon and the Best Buy dude told me that the low end cable was fine for the Satellite reception because it is only broadcast in 720 but when I get the PS3, I should get the more expensive one because it will transfer the information faster from the game and the bluray feature.

I guess this thread came along just in time. Apparently it doesn't make a difference with the PS3 or Bluray either one.

 

[ethiostar]

No we are going to get a PS3 here soon and the Best Buy dude told me that the low end cable was fine for the Satellite reception because it is only broadcast in 720 but when I get the PS3, I should get the more expensive one because it will transfer the information faster from the game and the bluray feature.

I don't know about you but looking for PS3, i went to target, walmart, sams, toys'r'us, radioshack, and one other place that i can't remember now and they were all out of stock. We finally ordered one from Amazon for a good price.

 

[Hoofbite]

You steal air that the rest of us could be breathing. What makes you any different?

Bob pays for Monster Cable!!!!

Everyone point and laugh!

 

[TheCount]

Thanks for that. I LOL'd at the last part. I had asked about HDMI cables on this forum a few months back and got a lot of great advice. I really didn't know what to buy. I was willing to buy the expensive cables if it made a difference.

I took the advice of the board and bought a 6' Gold plated HDMI cable for 6.00. The TV looks great.

No we are going to get a PS3 here soon and the Best Buy dude told me that the low end cable was fine for the Satellite reception because it is only broadcast in 720 but when I get the PS3, I should get the more expensive one because it will transfer the information faster from the game and the bluray feature.

I guess this thread came along just in time. Apparently it doesn't make a difference with the PS3 or Bluray either one.

"The Best Buy Dude", is 8 out of 10 times, the worst person to get advice from when it comes to technology.

Just get the cheapest cables, it'll look fantastic.

This doesn't just apply to HDMI cables either, the same goes for all digital cables whether it's Toslink (optical), DVI, etc.

 

[JustDezIt]

We just got the PS3 slim and bought an 6 ft HDMI cable for $4.66 from Amazon.

good choice ethiostar you will be more then happy with it.

 

[Kangaroo]

Same with network cables the ones that cost the most are shielded unless you are in a place that has high bleed over then it is a waste of money.

In the case with most cables make sure the ends have a good crimp (so of the really really cheap brands may not) there is no kinks in the cable and that will cover most of it.

Gold plate has not matter in the computing world since while a long time there is no benefit for gold plating and the better connection. yes gold is a better conductor but in this arena it is irrelevant and a waste of money.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

I guess the only thing to look out for would be the specification the cable fits. For instance, the HDMI 1.3 spec allows for quicker transfer than previous specifications. However, once you're at the right spec, there's no reason to pay for anything but the cheapest cable.

Just recently, I've started replacing all the network cables in my house with cat 6 since I'm going to gigabit ethernet for the whole thing. I think I paid no more than $20 total for all the cables and I needed a lot of cables.

 

[Doomsday]

A few years back I bought a PS3, HDTV, Speakers and a receiver and needed like 5 HDMI cables. Looking on amazon at first all I could find was monster cables starting at like $85 a piece. I almost crapped myself. Luckily I took a chance on some cheaper off brand cables that were $15 a piece.

It is tough as a consumer because you think to yourself I just spent $7k on equipment do I really wanna buy some cheap crappy cables that may not work as well as the better ones. I even researched it on audio/video forums and there were a fairly large group of members who insisted that monster cables were the greatest thing and you were a fool if you bought anything else. Glad I didnt listen to them.

 

[Meat-O-Rama]

I always just buy all my cables off http://www.monoprice.com

Watching people get suckered into paying those insane prices for Monster cables or something always makes me a sad panda.

This place has everything you need for A/V cables at ridiculously great prices. I just upgraded my TV and got 3 HDMI cables from them for 10 bucks. The quality of everything they sell is outstanding.

 

[tiny tim]

When I was getting advice about an HDMI cable for my Blu-ray player and HDTV, people on Blu-ray.com and WDWMAGIC.com and other forums told me not to get the high priced HDMI cables at places like Best Buy, but to get them for about $10 or less. When I talked to a Technician from Disney Blu-ray and DVD Technical Support he also said that I would not need to get the higher priced HDMI cables for my HDTV and Blu-ray player. I ended up ordering my HDMI cables and paid a grand total of $5 or so and they work great on my HDTV and Blu-ray player.