Audio/Visual Cables: Need Help!

[Keebler Elf]

Is an HDMI cable an HDMI cable? I bought a Rocketfish HDMI cable from Futureshop and I've also got one coming in the mail that's specifically for an Xbox 360. But the Rocketfish packaging says it works on gaming consoles.

Is there something special about gaming consoles in terms of HDMI cables?

 

[Rockslinger]

Is an HDMI cable an HDMI cable? I bought a Rocketfish HDMI cable from Futureshop

Wow! I love these cable questions. I also bought the Rocketfish from Future Shop (arrived in the mail to-day).

 

[tboy]

Keeb: the only thing that could be different is the proprietary nature of gaming consoles in so far that they have specialty connectors in order to make you purchase unique items.

Generally speaking an HDMI is an HDMI though. There are different qualities ie: gold plated, oxygen free etc but other than Male/male male/female they should all work the same.

BTW: Keeb and Rock, if you DON'T have a surround sound system, you're missing out on half the experience. Watching a movie just using the tv's speakers is like having sex without a woman present. It's fun, but just not the same.....

 

[Rockslinger]

like having sex without a woman present.

Your kidding, right? A woman would enhance the experience?

Seriously, a friend told me that only a Sony HDMI cable ($80) can connect a Sony TV so that is one reason why I try to stay away from Sony products. For example, Sony camera only works on a Sony memory card.

 

[Keebler Elf]

BTW: Keeb and Rock, if you DON'T have a surround sound system, you're missing out on half the experience.

That's for Boxing Day 2009.

 

[Garrett]

Generally speaking an HDMI is an HDMI though. There are different qualities ie: gold plated, oxygen free etc but other than Male/male male/female they should all work the same.

This is not correct. The HDMI 1.3 standard has higher bandwidth requirements, and non 1.3 rated cables may not work for these applications. I would only buy 1.3 rated cables (the cost increase is marginal) and would not buy from future shop (for digital cables, the deals at monoprice are so good and the cable quality so high, it is worth the hassle of across the border mail order).

 

[tboy]

This is not correct. The HDMI 1.3 standard has higher bandwidth requirements, and non 1.3 rated cables may not work for these applications. I would only buy 1.3 rated cables (the cost increase is marginal) and would not buy from future shop (for digital cables, the deals at monoprice are so good and the cable quality so high, it is worth the hassle of across the border mail order).

WHich is why I said, generally speaking......But honestly? I've never seen this information or connotation on any hdmi package ever. Is this new?

But in the context of the "types of cables" my post is still correct, the connectors are no different on a std HDMI cable of a 1.3a HDMI cable. From my very quick scanning of the info at monoprice, a std HDMI cable will work on 1.3 equipment, just not as well (which goes back to the original post on quality etc.). From my understanding you might not get the same colour depth, gamma, etc as you would with a 1.3a cable.

But then again, that would occur if you bough 1.00 HDMI cables from the dollar store too.....

 

[Garrett]

WHich is why I said, generally speaking......But honestly? I've never seen this information or connotation on any hdmi package ever. Is this new?

I would not call it new, it has been a couple of years now. Most decent sellers will quote the bandwidth capability.

But in the context of the "types of cables" my post is still correct, the connectors are no different on a std HDMI cable of a 1.3a HDMI cable. From my very quick scanning of the info at monoprice, a std HDMI cable will work on 1.3 equipment, just not as well (which goes back to the original post on quality etc.). From my understanding you might not get the same colour depth, gamma, etc as you would with a 1.3a cable.

But then again, that would occur if you bough 1.00 HDMI cables from the dollar store too.....

It is not that simple. In the digital domain, not being able to handle bandwidth can mean flat out not working. However, you need to be pushing the bandwidth. I know people who could not even perform the handshake (not the CB handshake until they upgraded.

The bottom line is to simply make sure you buy 1.3 rated cables, and monoprice is certainly the way to go. How they manage the pricing and quality they do just amazes me.

 

[tboy]

I have to agree, the cables at monoprice are great compared to other places. The source especially, they way overcharge for their cables.

 

[Keebler Elf]

I would only buy 1.3 rated cables (the cost increase is marginal) and would not buy from future shop (for digital cables, the deals at monoprice are so good and the cable quality so high, it is worth the hassle of across the border mail order).

Wow. I took a look at their site and the prices are about half of what Futureshop and Best Buy charge and you're getting a better quality cable!

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240

 

[tboy]

Wow. I took a look at their site and the prices are about half of what Futureshop and Best Buy charge and you're getting a better quality cable!

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240

Big question though: do you get hit with taxes and duties at the border? It is weird how it works, sometimes I get hit and sometimes I don't. There's no real rhyme or reason. One time I ordered a dewalt drill set and got hit, another time (with an angle drill set) I didn't.....

The thing I'm learning about ordering online though is you have to account for shipping etc. and plan ahead. For eg: if you're going to build a surround sound system next year, order the cables etc about a month in advance cuz the WORST would be getting all the stuff and having to wait for the cables before you hook it all up.

Frankly Keeb, I'd be looking at even a cheapo system now and then save for a good system next year. I swear, watching a movie without surround sound sucks big time.....I mean, I watched Wall E at a friend's place in low rez, no surround and then watched it again at my place. It was a like a totally different movie!

 

[Rockslinger]

do you get hit with taxes and duties at the border? It is weird how it works, sometimes I get hit and sometimes I don't.

I thought about buying a camera once but when I factored in the FX, shipping and maybe duties (nobody could tell me in advance), it wasn't worth it. Also, what happens if they ship me a dud?

 

[Garrett]

I thought about buying a camera once but when I factored in the FX, shipping and maybe duties (nobody could tell me in advance), it wasn't worth it. Also, what happens if they ship me a dud?

Shipping is usually very easy to determine (go USPS, avoid UPS/FedEx). For large items, pickup in Niagara Falls or Buffalo is pretty simple if you tie it into something else. For warranty on large items, you need to determine whether they will honour the warranty in Canada or you ship back. Sometimes you afre definitely better off to buy in Canada. However, for something like cables where failure rate seems to be extremely low, it is a pretty safe bet IMHO.

The one time monoprice screwed up my order, they simply reshipped the item for free. Most US based companies will assume the charge if they screw up. Often they will just ship a second item as it is cheaper than shipping back (obviously, related to item cost).

 

[tboy]

I thought about buying a camera once but when I factored in the FX, shipping and maybe duties (nobody could tell me in advance), it wasn't worth it. Also, what happens if they ship me a dud?

Yeah, well most cameras (DSLRs in particular) are not warrantied in Canada and with the cost of DSLRs and the fact that they aren't that much cheaper in the US with the exchange rate, it isn't worth the risk IMO.

Garrett is right: cables are cheap to ship and the odds of getting a bum one are few and far between because hey, they aren't that complicated.

Definitely ship anything USPS as I have yet to be charged a border brokerage fee from them. Unlike the couriers and UPS is THE worst of the bunch.....Order something worth $10.00 and they'll charge you $50.00 to clear it......

 

[Rockslinger]

Definitely ship anything USPS as I have yet to be charged a border brokerage fee from them.

1) USPS is United States Postal Service?
2) Do you get to pick the shipper when you buy online? Or, does the vendor pick the shipper?

 

[tboy]

1) USPS is United States Postal Service?
2) Do you get to pick the shipper when you buy online? Or, does the vendor pick the shipper?

1) yes, usps is the United States Postal Service
2) That depends, many don't allow you to chose. Which is why I only deal with online vendors who ship via USPS.

As the saying goes: it never hurts to ask them to ship USPS, I've had many reply "sorry, we only use UPS".......

 

[Lapper]

i'll add my question here since it is sort of related......

i'm looking locally for high end speaker wire, preferably bi-wiring as i have 4 inputs on my speakers. i know i can buy for cheap at monoprice.com but i'd like to actually go to a store to see exactly what i'm getting instead.

any referrals on where i can go north of the 401??? thank you.

 

[tboy]

What do you consider high end?

that's a relative term: to someone, a $1,000.00 system is "high end". To someone else, that is entry level and a high end system starts at $5,000.00. To others a high end system starts at $10,000.00.

The bigger question is: what is the wattage output of your amp? If it's in the 100 watt per channel range you could get away with 12 - 14 ga speaker wire. If it's around 50 - 100 watts, 16 - 18, less than 50 go with 20 ga.

Now if you have deep pockets, and some audiofiles swear by it, you can go with oxygen free speaker wire. The copper in OF wire is supposedly produced in an oxygen free environment which means there is no "space" between the copper crystals which is supposed to equal better transmission.

Another rule of thumb is the size of the bass speakers in each speaker. Bass signals are the ones that require a lot of "power" to drive them properly. If you have 6" or smaller bass speakers in each cabinet (bookshelf speakers), then you don't necessarily need thick cables.

 

[Garrett]

i'll add my question here since it is sort of related......

i'm looking locally for high end speaker wire, preferably bi-wiring as i have 4 inputs on my speakers. i know i can buy for cheap at monoprice.com but i'd like to actually go to a store to see exactly what i'm getting instead.

any referrals on where i can go north of the 401??? thank you.

I do not quite agree with tboy's assessment that amplifier power determines wire ga. If you really want to buy retail, I would crack open the yellow pages. Two north of the 401 worth checking out are:
o American Sound (everyone should go here at least once http://www.americansound.com/
o Audio Excellence on Bayview http://www.audioexcellence.ca/

Neither of these places are cheap, but if you want high end they can cover it. For cables, you want an in home demo.

My own recommendation would be to buy used. Some possibles for this are:
http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/
http://www.audiogon.com/
http://www.usedcable.com/

You can also make your own cables. Soldering can be minimal and you can have a very competitive product for cheap. This is a famous recipe using super cheap cat 5 cable:
http://www.venhaus1.com/diycatfivecables.html

Good luck.