HDMI cables

Rather than get involved in a similar thread which is beginning to meander,
does anyone have a comment about the alleged need for a high quality HDMI
cable (between the Sky HD box and the telly). Whilst I appreciate that the
bandwidth of the HD data stream probably requires a certain minimum
standard, is there any justification for a 1.5m cable that costs 80 quid
(which my local SONY dealer insists I need)?

Chas

Chas Gill wrote:
Rather than get involved in a similar thread which is beginning to
meander, does anyone have a comment about the alleged need for a high
quality HDMI cable (between the Sky HD box and the telly). Whilst I
appreciate that the bandwidth of the HD data stream probably requires
a certain minimum standard, is there any justification for a 1.5m
cable that costs 80 quid (which my local SONY dealer insists I need)?

HDMI being (non error corrected) digital, any loss/errors will be
very obvious, very quickly as "sparklies" (random white dots/snow
on the picture) at around 20ft and then total failure (picture blackout)
at 30ft (depending on cable).

Cables have much less of an effect on video quality on digital
than they do with analog signals.There's no gradual degradation
in picture quality over length like you get with analogue, just
a large amount of bit errors that show up as sparklies.

In short, for a length of 2m or under, a £4.50 HDMI cable will be just
as good as an £80 one. If you're planning on long lengths for your
projector like 10-15m, then a more expensive cable might be
in order, but it either works or it doesn't...

--
Mike

"Mike Redrobe" wrote in message
k...
Chas Gill wrote:
Rather than get involved in a similar thread which is beginning to
meander, does anyone have a comment about the alleged need for a high
quality HDMI cable (between the Sky HD box and the telly). Whilst I
appreciate that the bandwidth of the HD data stream probably requires
a certain minimum standard, is there any justification for a 1.5m
cable that costs 80 quid (which my local SONY dealer insists I need)?

HDMI being (non error corrected) digital, any loss/errors will be
very obvious, very quickly as "sparklies" (random white dots/snow
on the picture) at around 20ft and then total failure (picture blackout)
at 30ft (depending on cable).

Cables have much less of an effect on video quality on digital
than they do with analog signals.There's no gradual degradation
in picture quality over length like you get with analogue, just
a large amount of bit errors that show up as sparklies.

In short, for a length of 2m or under, a £4.50 HDMI cable will be just
as good as an £80 one. If you're planning on long lengths for your
projector like 10-15m, then a more expensive cable might be
in order, but it either works or it doesn't...

--
Mike

Thank you gentlemen - you have confirmed my cynical suspicions.

Cheers

Chas

Chas Gill wrote:
Rather than get involved in a similar thread which is beginning to
meander, does anyone have a comment about the alleged need for a high
quality HDMI cable (between the Sky HD box and the telly). Whilst I
appreciate that the bandwidth of the HD data stream probably requires
a certain minimum standard, is there any justification for a 1.5m
cable that costs 80 quid (which my local SONY dealer insists I need)?

Chas

I think you really know the answer. If a cheap lead works then there is no
justification whatsover for spending more, particularly with a digital
connection.
--
Adrian

On Wed, 23 Aug 2006 11:16:53 +0100, "Chas Gill"
wrote:

Rather than get involved in a similar thread which is beginning to meander,
does anyone have a comment about the alleged need for a high quality HDMI
cable (between the Sky HD box and the telly). Whilst I appreciate that the
bandwidth of the HD data stream probably requires a certain minimum
standard, is there any justification for a 1.5m cable that costs 80 quid
(which my local SONY dealer insists I need)?

No, but try a cheap set of cables first - if they prove
unsatisfactory, then purchase the expensive type from your Sony
dealer.

--
Cheers

Peter

Please remove the invalid to reply

Peter wrote:
On Wed, 23 Aug 2006 11:16:53 +0100, "Chas Gill"
wrote:

Rather than get involved in a similar thread which is beginning to
meander, does anyone have a comment about the alleged need for a
high quality HDMI cable (between the Sky HD box and the telly).
Whilst I appreciate that the bandwidth of the HD data stream
probably requires a certain minimum standard, is there any
justification for a 1.5m cable that costs 80 quid (which my local
SONY dealer insists I need)?

No, but try a cheap set of cables first - if they prove
unsatisfactory, then purchase the expensive type from your Sony
dealer.

If the cheap one is unsatisfactory, it is unfit for purpose and should be
returned whence it came. It should then be substituted for one which meets
the required specification and therefore works. There are no circumstances
under which the purchase of the £80 Sony cable would be justified.

"Chas Gill" wrote in message
...
Rather than get involved in a similar thread which is beginning to
meander, does anyone have a comment about the alleged need for a high
quality HDMI cable (between the Sky HD box and the telly). Whilst I
appreciate that the bandwidth of the HD data stream probably requires a
certain minimum standard, is there any justification for a 1.5m cable that
costs 80 quid (which my local SONY dealer insists I need)?

Chas


Your dealer gets them for about £4 each from SONY, ask him about the trade
price list. They are told to sell at the RRP or risk having supplies
withdrawn. I used to work for a company that dealt with Kenwood and Philips
and could buy things for 30% of the RRP for my own use. In larger
quantities the mark-up was great. Consumers are being ripped off in the UK.
£80 is excessive, it's similar to when a boy racer wants an exhaust for a
car - he will buy a £500 one instead of a £130 one because he is "TOLD" he
needs it!
All it comes down to is how thick and stupid the customer is and how much
the company wants to make. If they know a customer has no knowledge or
appears thick, they will tell them anything as they see them as a pound
sign. You have to remember sales people lie to make a living most of the
time.

Does anyone do a wall plate HDMI socket. ?

Rob wrote:
Does anyone do a wall plate HDMI socket. ?

All I can see after a quick search.
http://www.tekcare.co.uk/Scripts/pro...dCategory=1381
http://tinyurl.com/h8kpd
--
Adrian

"Rob" wrote in message
...


Does anyone do a wall plate HDMI socket. ?

Use an extension cable like these?

http://www.datapro.net/products/1160.html

Mount it on a blanking plate?