High Definition Cables discussion

[strtfghtr]

So you got yourself a brand spanking new LCD/Plasma TV and a PS3/360/Bluray player and are ready for the high def experience right? How do you plan to hook it up? Video/audio connections are far different then they were 10 years ago so I figured why not do a run down of some of the most popular connection types and their pros and cons

http://www.w-l-t.org/Pix/Coax%20w-F%20connector.jpg
Co-axial connection
This is the connection that you're cable television comes from, often called a "cable" connection or "F type" connectors. This type of cable can transmit a large amount of info though most recent high tech devices shy away from it as shielding issues can cause a degradation of video/audio signal

http://img.en.china.cn/0/0,0,471,17460,380,346,3c5f3d45.jpg
RCA Composite
Everyone knows the Red Yellow White connectors that came with our PS1s and N64s, these were great back in the day but can't handle our 21st century high-def requirements...if you are using these cables for a PS3 or 360 you are not getting the most out of your setup on either the video or audio end

http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/graphics/infolib/homelib/hSVideoConnector.jpg
S-Video
Funky looking connector with lots of pins and a pain in the ass to plug in. It actually delivers a quality video signal and is what you should shoot for when no high def connection is available. It uses a "multiplexing" technology that layers different signals on top of each other, this is a disadvantage to Component the multiplexing process can degrade the picture slightly (still better than composite)

Now on to the big boys, the cables that can deliver high def video and/or multi channel audio

http://shop.videosoniclab.ihoststudio.com/images/products/26812.jpg
Digital Coaxial RCA Audio Cable
Also known as Coax(S/Pdif), this bad boy can process multi channel audio for your multi speaker setups, though the new DVD players/systems dont typically use it it is a reliable multi channel audio source. Though, not the highest quality.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/TOSLINK.jpg
Digital Optical Audio
A fiber optic cable that uses light to transmit digital information. Probably the best stand alone audio cable though it does have its faults, the cables are very delicate and are often overpriced, but here's the funny part. There is no insulation that is gonna make the data any better or worse...it's light…unless one of these cable companies can dig up Einstein and have him figure out a way to increase the speed of light it aint gonna happen. This is my choice of audio cable when an HDMI is not available

http://www.skycomp.com.au/images/products/component.cable.jpg
Component RCA Cables
Also known as YPbPr cables these separate the signal into different paths like S-video but does not use the "multiplexing" process so the signal remains sharp. These analog cables are the only ones so far capable of doing better than 480i/p (which is standard definition) These are high def cables (though the low end of high def)

http://z.about.com/d/hometheater/1/7/G/9/vga2.JPG
VGA Cable
Everyone probably knows these as computer monitor cables, which they are. They can transmit a large amount of analog data and many flat panel TVs have these ports available, while these are the best Analog option the best stuff is yet to come...digital

http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/graphics/infolib/homelib/dvi_connector600.jpg
DVI Cables
Another computer monitor cable, the big difference is these are digital transmitters and can move uncompressed digital video data. What does that mean? They can move the highest HD signal resolution readily available (1080p). The only problems with these guys? They are bulky, expensive, and only move video, no audio.

http://regmedia.co.uk/2007/05/28/ports_hdmi_1.jpg
HDMI Cables
The current standard in High Def video AND audio. This one simple connection provides full uncompressed digital video and audio. The bottom line is if you are using a HD TV and a HD device (xbox360, PS3, Bluray, HD cablebox) This is the cable you SHOULD be using. I’m not going to get into the difference between Dolby Digital, DTS, DTSHD and TrueHD sound but this cable supports them all. Convenient, inexpensive (as long as you don’t buy name brand), and damn sexy, HDMI is the way to go when you can.

Some general things to know about cables:
-A cable is only as good as what it’s plugged in to, if you have a crappy player or TV the best cable in the universe wont make anything better

-If you pay a lot of money for a cable chances are you’ve been had. Monstercable is the biggest audio/video scam…probably ever. The only monster cable worth its money is probably their coaxial cables, which cheap garbage coaxial cables had poor insulation and you would get a distorted image if other cables or power cables pass over them.

-Don’t be fooled by fancy “gold” connectors, almost all RCA connectors are gold plated, this is for mostly oxidation purposes, the cables themselves are still copper and if your receiver/tv/game system doesn’t have the same fancy “gold” connector you aren’t getting any benefit (if one ever existed)

-Length of cable can affect the signal/response time. Don’t buy a 12 foot cable unless you really need 12 feet. The longer the length the higher the resistance and inductance in a length of wire.


Places to avoid buying cables:
Bestbuy
Radioshack
Walmart

Best places to buy:
http://www.monoprice.com
http://www.newegg.com
http://www.amazon.com

[steelba]

damn, was a quicker read than it looks though, impressive stuff :thumbup3:

[Darkgod]

Very good read

[FrighT MasteR]

Good read for da audio noobz :thumbup3:

[steelba]

got any HDMI cable recommendations for a 240hz 3D LED TV?

[FrighT MasteR]

Last time I checked the only difference with HDMI cables are the quality in which they're made, but even then there won't be much of a difference. They won't effect the quality of the picture or audio otherwise. You can get a nice cheap set of cables for less than a few bucks online, that's what I did. Don't bother gettin' any from Best Buy or any big chain like that, because they normally sell the overpriced Monster cables and what-not, but strt pretty much covered all that already.

[steelba]

Yeah I avoided that, thanks for the heads up, i'll check amazon :thumbup:

[strtfghtr]

got any HDMI cable recommendations for a 240hz 3D LED TV?
there's one thing you need to know about 3D and HDMI, you need to make sure the cable is up to the newest standard (which is the 3D) HDMI 1.4

The HDMI 1.4 standard also allows for ethernet to be sent down them so an optional HDMI/Ethernet cable is now out

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10250

this is where I buy all my cables, they are awesome cables at great prices...a 6 foot HDMI 1.4 cable with ethernet for $3.44 can't beat that

[steelba]

Alright thanks for the advice good sir:tiphat:

[Il Duce]

I got my HDMI cable's from Radioshack alot cheaper than what Best Buy wanted for there's.

[strtfghtr]

I got my HDMI cable's from Radioshack alot cheaper than what Best Buy wanted for there's.

did you spend under $5? Probably not since Radio$hack charges a shitload for anything.

Bottom line is, if you are spending over $5 for a cable, you are getting ripped off. That being said, I have myself bought stuff from the Shack and walmat in times of immediate need, but when you have the opportunity to wait a day or 2 for shipping, there's no comparison to monoprice or amazon.

Bestbuy sells HDMI 6' cables that cost anywhere from $50 to $200 and they will provide NO difference in signal quality that a $2 cable from amazon

[Il Duce]

did you spend under $5? Probably not since Radio$hack charges a shitload for anything.

Bottom line is, if you are spending over $5 for a cable, you are getting ripped off. That being said, I have myself bought stuff from the Shack and walmat in times of immediate need, but when you have the opportunity to wait a day or 2 for shipping, there's no comparison to monoprice or amazon.

Bestbuy sells HDMI 6' cables that cost anywhere from $50 to $200 and they will provide NO difference in signal quality that a $2 cable from amazon

I dont remember what they were plus i got them because i needed them pretty much right away due to just getting the LED TV back in Nov of last year.

[BurnetRhoades]

Bestbuy sells HDMI 6' cables that cost anywhere from $50 to $200 and they will provide NO difference in signal quality that a $2 cable from amazon

This is the truth, largely because HDMI is horrible technology from a hardware standards perspective, mainly regarding its connector design and fragility of its wire bundling. Even spending premium bucks on MONSTER brand doesn't guarantee a good, reliable connection. And you don't usually get any sign of a weak or failing connection. Expect all-or-nothing performance.

This is why professional installers generally run back-up component connections when possible, so they can at least suggest this to their "on call" customers at 2AM or holidays rather than make a service call that generally involves unplugging and plugging back in, or just applying slight positive or lateral pressure to the connector.

Since there is no positive lock or tension to secure connections (not even the friction of, say, a USB) you have to take care with monitors that feature jacks straight out the bottom because slack and weight on the cable itself can loosen and pull the connector just enough over time, or due to any minor contact with the hanging cable from pets, children, etc.

[strtfghtr]

I can see where you're coming from, though the only problem I've ever had with HDMI is a port dying on my receiver, now I've only got 2 inputs

[BurnetRhoades]

I can see where you're coming from, though the only problem I've ever had with HDMI is a port dying on my receiver, now I've only got 2 inputs

Yeah, these multi-pin + plastic card edge connectors all have an inherent issue with static build up that can blow a port quite easily from normal use under normal conditions. Always a good idea to make sure you're fully discharged. Thank the film and TV media for our not standardizing on SDI, which can handle way more bandwidth than anything available to consumers, over one robust cable with an idiot-proof, industrial strength, twist-on connector.

Mini-HDMI is even worse. Must'a gone through almost $200 in cables that failed from simply being plugged and unplugged as needed, with numerous faults occurring inside the connectors themselves, acting all "shorty". All MONSTER product as well, which is the first time I've ever had anything of their's that wasn't bullet proof and almost "over-engineered".

Still, at least we're finally rid of NTSC. That only took decades and a Congressional mandate, LOL.