HDMI

[Мастер]

So, amazon.com has HDMI cables for as low as 2 USD, the local electronics store has them for as much as 200 USD

Despite the new television and the new blu-ray player, according to the manuals, I'm watching 480i due to the crappy free cable that came in the box...

[Lance]

Is it a crappy -> HDMI <- ?

If it is, then it shouldn't matter. Digital is digital. Even though HDMI is not an error correcting format, over short runs there is absolutely no need to spend money on a premium cable.

[Мастер]

Is it a crappy -> HDMI <- ?

It is a three cable interface, with two of the cables devoted to audio. I believe that makes it "composite," which is pretty much the bottom feeder of video interfaces.

If it is, then it shouldn't matter. Digital is digital.

That's what I figured, although I've run into a bunch of people who swear up and down that I'll be sorely disappointed if I don't get a cable that costs more than the blu-ray player.

[KLA2]

^ I've run into a bunch of people who swear up and down that I'll be sorely disappointed if I don't get a cable that costs more than the blu-ray player

Well, if you are disapointed, write off the $2 cable and get the $200 one; otherwise, you get the last laugh and $198. :wink:

[Halcyon Dayz, FCD]

It can get worse: Denon Releases $499 Cable.

[Lance]

Is it a crappy -> HDMI <- ?

It is a three cable interface, with two of the cables devoted to audio. I believe that makes it "composite," which is pretty much the bottom feeder of video interfaces.

Ah, yes. It's better than an RF (Channel 3/4) hook up, but not by much. You could always use it as a component cable until your HDMI cable arrives. That'll give you true HD.

If it is, then it shouldn't matter. Digital is digital.

That's what I figured, although I've run into a bunch of people who swear up and down that I'll be sorely disappointed if I don't get a cable that costs more than the blu-ray player.

Those people are wrong. It's true, to some degree, with analog cables but not digital.

I wouldn't get a $2 cable either though. Quality of the materials might lead to insulation failure and connectors breaking or not fitting right. The $10-$20 cables at Tiger Direct work just fine. It's what I've been using.

Funny story:
I was in Radio Shack a few months ago just browsing. And I happened to be in need of an HDMI cable at the time, so I asked the manager if they had any "reasonable" HDMI cables in stock. He had some for $79 and some for $99 but assured me the $79 cable was just fine for most applications.

I replied that I was looking for the $19 cable, which is also just fine for most applications because it is a digital format.

He didn't know how to answer.

I then said "you know, one of these days the consumers are going to catch on to this".

And he replied "yeah, but until then we're going to ride the wave".

It can get worse: Denon Releases $499 Cable.

That's absurd!

[Мастер]

Ah, yes. It's better than an RF (Channel 3/4) hook up, but not by much. You could always use it as a component cable until your HDMI cable arrives. That'll give you true HD.

But then I will need something else for the audio, right?

Those people are wrong. It's true, to some degree, with analog cables but not digital.

It just didn't make sense to me that a cable would cost nearly as much as a computer, which moves data around at vastly higher frequencies...

I wouldn't get a $2 cable either though. Quality of the materials might lead to insulation failure and connectors breaking or not fitting right. The $10-$20 cables at Tiger Direct work just fine. It's what I've been using.

I already ordered a slightly more expensive ($3x) cable from Tiger Direct :P

Funny story:
I was in Radio Shack a few months ago just browsing. And I happened to be in need of an HDMI cable at the time, so I asked the manager if they had any "reasonable" HDMI cables in stock. He had some for $79 and some for $99 but assured me the $79 cable was just fine for most applications.

I replied that I was looking for the $19 cable, which is also just fine for most applications because it is a digital format.

He didn't know how to answer.

I then said "you know, one of these days the consumers are going to catch on to this".

And he replied "yeah, but until then we're going to ride the wave".

And he was willing to admit that in public? :P

[Lance]

Ah, yes. It's better than an RF (Channel 3/4) hook up, but not by much. You could always use it as a component cable until your HDMI cable arrives. That'll give you true HD.

But then I will need something else for the audio, right?

Yeah. You probably have a cheap dual RCA patch cord laying around somewhere though.

And he replied "yeah, but until then we're going to ride the wave".

And he was willing to admit that in public? :P

Well, anyone who already knows it, knows it. There wouldn't be any reason to try and convince me otherwise because he knows that would just be insulting my intelligence.

[Мастер]

Yeah. You probably have a cheap dual RCA patch cord laying around somewhere though.

Lance, you are amazing :)

Yes, the Blu-ray disk (one of three I bought) looks better this way, and my standard def "Yes Minister" DVDs look less crappy. The volume of the sound is a bit more reasonable this way too, before, I had to turn it up to almost the top of the range...

Simultaneously, I am importing my entire CD collection into iTunes, and then loading them into my iPhone. It looks like it's all going to fit. I'm not sure if that is a statement about how awesome the iPhone is or how pathetic my CD collection is...

[Lance]

Yeah. You probably have a cheap dual RCA patch cord laying around somewhere though.

Lance, you are amazing :)

Because I suggested you use the composite cable as a component cable, or because I knew you had a dual RCA patch cord laying around?

Thanks!

Glad you got it all working.

Note: Don't expect a vast improvement when going from Component to HDMI. Both formats are true HD, though I think maybe Component won't do 1080p which is what your Blu-Ray disks are.

[Мастер]

Yeah. You probably have a cheap dual RCA patch cord laying around somewhere though.

Lance, you are amazing :)

Because I suggested you use the composite cable as a component cable, or because I knew you had a dual RCA patch cord laying around?

Well, both :P

Note: Don't expect a vast improvement when going from Component to HDMI. Both formats are true HD, though I think maybe Component won't do 1080p which is what your Blu-Ray disks are.

With a blu-ray disk, the component video provides 1080i, which is incredible. Any doubts I had that HD was all hype and no substance, have been swept away.

The difference between analog and digital, even at standard def, in broadcast channels is quite striking. (Currently have no cable or satellite service - will probably get Dish.) We can see the exact same content in a fuzzy, distorted picture, or a perfectly clean picture, at the click of a button...

[Lance]

Well, both :P

:D

With a blu-ray disk, the component video provides 1080i, which is incredible.

Okay, yeah, you'll see the difference going to 1080p in HDMI. Maybe not a vast improvement, buyt definately better.

Any doubts I had that HD was all hype and no substance, have been swept away.

Ain't it sumthin'?

(Currently have no cable or satellite service - will probably get Dish.)

If you go with DirecTV, let me know so I can "refer" you. I think we'd both get a $50 bonus or something.

[Мастер]

If you go with DirecTV, let me know so I can "refer" you. I think we'd both get a $50 bonus or something.

Sorry, we went with Dish :( The guy is here now...

[Lance]

Shoot him. Run him off.

[Мастер]

Shoot him. Run him off.

Plenty of opportunities. He's been here almost eight hours, and this is on an installation that's using the existing coax cable on the inside, originally put in for cable tv.