Cheap Cables! (hdmi Too!)

Okay, I know that my parents have been suckered into buying 70-90 dollar HDMI (and other) cables from Bestbuy, since they claim that they are just the "best". Usually, the HDMI cable is of monster brand. While I know some of you "swear" by monster, for the everyday user, regular Gold plated HDMI cables are fine.

Here is the difference between monster and generic cables. When running a cable 20-30 feet, you may see some distortion with a generic HDMI cable. However, if you are the everyday user, using a 3-12ft cable, then you have no reason to shell 70 bucks for a "high quality" cable.

So, the link you have finally been waiting for...
www.monoprice.com

This place is great, they process orders quickly, and I just ordered SVGA, HDMI, and composite cables from them. They have great prices, and they sell 6ft gold plated HDMI cables for around $4-$5. If you are buying a splitter or a HDMI cable or some other cable, make sure that you get gold plated. They are only a few more cents, and they conduct the signal better.

Here is a comparison that I found online if you want to take the time to read it: http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/monster-...es-cheaper-speed+rated-hdmi-cables-293957.php

--If this helps just drop a post saying thanks
---Please bump this thread, since this site really does have great deals, and it would benefit everyone here to know that they don't have to get cables for 70 bucks.

 

allright, 20 feet is excessive in my opinion, but cool!

 

Yea, thats why I said if your the average user your only going to use 3-12ft. If you have a large home theater setup though, you may need a 20-30ft to run to your projector.

 

+1 for monoprice.com... I've been purchasing from them since I set up my home theater in 2004. At one point, I made a mistake and ordered a set of cables with the wrong end (female instead of male) and they accepted the exchange no questions asked.

I was one of those that needed a 25ft HDMI cable, along with 25ft component RGB to run through the ceiling to my projector. In local stores, that probably would have run me over $300, maybe more. I purchased both for about $60 shipped at the time. The quality is top notch. I did a direct comparison between my old (short) monster cables versus the monoprice cables (long) and there was zero difference in picture quality. Not surprising with the HDMI comparison since it's digital and it's more or less either on or off... either it works or it doesn't. Sometimes longer stretches of lower quality cables introduce "sparkles", but no sign of that on my 25ft stretch. The analog component RGB comparison was a little more surprising as the signal can degrade over long stretches if interefered with (it doesn't just completely cut out, it degrades slowly as the signal drops out), but (and this is coming from a graphic designer whose day job is to pick out image quality imperfections) there was zero difference in viewable quality.

This just goes to show you how overpriced and marked up monster cables, etc are. They also offer adapters, converters, splitters, etc. for insanely low prices. I recently purchased a TOSLINK (Optical audio) 3-way switch for less than half of what the local Fry's (which is usually relatively cheap) had it for.

As a side note, I don't work for or receive anything from monoprice.com. I've simply saved a boatload of money with zero drawback so I'm always happy to drop a glowing review for them.