DVI Cable - Is quality an issue?

[geoffcollins]

Hi all

This is my first post here and am just getting back into PC gaming. Anyway I just wanted to poll public opinion on whether having a quality DVI cable matters or if it is just a nonsense?

Thanks

Geoff

[unreal]

Apparently so, but I got a standard DVI Cable that came with my monitor and I couldn't imagine anything more crisp and vibrant. I should really hold judgement though because I know there are some ultra 99-carat gold-plated LED platinum-strip DVI cables dipped in holy water and kissed by the most beautiful women in the world. Scan probably has some.

[dave87]

Can we just get the most beautiful women in teh world part? or are they an optional extra?

Dave

[BubbySoup]

I can honestly say I don't think I could tell the difference between 1 DVI cable and the next.

Mind you, I'm the type of guy who connects his speakers up with the cable provided too!

[schmunk]

As long as the cable is in decent condition and makes a good connection at each end, the standard one will be perfectly fine...

Remember it's only sending ones and noughts, not interference-sensitive analogue data!

[Atomic]

As DVI is digital it will not degrade with interferance in such a way as an analogue signal (such as audio) will.

We use high end cables in the VR lab at work, one got cut by accident and was replaced with a cheap-jobbie I can't see the difference between the screens.

[Funkstar]

iæm of the same opinion as above. The whole thing about spending hundreds of £ on digital cables to me seems pointless. There is a lot of snake oil floating about when the subject of cables is discussed.

[iranu]

As long as you buy a decent cable that has good shielding then you are fine. You don't have to spend megabucks to get a decent cable @£10 will be fine.

[geoffcollins]

Thats what I suspected, I had applied the same logic (re non degradable digital signals), but then came to the conclusion that if this is the case then all of the home cinema DVI, Optical and Digital CO-AX cables must be a scam - and if that is the case then how have they got away with it for so long?

Thanks guys

Geoff

[schmunk]

all of the home cinema DVI, Optical and Digital CO-AX cables must be a scam - and if that is the case then how have they got away with it for so long?

People are gullible and wracked with self-doubt...

[Funkstar]

and you will always find someone who "can hear the difference" and has a bunch of really weird science to back this up.

[Fod]

and you will always find someone who "can hear the difference" and has a bunch of really weird science to back this up.

yes, and the scientific definition of this person is "idiot".

the only time cable quality makes a difference is with analogue interconnects, and speaker cables. but don't let ANYONE, EVER, persuade you into thinking biwiring is "better".

[OmarSantiago]

Optical interconnects are a different matter in that it depends on the quality of the fibre used. After all, you're using what's essentially a glass cable and any fracture or flaw in the engineering will result in imperfections in the sound. There's an immediate difference between a giveaway optical cable and a medical-grade one but as even the most hardened audiophile enthusiast will tell you, only upgrade until you can no longer tell if it makes a difference.

As for a premium DVI cable, something plated with gold or nickel will cost a little more but take longer to tarnish and that makes a big difference. Alternately, you could just invest in a can of DeoxIt and clean the ends of your power/signal connectors every few months to reduce the effects of oxidation and dirt build-up.

[kevpuk]

What they said !

[iranu]

Ummm - digital signals can be lost or "degrade" this is usually due to interferance from other signals and electrical wiring.

Buying very cheap cables is the same as buying very expensive cables - a waste of money.

Buying cables is simple - look for good construction (gold plated) and good shielding. For high performance video you may want to insure a 75ohm connector is used on the cable.

Many people will buy a £100 audio cable then tell you how good it is simply becasue they would feel foolish saying well I spent £100 on a cable and it made no discernable difference.

You also get the HiFi meedja saying things like "Smooth and musical, will open up enclosed or claustrophobic systems with its sweet treble and spacious imaging." and "Gives much detail, it will suit smoother or dullish systems where it will quicken the sound" - so which one is better?

The truth is if they actually did a true blind test they would not be able to tell the difference. The reason they say this crap is because they wouldn't get all the free goodies that hifi companies chuck at these muppets if they didn't.

I once saw a post from an audio expert on avforums who brought in a proffesional set of audio interconnects (££££&#163 from the lab that he worked in into Richer Sounds. Hooked up a bit of kit with these and 99p interconnects and asked the manager, who was trying to persuade him to buy £50 interconnects, to tell the difference in a blind test. - He could'nt!!

Bi-amping, if you have the cash, sure - Bi-wiring, don't get me started!!

[schmunk]

Optical interconnects are a different matter in that it depends on the quality of the fibre used. After all, you're using what's essentially a glass cable and any fracture or flaw in the engineering will result in imperfections in the sound. There's an immediate difference between a giveaway optical cable and a medical-grade one but as even the most hardened audiophile enthusiast will tell you, only upgrade until you can no longer tell if it makes a difference.

As for a premium DVI cable, something plated with gold or nickel will cost a little more but take longer to tarnish and that makes a big difference. Alternately, you could just invest in a can of DeoxIt and clean the ends of your power/signal connectors every few months to reduce the effects of oxidation and dirt build-up.

No no no no no!