Does anyone know why HDMI cables are so expensive?

[Russic]

Monoprice is also a goldmine for other cables and ipod/iphone accessories. You can get charging cables and battery packs for a fraction of the cost compared to other stuff.

[Hack&Lube]

Cables are the highest margin items for electronics stores. Its where they make all their money. They'll price TVs competively but try to make you buy cables at 1000%+ of cost.

The online ones are perfectly fine. HDMI is a digital signal. Cable quality should have no bearing on it.

[I_H8_Crawford]

My favorite is when buying a TV or helping a friend buy at TV when the salesperson goes into the Monster Cable pitch the convo always goes something like this:

Sales: Now that you have this awesome TV, you're going to want the best possible picture right? Well these are the best cables on the market and will ensure the best possible quality there is!
Me: It's a digital cable, right?
S: Yes
M: So how does it do zero and one better than other cables?
S: Well it has better shielding, and will last much much longer than anything else out there, you need this cable! Would you fill your Ferrari with regular gas??
M: There are different grades of gas, HDMI cables either work or they don't. For that price I could buy 20 regular HDMI cables, so if they do falter, I can just replace it.
S: *defeated look for a moment* Well you definitely want to protect your TV, right? Let me tell you about our warranty.....

[Crispy's Critter]

funny, I was looking at TV's a couple days ago, and got the whole "you need the best HDMI cable" spiel. I sort of played ignorant just to hear what he had to say. Apparently the new thing is that monster cables use HDMI 3 and will soon be coming out with HDMI 4, and other cables still use HDMI 1. I just smiled and nodded.

For the record I've never used monoprice, but the last hdmi cable I bought at walmart because I couldn't wait for shipping. It was $24 for a 6' cable, still works fine a couple years later.

*edit* maybe it was hdmi 1.3 and 1.4 . I forget. it was stupid either way

[chid]

dealextreme.com

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by Crispy's Critter

funny, I was looking at TV's a couple days ago, and got the whole "you need the best HDMI cable" spiel. I sort of played ignorant just to hear what he had to say. Apparently the new thing is that monster cables use HDMI 3 and will soon be coming out with HDMI 4, and other cables still use HDMI 1. I just smiled and nodded.

For the record I've never used monoprice, but the last hdmi cable I bought at walmart because I couldn't wait for shipping. It was $24 for a 6' cable, still works fine a couple years later.

*edit* maybe it was hdmi 1.3 and 1.4 . I forget. it was stupid either way

It is HDMI 1.3, well that is what exists. It is untrue that only Monster uses it. And for the record, I checked 1.4, and it is "3840×2160p at 24Hz/25Hz/30Hz and 4096×2160p at 24Hz, which is a resolution used with digital theaters"

This is twice the HD we have now and will take years for it to come to consumer televisions, meaning when 1.4 comes out, it won't have any effect on any of us.

From what I am reading, 1.3 decodes HD audio, and 1.0-1.2 don't. So 1.3 is worth it?

[I_H8_Crawford]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

It is HDMI 1.3, well that is what exists. It is untrue that only Monster uses it. And for the record, I checked 1.4, and it is "3840×2160p at 24Hz/25Hz/30Hz and 4096×2160p at 24Hz, which is a resolution used with digital theaters"

This is twice the HD we have now and will take years for it to come to consumer televisions, meaning when 1.4 comes out, it won't have any effect on any of us.

From what I am reading, 1.3 decodes HD audio, and 1.0-1.2 don't. So 1.3 is worth it?

Do you want HD Audio? Do you have a receiver capable of handling the signal?
If not, do you plan on picking up a receiver that will support HD Audio?

It's up to your wants/needs.

However, there is minimal price difference b/t 1.3 and 1.2 or less, so why not pick up the 1.3?

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by I_H8_Crawford

Do you want HD Audio? Do you have a receiver capable of handling the signal?
If not, do you plan on picking up a receiver that will support HD Audio?

It's up to your wants/needs.

However, there is minimal price difference b/t 1.3 and 1.2 or less, so why not pick up the 1.3?

Oh, I wasn't specifically asking if 1.3 is worth it, I have it for HD Audio reason.

Also, 1.3 can stream much more at once than 1.2 (or something like that).

[ken0042]

Well, as mentioned there is a difference between some HDMI cables as far as bitrate is concerned. But that would only be a consideration for me if I was looking at running an HDMI cable in the wall and would want it able to handle 1440p signals.

If you can't wait for monoprice to get a cable to you- one place to try in Superstore. A few times I have picked up their "PS3 Bundle" which has an HDMI and an optical cable for $7.

[Shazam]

If you don't want to wait, Zellers and RCSS both sell very reasonably priced HDMI cables ($10-$15).

[tripin_billie]

For the price of a similar cord (mini-dvi to dvi) from Apple, I was able to purchase a mini-dvi to HDMI, 2 six foot HDMI cords, and a 6 foot 2 RCA male to 1 3.5mm male cable from Monoprice. I have used them for a couple of years now, and their customer service is top notch too. I once ordered the wrong cable, and I called them and without a delay in shipping or any real effort on my part, the correct cable was sent out instead. Can't say enough good things about monoprice.

[Komskies]

Can I join the Monoprice love-in?

Last week I placed the following order on Monoprice:

• High Speed HDMI 1.3a Category 2 Certified Cable CL2 Rated (In-Wall Installation) FLAT Cable (24AWG) - 10ft (Gold Plated Connectors) $9.01
• PREMIUM 12FT Optical Toslink Cable w/ Metal Fancy Connector $6.00
• 12ft High-quality Coaxial Audio/Video RCA CL2 Rated Cable - RG6/U 75ohm (for S/PDIF, Digital Coax, Subwoofer, and Composite Video) $3.97
• Phone cable, RJ45 (8P8C), Reverse - 14ft for Voice $1.36

Subtotal : $20.24
Shipping & Handling Cost : $12.48
GRAND TOTAL : $32.72

Why so expensive you may ask? I decided to splurge and get the cables with gold connectors. It arrived in the last hour, making the total delivery time under 1 week.

[Barnes]

Their TV mounts are great as well. The one I got for my 42" Aquios was $18.

[Thor]

I wish monoprice had t-shirts, I love them that much.

[photon]

got monoprice?

Or one to wear to Futureshop and BestBuy:

I bought 5 HDMI cables for $20,
AND I got this amazing T-Shirt.

Ask me how.

[theExpendable]

I watched a show on Bell one time, that test hdmi cables. Believe it or not but they all tested to have the same picture regarless of brand. So i just go with the cheapest possible!!

[Thor]

Originally Posted by photon

got monoprice?

Or one to wear to Futureshop and BestBuy:

I bought 5 HDMI cables for $20,
AND I got this amazing T-Shirt.

Ask me how.

LOL awesome.

[T@T]

Go to Calgarycable and have them make one up, any length you want for 1/3 the price.

[Vulcan]

I'd like to say that I was the first who referenced Monoprice on this board and get all the thanks from you happy customers but that honor goes to CRXguy who posted this question and image back in January 06.

CRXguy
Scoring Winger

Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Calgary, AB
Exp:


TV/HDMI question
I have a Samsung LCD TV that has HDMI output. My DVD player has HDMI and my Bell HDTV satellite has a DVI->HDMI cable.



The male end on the adaptor is plugged into the back of the TV. I then plugged both HDMI cables from my DVD player and satellite into the female ends of the adaptor. When I go into the "source" menu on the TV, it does not recognize anything. If I leave one of the cables connected, then I get a signal. What would be the problem?

I bought this adaptor piece hoping to connect it altogether. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

Anyways in 3 1/2 years, the written word has spread this companies name pretty well and I even bought that splitter along with many other switches and cables.

[MickMcGeough]

Wow... just checked monoprice. That place is awesome! Thanks all!

I needed an HDMI cable immediately and got a 6ft one from Walmart (in the computer accessories section, NOT the home theater stuff) for $10. Cheap I'm sure but it works fine.