Searching for HDMI cable for my PS3

[sweatherly]

Just my 2 pence worth.

One thing to note is that a digital TV signal has no error correction and so it is not the case that 'it either works or does not work'. If a cable does not have good shielding interference can change 0's to 1's or vice versa and so affect the audio or video signal.

Having said that, for short runs this is much less of a problem and I would be very surprised if there were any noticeable difference in expensive vs cheaper cables.

For a very reasonably priced HDMI cable I would thoroughly recommend a cable from 'That Cable'. I have had one for a few years now, and it's well made and I've had no problems with it (they do a v1.3 and a v1.4 compatible cable):
http://www.thatcable.com

[Funkstar]

One thing to note is that a digital TV signal has no error correction and so it is not the case that 'it either works or does not work'. If a cable does not have good shielding interference can change 0's to 1's or vice versa and so affect the audio or video signal.

Wrong. HDMI does have error correction, just like DVI before it.

I could go into details, but why re-write it just for here?

Wikipedia - HDMI:Communication_channel_protocols

Then you have a bunch of linked pages giving even more details.

Wikipedia - Transition Minimized Differential Signaling

Wikipedia - BCH code

Anyway, if cable isn't good enough to carry a signal reliably, then it doesn't work. That would be classed as a dodgy or broken cable. If it doesn't work correctly, you can class that as "not working". Any errors are not going to be subtle things, you will get or audio video corruption, or no display at all. It's not going to be a subtle degradation of image quality, so it will be easy to spot.

(they do a v1.3 and a v1.4 compatible cable):

And again, there is no such thing as a 1.3 or 1.4 cable. There are Standard speed, Standard speed with ethernet, Automotive, High speed and High speed with ethernet.

Wikipedia - HDMI:Cables

[Agent]

One thing to note is that a digital TV signal has no error correction

Funkstar has covered the cables above, but on the off chance you're talking about DVB-T, even that has error correction.

I'm at an utter loss why people join a thread 5 pages in, contradicting information that has been posted over and over again, with more evidence than is needed.

We appreciate that you're trying to help sweatherly, but it's probably worth reading the entire thread and learning the truth before jumping in. It just makes it very difficult to offer the correct advice to people when people keep posting wrong information, despite the huge amount of evidence against what you're saying.

[jimbouk]

And again, there is no such thing as a 1.3 or 1.4 cable.

I would say this is being a little bit anal. There is a 1.3 and 1.4 spec, and cables that conform to the different standards inside each specifications. Thus you can't just say it's a 'High Speed HDMI cable' as this could either be a 'HDMI 1.3 Category 2' cable or a 'HDMI 1.4 High Speed' Cable, the version is needed. Though this is also being rather anal about it...

[sweatherly]

My apologies. My understanding was that BCH is used in Data Island packets only (i.e. for audio data) and is not used for video data.

From the Wikipedia link posted:
"Transition Minimized Differential Signaling (TMDS) on HDMI interleaves video, audio and auxiliary data using three different packet types, called the Video Data Period, the Data Island Period and the Control Period. During the Video Data Period, the pixels of an active video line are transmitted. During the Data Island period (which occurs during the horizontal and vertical blanking intervals), audio and auxiliary data are transmitted within a series of packets. The Control Period occurs between Video and Data Island periods."

"Each Data Island Period is 32 pixels in size and contains a 32-bit Packet Header, which includes 8 bits of BCH ECC parity data for error correction"

I interpreted this as there is error correction for the information within the Data Island Period packet, and given this packet holds audio data and not video data that the error correction was for audio only.

Re-reading this I now realize that maybe this could be used for error correction of information within other packets, so my apologies if this is indeed the case.

I still recommend the cable I posted as being well made and having had no issues over the past few years.

[Larkspeed]

And I still recommend the 99p cables I bought on ebay because in all the time I have used them they have never failed me once.

And the one plugged into my xbox 360 gets unplugged and plugged back in regularly as the 360 is frequently moved to another room and back.

IMO anyone who spends more than 2 or 3 quid on a standard lenght hdmi cable is just silly

[Lucas Shrek]

I use to order online using shopping websites for their services offered and discounts.

[Troop]

Just get one from the pound shop it will make no difference.

[samuraiweasel]

Well, i think youre paying for the warranty pretty much, with high street shops, you just have to walk in with the faulty cable (and receipt) and they'll give you a new one on the spot, no waiting and shipping the broken one back.

[Onkston]

This thread is fantastic, glad I didn't miss it

I do have one question though. Are you sure the expensive ones aren't better than the cheap ones?
No, please, I'm joking don't hit me.

What I actually want to say is that I'm one of those suckers that bought one for about 15 quid, well I would've been. I needed one for my xbox, and I think it was just cos I was close to a gamestation when I thought of it, that I went in there to buy one. I was about to spend £15 or whatever it was but the guy said they had a second hand one (which still cost £6 or something stupid), so I got that. The only problem is that I think it was faulty, got one from sainsbury's in the end and it works fine, need to check that other one. I guess it's not a good idea to buy them second hand, especially when you can get them new for cheaper. Doh!

[pipTheGeek]

if you have enough moisture in the air in your house that you need to worry about connectors corroding then more than likely the device will fail long before a cheap cable will.

As for better conductor that point is moot with digital signals. analog signals like RCA cables yes gold can give you an advantage but on any signal carrying a digital signal it's either connected or not there are no varying levels of connection.

The reason they stick gold on them is because gullible people who do not know better go ooooo it's got gold connectors it must be good.

I have even seen optical cables with gold on the ends and they only carry light

I OWN a gold plated optical cable. I should explain that I bought it because I wanted a cheap, very short cable and it was both. In a strange perverted way I am pleased to own it though. When I am done using it I might frame it and hang it on the wall.

I have to admit, I get so frustrated searching Amazon for an HDMI cable that isn't £0.01 to buy and £17 to deliver that I've given up. I tend to use http://www.cablesuk.co.uk/ if I only want HDMI cables or some other cable website if I am putting together a bigger order.

[tomroutley1]

Honestly just get the cheapest one you can find, i got one for a quid off ebay when the ps3 first came out, it still works flawlessly connecting my pc to my tv but the ps3 is long dead.

[michaelf33713]

Monster has good HDMI cables and they can be found for pretty cheap on amazon nowadays.

[Agent]

Monster has good HDMI cables and they can be found for pretty cheap on amazon nowadays.

Why support a company with such dodgy marketing practices?

[shaithis]

After buying at least 20 HDMI cables over a number of years, I have to say "Not all are created equally".

While I agree that electrically they are 99.99% the same, the difference comes from build quality.

I've gone through a period where HDMI cables were breaking on me left and right.....I've even had a connector come off in my TV

I do tend to look for certain cable types (less flexible type has been considerably more robust for me) and more rugged connector mouldings, although I still pay £3 or less per cable.

I tend to buy from 7dayshop these days, who normally have a selection of "HDMI 1.4" cables with ethernet (if you need/want it) for under £3. I used to buy a handful of HDMIs from scan when I placed orders but they were the ones that seemed to break on me.....although they were damn cheap (some were around £1.50).