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Source for Cables

Discussion in 'Community Broadband & Computers' started by jim, Mar 18, 2007.

  1. jim

    jim New Member

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    Just a quick tip for a good source for cables for your computer and A/V needs. I found excellent prices and quality at www.monoprice.com

    When we changed the TV out to an HD unit and upgraded the DVD player to one with upconversion, I was looking for a reasonably priced set of HDMI cables. I could not swallow $100 for a monster cable offered by the local retailers. I couldn't believe that a cable could really be that much to produce. It is a digital cable - do I need a $100 cable between the CPU and printer/monitor/USB Hub? I bought a 10' and a 3' HDMI cable from monoprice for about $15 and $7 each. They work great. I later got a set of component video cables for $15 that provide a better picture quality than the cheapo's that came with the DirecTV unit.

    They ship same day and with USPS priority mail they got here from California in 2 days.

    Hope this helps.

    -Jim
     
  2. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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  3. broken skull

    broken skull New Member

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    According to consumer reports the 5 dollar cables work just as well as the 100-200 "gold plated" cables. So buy the cheap ones.
     
  4. brim

    brim Member

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    Digital cables transmit 0's and 1's, you don't need a high dollar cable. Speaker cables are a different story, but even then it's not that big a difference...at least not to my ears.
     
  5. Pictor Guy

    Pictor Guy New Member

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    To add to this... even USB cables offered by the $100 cable retailer - the not so good buy retailer - can be found for a lot less elsewhere, same brand cable for 1/3 of the price. But HDMI cables are just sending 1 and 0's, all you really need to make sure is that there isn't interference picked up from the cable. Optical cables are another matter.
     
  6. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Optical cables are just sending digital encoded signal as well. At much lower rates and frequencies then HDMI as well.
     
  7. Pictor Guy

    Pictor Guy New Member

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    True but you don't have the problem of line noise provided the optical path is clear. HDMI has to deal with potential interference.
     
  8. technosapien

    technosapien New Member

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    Day late but hopefully not a dollar short...

    Read an article recently where a tech blogger went to MonsterCable HQ and called them out on the price of their components. Turns out, the more expensive cables are justified over long distances, but for typical short-cable usage the cheaper cables are just fine. But also, to some extent, the devices in use affect the capability of various quality cabling as well (ability to read weak signals, ability to send strong signals, etc.).

    http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/hdmi-cable-battlemodo/the-truth-about-monster-cable-part-2-268788.php

    Enjoy. :)

    - Aric
     

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