I’m setting up my SageTV HD100 and a key component is the HDMI cable used to connect the HD media extender to the LCD television. One thing I learned long ago was to not buy theater cables from the big-box retailers, including Best Buy, Circuit City,Walmart , etc. Instead, I save myself a bundle by purchasing online. Why not cave to convenience and purchase at the store? Despite what the kid at the store tells you, those Monster Cable and lesser known “high quality” cables are being sold at huge margins and no noticeable differences in performance.
Best Buy sells the fancy packaged, 16′ Monster Cable – Ultra Series 800 HDMI A/V Cable (not rated for in-wall installation) for the low, low price of $149.99. While Monoprice.com, my favorite cable vendor, sells a HDMI Tin-Plated Copper CL2 Rated (For In-Wall Installation) Cable (22AWG) – 30ft (Gold Plated) for $36.87. Feel free to include shipping fees, and you’re still way below the big-box cost. Delivery is very quick and you’ll end up with a better cable for less. Another retailer with good, inexpensive cables is Newegg.com.
Next time you have a home theater project, do your homework and shop around to save in places you didn’t expect. Trust me, you’ll need that money later for something else in your theater.
Check out more of Brent’s reflections on tech, gadgets, software and media at Brent Evans Geek Tonic.
Reminds me of a post I wrote in 2006… :) By the way, Brent – have you purchased your cable yet? I have a 35′ HDMI cable not currently in use.
Thanks for the offer Dave, but already have the cable. Being the home theater/tech nut that I am, I have a box full of cables and such just waiting to be used. For the past year after my dad finished their new house, I brought that box with me every time and he was always amazed at the fact I always had the cable he needed :)
My next cable purchase will be some sort of HDMI to DVI converter cable. And I won’t be purchasing it from the local retailer either…
ive been picking up xtrememac hdmi cables through my roomate (apple store employee) and they work great for $20. i used to work at best buy, the mark-up on anything monster cable is about 60% which is ridiculous
Brent, I may have a 3′ DVI->HDMI cable in my cable drawer. (I have two cable drawers – computer & theater.) Remind me this weekend and I’ll check when I’m back east. I’ve been planning for months (or longer now) to replace most of my cables with shorter cables to reduce the clutter. Though the biggest mess is the Xbox power brick which is larger, louder, and hotter than some of my gear. ;)
We are talking about a digital signal here (hdmi). A working digital signal can’t get any better with “better” cable.
When you have an analog signal, then the quality of the cables can make a difference.
Couldn’t agree more with this post. Engadget HD just had an article how Retailers are using a scam to get people to buy Monster: http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/hdmi-cable-scam-used-to-fool-in-store-customers/
Will anyone buy Monster Cables after the recent “coat hanger” listening test? As someone also said – if you connected your printer with a a “monster cable” would the result be any better?
Dave,
Funny thing. I dug through that box o cables I mentioned in my post above and found not only another HDMI cable, but also a 6? DVI->HDMI cable. So again thanks for offering your extra cables, but seems I over-purchased a while back and I’m finally catching up.
Did I mention I really love this SageTV HD extender? It’s so easy to get working it almost seems non-htpc (gasp!) More on that later.
Amen brother, those cables are for the electronics weekend warriors who don’t care about paying such prices. I’ve always purchased online and discounted cables and have never had a problem. To appease instant gratification, when I know I’m going to purchase something I read on the cables I need, if any, and purchase in advance, so I don’t have the machine partially hooked up and I’m salivating to see how it works! Although, Frys here in Palo Alto, does seem to have all price points of cables, unlike best buy and circuit city.
Love, love, love Monoprice. Everything I’ve bought from them has been well made, and the prices can rarely be beaten (especially for decent quality — and even with digital cables quality matters in the sense that if the connectors come off or the wires break at the bends, the cable will not work right). I’ve also had very good luck with A2ZCables.com, for the record (thought it’s been a few year since I last ordered from them).
I fell once for the Best Buy gimic of “better” cables. I was not happy when I looked on Amazon and saw the same cable for $12!!! I haven’t purchased from monoprice but looked at their prices before always real good. I have had luck with some good deals through Amazon as well. the $100 cable sure is the biggest rip off there is. FYI…Monster is giving up their naming rights deal with the SF 49ers for Candlestick, guess the cable business isn’t doing as well.
When I purchased my first HDMI cable Sony wanted me to spend the low, low price of $180ish. Having done some research and discovering, like most things digital, either an HDMI cable works perfectly or not at all, I purchased a 6′ HDMI cable from TiberDirect for $18ish. It works perfectly and always will. There are some differences in high-end cables in the analogue world, but in the digital world – notta!
…Dale
Bought mine from monoprice. These companies that sell $100+ (or $50+…) cables are shameless and pathetic…
FYI, I’ve had good luck with cables from my local hardware store. In my case they’re Philips cables I think, from Orchard Hardware, with nice terminators and simple packaging. I’m sure they’re not as cheap as you can get online, but they’re fine as long as you only need one of the limited run lengths they carry. You may find what you need at Home Depot or …