Home cinema - HDMI Cable, again

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January 5th 07 07:39 AM

HDMI Cable, again

I've googled a little on this topic, but still have a few outstanding
questions.

A lot of people reported that the more expensive cables (like Monster)
work the same
as the cheaper ones in terms of performance. But is there any
durability issue here?
E.g. due to different material used, performance might change/degrade
over time (due to
oxidation)?

Secondly, for a 20-30 feet long cable, what gauge should I use?

Monoprice have a lot of tin-plated cables. Would tin be as
stable/universal for connector
purpose as gold?

How about EMI shielding? Is that something a residential consumer like
myself should
worry about?

Thanks,
Raymond

L Alpert

January 6th 07 03:33 PM

HDMI Cable, again

wrote:
I've googled a little on this topic, but still have a few outstanding
questions.

A lot of people reported that the more expensive cables (like Monster)
work the same
as the cheaper ones in terms of performance. But is there any
durability issue here?
E.g. due to different material used, performance might change/degrade
over time (due to
oxidation)?

Cables are made via a polymer extrusion process (a process that I am very
familiar with for the past 27 years, though in a different market). There
can be differences in process and raw materials between manufacturers and or
specifications (I'm sure Monster contracts this out to an OEM). The cable
ends are usually overmolded or clamped on.

Some manufacturers will specify no regrind or reclaim in their products, or
at least maximum amount, though higher amounts will usually induce process
degradation anyway. Some may even specify a more costly grade of base
material or a more stringent quality acceptance plan.

In process, there can be some major differences, including line speed/shear
rate of the material, machine size, and overall process design. Some
manufacturers will push line speed, as the biggest cost to them is labor,
and induce high shear stresses in the material that can cause degradation
that will result in pinholes, uneven melt flow and too high of a Tm
(concentricity issues over the conductor, etc).

In all of the above circumstances, an educated guess would be that in a
commodity type market, you might see an OEM supplier price difference for
the overall raw cable of about 10%-15% (from "poor quality processes to
higher quality processes).

As long as the manufacturer has a good variable data driven quality
acceptance plan (which most reputable companies do), this will keep the
processors on their toes.

I can't think of anything that would command such a high markup of a
commodity that Monster has.

Secondly, for a 20-30 feet long cable, what gauge should I use?

I'll leave that one to the EE's of the group.

Monoprice have a lot of tin-plated cables. Would tin be as
stable/universal for connector
purpose as gold?

What are your connections at the back of your equipment?

How about EMI shielding? Is that something a residential consumer
like myself should
worry about?

As long as the cable has it, and it is properly installed, it shouldn't be a
problem.

Thanks,
Raymond

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