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mkral · Jan 27, 2008, 10:06 PM

I think this is the right forum for this, but if I'm wrong, please move this to the correct forum.

I'm picking up an Apple TV & need to get an HDMI cable for it. I know that Monster Cables are ridiculously overpriced, but I'm curious if anyone has any brands they can recommend. I checked on ebay & these cables run anywhere from $2-$100. Are the $2 cables good enough, or would I be better off buying a particular brand of cable? I want to rent HD videos from itunes. I'm willing to spend whatever will get me a good cable, but I don't want to get ripped off either (like I did when I bought my monster HDMI-DVI cable 2 years ago)

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Chongo · Jan 27, 2008, 11:09 PM

Monster is overpriced
For only $3.21 each when QTY 50+ purchased - HDMI 1.3a Category 2 Certified Cable 28AWG - 6ft w/Ferrite Cores (Gold Plated) - GREEN | 28AWG HDMI 1.3a Category 2 Certified Male to Male Cables

Person Man · Jan 28, 2008, 07:57 AM

Originally Posted by Chongo

Monster is overpriced
For only $3.21 each when QTY 50+ purchased - HDMI 1.3a Category 2 Certified Cable 28AWG - 6ft w/Ferrite Cores (Gold Plated) - GREEN | 28AWG HDMI 1.3a Category 2 Certified Male to Male Cables

Did you look at what you linked to?

"Only $3.21 each when QTY 50+ purchased..."

I don't think he needs 50+ cables.

FWIW, one cable itself is $5.24. Still pretty good, but I'd stay away from the super cheap stuff, too. I'd think $15-$20 would be a decent price.

mkral · Jan 28, 2008, 08:34 AM

thanks for the replies.

driven · May 28, 2008, 12:43 AM

I am now in need of 2 HDMI cables around 20 foot in length. Does anyone have a preferred brand/vendor?

Nergol · May 28, 2008, 03:07 AM

Digital cables are different from analog cables. Digital cables are either 100% or 0% - they either work or they don't. Buying expensive digital cables is a waste of money. Buy the absolute cheapest HDMI cable you can. It'll work just as well as the most expensive cable you can buy.

k squared · May 28, 2008, 07:21 AM

Originally Posted by driven

I am now in need of 2 HDMI cables around 20 foot in length. Does anyone have a preferred brand/vendor?

Check out the Monoprice.com link above. I've bought HDMI and FireWire cables from them and have had no problems.

driven · May 28, 2008, 08:28 AM

K^2 .... thanks. I was hoping someone had actually used their cables before I ordered. (So that I didn't end up with the "It doesn't work" category. :-)

driven · May 28, 2008, 08:33 AM

Ok ... I need some education here.

What is the difference between:

Professional 22AWG HDMI 1.3a Category 2

and

Professional 22AWG HDMI

There is a significant price difference ....

mduell · May 28, 2008, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by driven

Ok ... I need some education here.
What is the difference between:
Professional 22AWG HDMI 1.3a Category 2
and
Professional 22AWG HDMI
There is a significant price difference ....

Mostly just the label; I can't think of anything in 1.3a that would change the cable needs.

I'd expect to pay about a dollar a foot for HDMI cables. I'd suggest 25 ft. HDMI Cable from Newegg for your ~20' cable need.

slpdLoad · May 28, 2008, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by Nergol

Digital cables are different from analog cables. Digital cables are either 100% or 0% - they either work or they don't. Buying expensive digital cables is a waste of money. Buy the absolute cheapest HDMI cable you can. It'll work just as well as the most expensive cable you can buy.

This is not true. Even though it is essentially ones and zeroes, there are still quality levels that allow for more or less signal loss, degradation, interference, etc. Quality materials will still translate in various ways over digital cables for all uses. This doesn't mean the cheapest cable you can find won't work, but all cables, just because they are for "digital" uses, will not give equal output.

Luca Rescigno · May 28, 2008, 05:36 PM

Monoprice.com

/thread

mduell · May 28, 2008, 09:47 PM

Originally Posted by Nergol

Digital cables are different from analog cables. Digital cables are either 100% or 0% - they either work or they don't. Buying expensive digital cables is a waste of money. Buy the absolute cheapest HDMI cable you can. It'll work just as well as the most expensive cable you can buy.

Not quite... there is a point where you have enough signal loss that the cable works some of the time but not all of the time.