Cable rip off rant (1 Viewer)

[ModAquatics]

Ok, I have to rant a bit. I wanted to change all of the composite cables between my DVD player and TV to one HDMI cable. So I went to Best Buy to buy a simple 4ft cable. I could not believe the prices. The cheapest 4 ft. HDMI cable was $25 bucks. The last HDMI cable I bought from EPO was $6.99. So I asked the Blue Shirt, "Hey, do y'all have any cheaper cables?". He said,"We do, but we are sold out. Besides, the more expensive ones will produce a better picture and sound", as he pointer to a $120 Monster HDMI cable. Are you kidding me!? I should have given him a digital electronics lesson but I decided to wait until this weekend and get me a $6 cable. I cannot believe the rip-offs for a simple cable.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE in picture or sound quality between a $120 Monster HDMI cable and a $7 no-name HDMI cable. It is a digital signal, it either works or it doesn't.

 

[RR-MAN]

I know what you mean.

It's much cheaper at Fry's. I needed a 10ft HDMI cable and the same thing happened to me...BB is a rip off place. I ended up buying it from a whole sale electronic shop (ADI) on 290 for way cheaper.

 

[crvz]

generally speaking I agree, the monster brand and others are well overpriced. But, having worked for years in electronics (both car audio and home), as well as enjoyed it as a hobby for the last decade since I left that industry, I will say that the more expensive items do perform better. They have tighter tolerances for better physical fit, they are often shielded better, and generally provide lower resistance.

Will that matter in most applications? Such as an >6ft run between your TV and component? Probably not. But if you're an audiophile, or running long cables, the difference is EASILY noticeable. I can't tell you how many $6 monoprice HDMI cables I've thrown out for poor performance. But, if I didnt get them at cost, I would have never bought high end brand cables, so I certainly understand your complaint.

 

[fredG]

Dude don't get me started. I'm heavy into technology and also a Computer Engineering Technology Major....

You are completely right when it comes to comparison.

I won't say that I disagree with CRVZ but it all comes down to the application like he said. I only have a PS3, AVR, UVerse, and a Sharp LCD with a Jamo system...Now if you were sitting up a 20k+ Home theater system then we can start talking about spending more on cables but you'll be fine with monoprice.


@Crvz Omg when I tell you I used to facepalm people when they said they had 1k watt amp pushing some Rockford P1s...lol and they wondered why my system hit harder and cleaner and sounded better. I hate that a lot of installers or sales people don't truly understand the electronics on the inside and will sell you something because the box says 1k watt max power...when they should really be talking about rms and how to deliver the power to the amps...etc or lets stiffen it by adding a capacitor...smh

Sorry for getting off topic.

 

[Houston_Reefer]

Dude don't get me started. I'm heavy into technology and also a Computer Engineering Technology Major....

You are completely right when it comes to comparison.

I won't say that I disagree with CRVZ but it all comes down to the application like he said. I only have a PS3, AVR, UVerse, and a Sharp LCD with a Jamo system...Now if you were sitting up a 20k+ Home theater system then we can start talking about spending more on cables but you'll be fine with monoprice.


@Crvz Omg when I tell you I used to facepalm people when they said they had 1k watt amp pushing some Rockford P1s...lol and they wondered why my system hit harder and cleaner and sounded better. I hate that a lot of installers or sales people don't truly understand the electronics on the inside and will sell you something because the box says 1k watt max power...when they should really be talking about rms and how to deliver the power to the amps...etc or lets stiffen it by adding a capacitor...smh

Sorry for getting off topic.

Allow me to further derail the thread. I was actually pushing two P1's with a 1000 watt amp, but my mistake was not paying attention and pushing WAY too much RMS to them and blew both voice coils (that smelled awesome!). Now I have a couple of Kicker shallow mounts that can take the power and the difference is amazing.

Anyway, back to the topic of the thread. I used to install cable for comcast and you wouldn't believe the looks I got when I told people a generic HDMI would do them just fine and not to use gold plated anything. If looks could kill!

 

[fredG]

Allow me to further derail the thread. I was actually pushing two P1's with a 1000 watt amp, but my mistake was not paying attention and pushing WAY too much RMS to them and blew both voice coils (that smelled awesome!). Now I have a couple of Kicker shallow mounts that can take the power and the difference is amazing.

Anyway, back to the topic of the thread. I used to install cable for comcast and you wouldn't believe the looks I got when I told people a generic HDMI would do them just fine and not to use gold plated anything. If looks could kill!

O man you can't get this thread off topic about electronics as if nothing happened!!!! lol

Yeah the major deciding factor is rms...send too much and you get burnt coils among other things. I remember one of my friends hooked up some cheap sub to a kicker 2500.1...shot the cone out of the basket. Let's not get into ohm loads and other stuff...smh...

Back on topic: Even the cheapest HDMI cable at BB is more expensive then monoprices medium priced cords.

Just by this one and you'll be set>>>>>> http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Digit...ection/dp/B003CT2A6I/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

 

[Houston_Reefer]

O man you can't get this thread off topic about electronics as if nothing happened!!!! lol

Yeah the major deciding factor is rms...send too much and you get burnt coils among other things. I remember one of my friends hooked up some cheap sub to a kicker 2500.1...shot the cone out of the basket. Let's not get into ohm loads and other stuff...smh...

Back on topic: Even the cheapest HDMI cable at BB is more expensive then monoprices medium priced cords.

Just by this one and you'll be set>>>>>> http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Digit...ection/dp/B003CT2A6I/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

:greedy_dollars: I can't even believe the price on that. If I could just meet the person who buys it I could give them the deal of the century on some ocean-front property I own out in AZ.

Back to the sub-topic. I would love to see a cheap sub blow up like that.

 

[NarnyTheGreat]

You guys are typing stuff... I can tell, your trying to communicate, but what is this language you all speak??!?!? :very_drunk:

 

[Houston_Reefer]

More power go BOOM. (insert Tim the Tool man grunting)

 

[soymilk]

i was thinking about doing a monoprice group buy for work. HDMI cables n junk... anyone else interested?

 

[TexanReef]

Blah...my eight-track sounds just fine. Having a hard time finding any Nickelback, though.

 

[fredG]

Blah...my eight-track sounds just fine. Having a hard time finding any Nickelback, though.

hahahahaha

 

[freeswimmingfish]

I am an Audiophile and have been for a long time.
I have a decent system at home:
B&K Ref 50 Pre/Pro
B&K Ref Amp
Klipch Ref speakers
SVS Sub
SACD & DVD-A
Ect...
I will also say that there is a difference in quaility between a $5 and a name brand cable, its in the termination of the cable to the connector. I have seen cheap cable that have twist or crimp on connectors. These can loosen up and cause poor signal transfer. Now, I fully understand that digital is digital, on or off. But if the signal is passed across a poor connection it can be intermitten. This can be proccessed as a fast on/off state and depending on the pre amp/pro could be sent to the D/A decoders and later be heard as distortion. Or in my case, my pre amp will lock on the digital signal first, then look for an analog signal if there is not a digital, as the signal degraded across a bad termination, my pre amp would then mute as there was a bad digital signal and no analog signal.
I changed the cable and the muting problem cleared.
BTW, IMHO Monster is not that great of a cable, and way over priced for what you get. There are MANY other companies that make a quality cable for a fraction of the cost.
I hope that made some kind of sense....

 

[UofTOrange]

monoprice.com their cables are awesome and they shipped extremely quickly and reasonably

 

[UofTOrange]

I am an Audiophile and have been for a long time.
I have a decent system at home:
B&K Ref 50 Pre/Pro
B&K Ref Amp
Klipch Ref speakers
SVS Sub
SACD & DVD-A
Ect...
I will also say that there is a difference in quaility between a $5 and a name brand cable, its in the termination of the cable to the connector. I have seen cheap cable that have twist or crimp on connectors. These can loosen up and cause poor signal transfer. Now, I fully understand that digital is digital, on or off. But if the signal is passed across a poor connection it can be intermitten. This can be proccessed as a fast on/off state and depending on the pre amp/pro could be sent to the D/A decoders and later be heard as distortion. Or in my case, my pre amp will lock on the digital signal first, then look for an analog signal if there is not a digital, as the signal degraded across a bad termination, my pre amp would then mute as there was a bad digital signal and no analog signal.
I changed the cable and the muting problem cleared.
BTW, IMHO Monster is not that great of a cable, and way over priced for what you get. There are MANY other companies that make a quality cable for a fraction of the cost.
I hope that made some kind of sense....

While you are correct that there are bad $5 cables because of the connectors structural integrity, it is not a catch all. There are $5-$8 cables that have great connectors and work flawlessly

 

[kgk]

monoprice.com their cables are awesome and they shipped extremely quickly and reasonably

++

EE here. Buy from monoprice. Mock people who buy monster.

 

[soymilk]

So no one wants in on a monoprice group buy? Imma load up on hdmi cables..... You can never have enough hdmi cables.

I made my own cable for my speaker system. I want to believe they sound better than the radio shack 18awg I had in my toolbox lol.

 

[Jasonc]

O man you can't get this thread off topic about electronics as if nothing happened!!!! lol

Yeah the major deciding factor is rms...send too much and you get burnt coils among other things. I remember one of my friends hooked up some cheap sub to a kicker 2500.1...shot the cone out of the basket. Let's not get into ohm loads and other stuff...smh...

Back on topic: Even the cheapest HDMI cable at BB is more expensive then monoprices medium priced cords.

Just by this one and you'll be set>>>>>> http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Digit...ection/dp/B003CT2A6I/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

The customer reviews of that cable are epic!

 

[Houston_Reefer]

I am going to need some HDMI cables here pretty soon, mounting the tvs on the wall and need longer ones. I will know what I need next week

 

[freeswimmingfish]

While you are correct that there are bad $5 cables because of the connectors structural integrity, it is not a catch all. There are $5-$8 cables that have great connectors and work flawlessly

Very true.
Didnt mean it as a catch all. And I have a Tributaries brand Tos-link cable that just sucks.