MONSTER HDMI CABLES... Are they really as good as they say? Opinions please..

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › MONSTER HDMI CABLES... Are they really as good as they say? Opinions please..

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#323638 27-Apr-2010 14:16

cgrew:
Well than my theory is unexplained then, because I originally bought a cheap cable going from my PS3 to my TV but since upgrading to what I thought would be a better HDMI cable going by my theory it runs faster - wasn't jittery as the cheap HDMI cable.

Explain please?

Could you please elaborate on what you mean by "wasn't jittery as the cheap HDMI cable"? How do you define "jitter" in your scenario? Maybe it means different things to different people.

My understand with the 100hz thing is that it's just a processing function that some LCD TVs do to any(?) signal they receive whether from HDMI, component, S-Video, composite, etc, and that it's not necessary for plasma TVs.

ZollyMonsta

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#323643 27-Apr-2010 14:19

I'm happy as long as the blue smoke doesn't escape.

Check out my LPFM Radio Station at www.thecheese.co.nz - Now on iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Radio Garden

As per the usual std disclaimer.. "All thoughts typed here are my own."

Batman

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#323661 27-Apr-2010 14:38

signal transmission is one thing: NO DIFFERENCE - it either works or it doesnt and wont affect picture of sound quality in a digital signal

other issues are: longetivity, bragging rights, having too much money to burn on something, looks, build quality (eg bad USB connector is too tight or too lose/ and stiffness of the thing will it bend to how you want it is it too stiff etc etc)

but if picture quality is your main concern - if it works its as good as it gets

cgrew

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#323665 27-Apr-2010 14:41

grolschie:
cgrew:
Well than my theory is unexplained then, because I originally bought a cheap cable going from my PS3 to my TV but since upgrading to what I thought would be a better HDMI cable going by my theory it runs faster - wasn't jittery as the cheap HDMI cable.

Explain please?

Could you please elaborate on what you mean by "wasn't jittery as the cheap HDMI cable"? How do you define "jitter" in your scenario? Maybe it means different things to different people.

My understand with the 100hz thing is that it's just a processing function that some LCD TVs do to any(?) signal they receive whether from HDMI, component, S-Video, composite, etc, and that it's not necessary for plasma TVs.

Basically I have a HDMI cable running from my PS3 to my TV, originally when watching a Blu-Ray movie with the cheap cable it was fine but after upgrading to a new one I noticed that the picture ran alot smoother - it still looked the same, my theory is there is a better data transfer rate with the better HDMI cable.

I have now invested in two M HDMI cables, one going from the PS3 to my HDMI AV receiver and another HDMI cable going from the AV receiver's output to my Bravia LCD. Sliil works better then the cheap HDMI cable I origianlly had.

So what is your theory as to why the picture ran faster with the better cables?

clevedon

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#323669 27-Apr-2010 14:45

ZollyMonsta: I'm happy as long as the blue smoke doesn't escape.

Ha, Ha.
Even the title of the thread is MONSTER size.

patatrat

261 posts

Ultimate Geek

#323670 27-Apr-2010 14:48

cgrew:
after upgrading to a new one I noticed that the picture ran alot smoother - it still looked the same, my theory is there is a better data transfer rate with the better HDMI cable.

cgrew:
So what is your theory as to why the picture ran faster with the better cables?

My theory starts with 'p'..... and ends with 'lacebo'.

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cgrew

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#323672 27-Apr-2010 14:50

patatrat:
cgrew:
after upgrading to a new one I noticed that the picture ran alot smoother - it still looked the same, my theory is there is a better data transfer rate with the better HDMI cable.

cgrew:
So what is your theory as to why the picture ran faster with the better cables?

My theory starts with 'p'..... and ends with 'lacebo'.

Fail.

grolschie

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#323673 27-Apr-2010 14:52

Perhaps the original cheap cable was so crap it wasn't working properly. But then I'd imagine you'd get white dots on the screen (obvious glitches that some people talk about) or complete dropouts. Just my guess. From what I read, there is little or no difference between reasonable quality HDMI cables and awesome quality HDMI cables, but still maybe one can buy a complete lemon or a faulty cable. Just my $0.02.

johnr

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#323675 27-Apr-2010 14:54

cgrew:
grolschie:
cgrew:
Well than my theory is unexplained then, because I originally bought a cheap cable going from my PS3 to my?TV?but since upgrading to what I thought would be a better HDMI cable?going by my theory it runs faster - wasn't jittery as the cheap HDMI cable.?

Explain please?

Could you please elaborate on what you mean by "wasn't jittery as the cheap HDMI cable"? How do you define "jitter" in your scenario? Maybe it means different things to different people.

My understand with the 100hz thing is that it's?just a processing function that some LCD TVs do to any(?)?signal they receive whether from HDMI, component, S-Video, composite, etc, and that it's not necessary for plasma TVs.

Basically I have a HDMI cable running from my PS3 to my TV, originally when watching a Blu-Ray movie with the cheap cable it was fine but after upgrading to a new one I noticed that the picture ran alot smoother - it still looked the same, my theory is there is a better data transfer rate with the better HDMI cable.

I have now invested in two M HDMI cables, one going from the PS3 to my HDMI AV receiver and another HDMI cable going from the AV receiver's output to my Bravia LCD.? Sliil works better then the cheap HDMI cable I origianlly had.

So what is your theory as to why the picture ran faster with the better cables?

Your kidding us right?

patatrat

261 posts

Ultimate Geek

#323676 27-Apr-2010 14:58

cgrew:
Fail.

Not sure where the 'fail'(urgh) is.

Its possible - people often imagine benefits to justify higher priced products - even when there are no actual benefits. While not strictly the placebo effect, the word does convey the concept rather well.

As I said - just my theory.

cgrew

860 posts

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Inactive user

#323684 27-Apr-2010 15:03

grolschie: Perhaps the original cheap cable was so crap it wasn't working properly. But then I'd imagine you'd get white dots on the screen (obvious glitches that some people talk about) or complete dropouts. Just my guess. From what I read, there is little or no difference between reasonable quality HDMI cables and awesome quality HDMI cables, but still maybe one can buy a complete lemon or a faulty cable. Just my $0.02.

Right then tonight when I get home I'm going to do a series of tests with some cheap HDMI cables I have and compare them to my Monster ones. All of the tests will be done on the same Sony Bravia LCD TV.

I currently flat with pageweon so after I trial out all sets of HDMI cables I have I will see what results we can can come up with. But from what I've seen with my own eyeballs the better cables ran faster - unless I originally had a faulty cable to start with??

Watch this space..

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patatrat

261 posts

Ultimate Geek

#323687 27-Apr-2010 15:06

cgrew:

Right then tonight when I get home I'm going to do a series of tests with some cheap HDMI cables I have and compare them to my Monster ones. All of the tests will be done on the same Sony Bravia LCD TV.

I currently flat with pageweon so after I trial out all sets of HDMI cables I have I will see what results we can can come up with. But from what I've seen with my own eyeballs the better cables ran faster - unless I originally had a faulty cable to start with??

Watch this space..

Make it a double blind test in order to eliminate possible subjective bias and I'll believe the results.

meesham

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#323689 27-Apr-2010 15:10

grolschie: Perhaps the original cheap cable was so crap it wasn't working properly. But then I'd imagine you'd get white dots on the screen (obvious glitches that some people talk about) or complete dropouts. Just my guess. From what I read, there is little or no difference between reasonable quality HDMI cables and awesome quality HDMI cables, but still maybe one can buy a complete lemon or a faulty cable. Just my $0.02.

Agreed, the Monster cable was tested against 1 "cheap" HDMI cable (I would say $15-$25 is reasonably priced), it could have been a manufacturing fault or damaged (which is quite capable of happening to a Monster cable). To do a fair comparison it should also be a blind test, I know that if I paid Monster prices I'd WANT to see an improved picture.

As has been previously mentioned it's just sending 1s and 0s down the wire, any claims of picture improvement is just down to imagination. I'm using a $20 Warehouse cable, if the cheaper manufacturing quality results in the cable not lasting as long I'll just get another, I'll still be ahead by quite a margin over buying a Monster cable and in the mean time get the same picture quality.

Ethically I would also never buy any Monster products, I remember reading a couple of years ago them going around suing any companies with "Monster" in the name, including a mini-golf centre - as well as some of their retailers doing comparisons with other cables makers, not mentioning the other cable was actually a Composite connection. Have a look on Engadget for more info about this, that site won't even review any of their products anymore.

bazzer

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#323690 27-Apr-2010 15:10

cgrew: Well than my theory is unexplained then, because I originally bought a cheap cable going from my PS3 to my TV but since upgrading to what I thought would be a better HDMI cable going by my theory it runs faster - wasn't jittery as the cheap HDMI cable.

Explain please?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosomatic?

cgrew

860 posts

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Inactive user

#323691 27-Apr-2010 15:11

patatrat:
cgrew:

Right then tonight when I get home I'm going to do a series of tests with some cheap HDMI cables I have and compare them to my Monster ones. All of the tests will be done on the same Sony Bravia LCD TV.

I currently flat with pageweon so after I trial out all sets of HDMI cables I have I will see what results we can can come up with. But from what I've seen with my own eyeballs the better cables ran faster - unless I originally had a faulty cable to start with??

Watch this space..

Make it a double blind test in order to eliminate possible subjective bias and I'll believe the results.

Agreed.

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