Shopping for HDMI cables: who do retailers think they're kidding? Our price list inside.

opposable thumbs ^ | February 19, 2007 | Ben Kuchera

[george76]

Everyone is talking about HDMI with the release of the PS3, and it's worth talking about; many people don't know that much about the cables or the connections. Heck, I've talked to people who don't realize that their PS3 will look better if they upgrade their composite cables that come with the system.

I'm not going to try to break down the entire issue of cabling because it's a broad one, but if you're looking to buy an HDMI cable, just pay attention to the fact that there are stores that will rob you and others that won't.

When I was in Best Buy a few days ago I couldn't find an HDMI cable that was less than $50. When I picked up my PS3 from EBGameStop I was offered a $70 cable. I started to despair; I'd be fine with my component cables for a while if it was going to cost me that much to upgrade into HDMI...

Cabling is something of a racket, and while there probably is a difference between the medium-quality cables and the Monster Cables that cost $100+, I'm guessing none of us have systems that will let us tell enough of a difference to make the price worth it.

I tracked down my HDMI cables at Meijer, of all places. They were stuck underneath the display and weren't badged PS3, so I did a price check. $20, Nyko brand. I brought them home, hooked the system up, and it looked great. That freed up a component input as well, so I was able to hook up my Wii component cables.

[george76]

pure markup ?

.

[george76]

[darkwing104]

Pure ripoff... I paid $29 for an 8 foot HDMI cable.

[Mamzelle]

I bought an upverter DVD and one of these cables for my new LCD TV -- quite a difference. I even tried the old DVD with the old cable to see the difference, and I certainly could! I got a "preopened" cable package--they knocked off some of the price because the package had been opned.

[stockstrader]

Thanks for the info. I am looking for a 30' cable. Did they have ones that long at Meiers? Where would they have one that long?

[george76]

"an expensive HDMI cable will make NO difference in the quality of your picture OR sound"

http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=ps3&thread.id=828972&view=by_date_ascending&page=1

[Incorrigible]

Don't forget HDMI version 1.3

http://hdmi.org/resourcecenter/index.asp

[darkwing104]

You are preaching to the chior...

[andy58-in-nh]

Cables that long are expensive, but: 

35ft. HDMI to HDMI at MyCableMart on line for $85.40 - Here.

[stockstrader]

Thank you. Is there any noticable difference between tin, gold or silver plated HDMI for home theaters?

[george76]

Most major electronics chain stores like Best Buy and Circuit City try to recoup the lost profit on TVs that get customers into the store by selling absurdly overpriced cables. These so called “Monster” cables are nothing special. Combine that with silly prices on TV mounts, TV stands, and so on, and you’ve just surrendered hundreds of dollars to them for profit.

http://www.macuser.com/video/apple_xtrememac_and_the_unlike.php?lsrc=murss

[HAL9000]

Using Unlicensed Cables, Controllers Voids Your PS3 Warranty (!!)

[whatexit]

Yes, pure markup.

And Monster is a despicable company, beyond their pricing.

As for signal quality - if you're dealing with a digital cable (HDMI, DVI, etc.) the data is either passing or not.

We recently bought a new DVD to hook up to our new Plasma TV. Circuit City didn't have and HDMI cable under $70. Thankfully, they were next door to a Walmart...

[george76]

Thanks.

Sorry for preaching

[darkwing104]

I've been a big fan of HDMI since it came out. I find that the cheap ones do have the same performance as the expensive ones.

I once had a Radio Shack Salesman tell me that Monster cables where better then fiber optics. I have a Pioneer Elite system with fiber optics connections. I called him the dumbest SOB I heve ever met when it came to electronics.

[andy58-in-nh]

My information is that there is no visible difference whatsoever
between using plated- and non-plated connectors. I've tried both myself and seen no appreciable difference.

[arbooz]

Pure rip-off. I managed to haggle my way to a much lower HDMI cable price at Circuit City while buying another item.
Cable prices will continue go down, following flat screens.

[USMCWife6869]

Absolutely. I used to work for Best Buy. Their discount is cost +5%. We could buy cables at about 1/3 the price with that discount. All accessories are mark-up. That's where they make all their money.

[Niteranger68]

If you buy anything electronic-related without checking newegg.com first, you are screwing yourself.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Wire these so expensive?

[george76]

profit

and because there are enough informed customers who know better...

[george76]

thanks

http://www.newegg.com/

[george76]

I left off NOT enough...

[Las Vegas Dave]

Pinging, thanks to george76's ping!

(I bought a six foot Phillips shielded with gold plating HDMI cable at Wally World Mart for about $28 +tax.
an elcheapo came with a Toshiba HD upconverting DVD player at Costco - it works fine for free.)

[paulat]

Thanks for the ping! Good to know.

[NewsJunqui]

I've had good luck with Monoprice (www.monoprice.com). They have a 35' HDMI for ~$50.00.

[Varda]

I like MonoPrice too. Another good company is BlueJeans Cable. They offer high quality for good prices. I bought my multi-channel analog cables from them. They have a sale now: 40' HDMI for $50.

[Wonder Warthog]

"My information is that there is no visible difference whatsoever between using plated- and non-plated connectors. I've tried both myself and seen no appreciable difference."

True when new--but after a couple of years of corrosion---no.

Gold plating "is" best. An alternative is a "liquid contact enhancer", called, I think "Stabilant" or something similar. It's pretty expensive, too, but an oz or two will do all the connections on all the electronics you'll ever own in your lifetime.

[FreedomPoster]

Some guys on a private forum I'm on, swear by these guys:

http://monoprice.com/home/index.asp

[machman]

Wow, I see the price went way up, its now $6.99. I paid $4.70. Works great.....

And yes, cables are a rip off. I was looking at a low end upconverting DVD, Sony, and Panasonic. The stupid Monster cables were more than the player at Circuit City and Best Buy..... total ripoff...

HDMI at Amazon>

[FreedomPoster]

Stabilant is wonderful stuff. Believe it or not, it's in the VW parts system, for ECUs and such. I think it was around $20 or $25 for a small bottle that lasts forever. Great stuff for installing RAM, video cards, and such.

If you're interested, ping me back, and I can post the VW parts number, it's in the drawer in the credenza upstairs where the desktop sits, and I'm downstairs in the den with the laptop.

[FreedomPoster]

I've always said that for the price of Monster Cables, those electrons ought to get oral sex while travelling from point A to point B.

[FreedomGuru]

Did I click on the wrong link and wind up at DU?
What's wrong with "profit"?

[Wonder Warthog]

"If you're interested, ping me back, and I can post the VW parts number, it's in the drawer in the credenza upstairs where the desktop sits, and I'm downstairs in the den with the laptop."

Yes, please. Others may be interested, too. I first heard about it from Jerry Pournelle's website. He swears by it.

[george76]

profit is a good thing.

so is competition between various suppliers.

by being educated shoppers, we FReepers can help ourselves to high quality at a lower price.

Best Buy, etc. gets big profits from un - educated DUmmies customers.

[stockstrader]

Thank you.

[FreedomPoster]

I'm a huge Pournelle fan, going back about 3 decades. That's where I heard of it, too.

Wife just came in, and commandeered the TV to watch Am Idol. I'll trudge upstairs now.

[stockstrader]

Thank you.

[auboy]

Thanks for the ping. Good stuff, george!

[weegee]

Sounds like Hillary Clinton should be proposing a Cables Profit Tax. And another to drain those profits from the gouging that customers pay in printer cartridge refills. What IS the price of a barrel of ink today to the wholesaler and to the customer?

[weegee]

Profit is fine. Price fixing isn't.

The record companies settled a class action lawsuit to illegally manipulating their prices and gouging the customers.

The industry tried to do the same with DVD players. Apex had the first sub-$200 player. Now you can buy a player for less than the price of a boxed set of DVDs (which would also appear to be overpriced).

[Lee'sGhost]

Got great prices at cables for less.

www.cablesforless.com/

[cgk]

ping

[Central Scrutiniser]

You still got hosed.

I got a dvi to hdmi 16 foot cable for 9 bucks at monoprice. A 6 ft one at Best Buy is about 80 bux.


HDMI cables are a huge huge ripoff. Tell your Best Buy salesman to piss off when he tries to upsell you all kinds of crap. Including the $200 surge protector and filter, overpriced, unnecessary junk.

[mrchuck2008]

http://www.partsexpress.com/ Cheapest place i found

[mrchuck2008]

http://www.partsexpress.com/