HDMI cables

[gino_76ph]

i have heard of this HDMI version 1.3 or something. does it exists? is it supposed to be any "good" than a "standard" HDMI cable? any advice on what HDMI cable can i connect my Sony upscaling 1080p DVD player with my Sony 42" Bravia 1080p LCD?

[Grim Reaper]

Not sure whether a "premium" HDMI cable really makes much of a difference. But I bought one about 2 months ago which I thought was great value as I saw it in Jihn Lewis for about £55. Its £20 on this website.
Here's the link: http://www.futureshop.co.uk/profigol...-2m-p-195.html

Delivery was about £3 and was prompt.
Hope this helps.

[directhex]

over short cable runs, cable quality makes no difference

and hdmi 1.3 relates only to capabilities at both ends, e.g. support for more sound formats (which you won't get on your dvds)

[gino_76ph]

coz i think earlier HDMI cables don't support full 1080p only 1080i but now more and more 1080p HDTVs and DVD players are arriving and considering 1.3a and b is coming out is it worth buying a new cable?

[Ramedge]

If your devices support 1080p and your cables dont then Id upgrade the cables yes. Then again i cant see any reason why they wouldnt?
I brought my HDMI cables from LIDL'S (yes thats right!) they are high quality cables - gold plated and IIRC they support 1080p - Best bit.. They cost £4 a cable. Does sound to good to be true - but i have'nt had a problem with them, they work a dream.

[Funkstar]

Your old HDMI cable will be perfectly capable of working with any consumer equipment you are going to find for the next few years at least.

According the Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#Cable_length), the standard does not specify a length or a specification for the different version. They just have to meet a performance standard. Any cable meeting that standard is compliant, regardless of construction or length.

With HDMI 1.3, there is the option for much higher data rates, because it supports video resolutions higher than HDTV (1920x1080p60 vs 2560x1600p60). Category 1 cables are normal HDMI cables that can cope with anything HD players and TVs can through at them. Category 2 cables are needed for greater than HDTV sources.

So, in short, don't worry about it.

[dfour]

A guy I know did a test between HDMI cables costing £5 to £200 and said in the end the difference was minimal between them. Aslong as your cable does the job needed dont worry.

[gino_76ph]

sorry if im beginning to sound like a 12" here but would you agree a "newer" ver. 1.3 cable would be (in technical theory) be better than the earlier/cheaper ones? coz mine is a full 1080p Sony LCD and a upscaling 1080p Sony DVD player. im not really worried about the "minimal diferrence" but again..is it worth it?

[Funkstar]

Originally Posted by gino_76ph

but again..is it worth it?

Again, no it isn't worth it or necessary.

There is no such thing as a HDMI 1.3 cable, only Category 1 and 2. Category 2 is only for equipment aimed at non-consumer applications.

Sure expensive cables are technically better than cheap ones, but tat doesnt mean they will actually perform any better, especially over relatively short distances and with digital signals.

Having said all that, go and buy some horribly expensive cables, makes ne diference to me. Just don't be suprised if there is absolutly no difference in your viewing pleasure

[bigblue]

Originally Posted by gino_76ph

sorry if im beginning to sound like a 12" here but would you agree a "newer" ver. 1.3 cable would be (in technical theory) be better than the earlier/cheaper ones?

In technical theory yes, in actual usage, most probably no. You'd need to buy a really bad example of an HDMI cable for it not to support 1080p or the 1.3 specs. There are old, cheap cables out there that people have had problems with, but I don't imagine there's many on the market now.

Argos were clearing out the PS3 HDMI's, which are guaranteed to be 1.3 compliant, for £8.99, and you can get a Linx 1080p HDMI for under a tenner too. Even if you're unsure and you want peace of mind you still don't need to spend any more than a tenner. A supermarket special would probably do the job just as well though.

[gino_76ph]

i saw the argos PS3 HDMI cable and it's still between £29.99-£39.99. where exactly in argos did you found the ad?

[neonplanet40]

http://www.audiovisualonline.co.uk/d...m/display.html

All my equipment is connected with these cables. Theya re expensive but if you have high end equipment i see no reason skimping on what connects it all. I did have the ps3 hdmi lead but when compared with the qed lead it is in a league of its own.

Neon

[bigblue]

Originally Posted by gino_76ph

i saw the argos PS3 HDMI cable and it's still between £29.99-£39.99. where exactly in argos did you found the ad?

£39.99 ?! It was £17.99 until it was reduced recently. You must be looking at something different

Go to the Argos site and put in "PS3 HDMI" and it'll come up. In fact, I just did: http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/st...Terms=ps3+hdmi

£8.99, available for home delivery (charged) or collect-at-store

[TheAnimus]

expensive cables tend to be completely identical in terms of signal quality for the simple reason, all my cheap (< £10) cables do 1080p flawlessly. Why pay more? it's easy to show that the quality is the same as the cables are all digital. 0 errors, 0 room for improvement.

[StoX]

Originally Posted by TheAnimus

expensive cables tend to be completely identical in terms of signal quality for the simple reason, all my cheap (< £10) cables do 1080p flawlessly. Why pay more? it's easy to show that the quality is the same as the cables are all digital. 0 errors, 0 room for improvement.

well said - it's digital, so basically either a "0" or "1"

[gino_76ph]

Originally Posted by bigblue

£39.99 ?! It was £17.99 until it was reduced recently. You must be looking at something different

Go to the Argos site and put in "PS3 HDMI" and it'll come up. In fact, I just did: http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/st...Terms=ps3+hdmi

£8.99, available for home delivery (charged) or collect-at-store

found this instead

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er/0482752.htm

i think this is better.