Home audio & video: Monster HDMI cable question/help?
Monster HDMI cable question/help?
by pballa76 - 1/22/08 3:20 PMI purchased a 1 metre Monster ULT V800 HDMI Cable (its blue) from FutureShop (canada) when I purchased my new LCD (over $150 for it) and recently purchased a 4 foot Monster U2 V800 HDMI Cable (its red) online for under $50. I have searched the U2 V800 and it comes up with the same picture and same info as the ULT V800 except it is red. I just wanted to know what the difference is, if any at all?
Thanks.
i am in no way a tech expert as others on here are...
by bean99 - 1/22/08 4:51 PM In reply to: Monster HDMI cable question/help? by pballa76but i am looking into the same thing and everything i've read says that all HDMI cables are equal.
i do wonder if they need to say "1.3 compatable" on the box...
They'll chime in soon
by dinox64 - 1/22/08 6:24 PM In reply to: i am in no way a tech expert as others on here are... by bean99Return those expensive cords and get the no namers. Monster stands for monster rip off. Any HDMI line cord will work with 1.3. Thats just the signal going over the cable.Plenty of outlets on Ebay for them. Look up Monprice on there.
There are two camps on this issue
by Rollbar - 1/23/08 6:52 AM In reply to: They'll chime in soon by dinox64But most agree that while the Monster cables are well made and look good there is really no practical application difference in a cable costing $150 and one for $15.00. Some will argue that you need a cable certified for broad band; others say no, digital is either there or not so if you have a signal, you're done.
I bought two 3 foot HDMI cables for less than $10 each (Amazon) and they work perfectly with my 1080p tv, receiver, Blu-ray/PS3 and other devices.
Personally, I'd take back both cables and save money for all the other stuff you will want but haven't though of yet.
Gary
but is 1.3 necessary?
by bean99 - 1/23/08 8:20 AM In reply to: There are two camps on this issue by Rollbarall of the real bargain HDMI cables on Amazon do not offer 1.3 standard.
yet they all get 4.5 to 5 star reviews.
so what's with the "1.3?"
does it matter if it's 1.3 or not?
thanks.
Yes all HDMI cables are the same to a point...
by stuntman_mike - 1/23/08 9:18 AM In reply to: Monster HDMI cable question/help? by pballa76You don't need $300 Monster cables as any well made cable will do the job. My very first HDMI cable is a Monster and my subsequent ones are from monoprice.com and if anything the mono's are the same if not a tiny bit better made (the threads seem a bit more durable and they are thicker than the Monster cable). So yes in that respect they are all the same.
The one way that they are different, to answer bean's question, is 1.3. While all HDMI cables and outputs are backwards compatible, meaning that you will get 1080p vid and great audio, you need both HDMI 1.3 inputs/ outputs and 1.3 HDMI cable to get the x.v. color definitely and from what I have gathered from my research, I believe the HD audio as well. HDMI 1.3 cables have different bandwidth specs from 1.1 and 1.2.
I welcome anyone to point me to a source that says otherwise, but I have not come across one.
HDMI 1.1, 1.2 & 1.3 specs are for the electroinics!
by jcrobso - 1/23/08 2:18 PM In reply to: Yes all HDMI cables are the same to a point... by stuntman_mikeNot the cables!!!! Any HDMI cable will work, my $22 cable from Sam's club works great. John
As for the author of this threads question...
by stuntman_mike - 1/23/08 10:02 AM In reply to: Monster HDMI cable question/help? by pballa76I really don't know what the difference between those two Monster SKUs is. The fact that one is under $50, which is very cheap for a Monster cable, makes me guess that it is the very low end cable and not the same. But it is just a guess.
I can tell you that monoprice has HDMI 1.3 cables for about $12 which I have though. I have three of them. Bought the in-wall ones even though I use them outside of the wall because they are more durable. And I can personally vouch for them being every bit as good if not better than the $150 Monster cable which I got through a hook-up a year ago.
My recommendation is to save your money and time researching Monster cables and buy from monoprice.com
Good luck
forgive me...
by bean99 - 1/23/08 11:11 AM In reply to: As for the author of this threads question... by stuntman_mikex.v. color?
what's that mean?
Only difference between 1.1 1.2 1.3
by jostenmeat - 1/23/08 11:21 AM In reply to: As for the author of this threads question... by stuntman_mikeis "rated" bandwidth. That doesn't mean a 1.1 cable will not have comparable bandwidth to a 1.3 cable. But if rated so, you know you have it.
Controversies regarding these cables is unwarranted for 99% of us here at CNET. Our cable runs are usually, what, 3-6 ft? There is little or no worry here.
Its when you are doing custom installs, such as a long run for a projector, or wiring thru the walls, where it may behoove someone to spend a lot on a very high quality cable.
The things is, people have had success with long runs using Monoprice 1.3 inwalls. Im not talking cheapskates either. A lot of users at the $20,000 Hi-end forum of AVS uses them. I know yet another consumer at a different forum with a $100,000 system, and he thinks that Monoprice HDMI cables work fantastically.
good luck everybody.
If you can point me to sources...
by stuntman_mike - 1/23/08 1:20 PM In reply to: Only difference between 1.1 1.2 1.3 by jostenmeatthat say that 1.3 cable doesn't matter, I would like to read it. I am not being snooty, I'm being serious. I am just interested in seeing it because I have tried to find out if they were necessary or not. Most information was vague, but when ever I did see a definitive answer they always said that you needed it to pass the x.v. color (that is a new spec for color space bean99, that is the reason why they have gone to 1.3, even though there is no x.v. media yet) and HD audio.
I'd like clarity on this more for others than myself really. I already have 1.3 cables from mono. Based on my research and the fact that they are only like $2 more than the older HDMI cables on their site, I figured better safe than sorry. My opinion is I suggest that everyone else spend the extra $2 and do the same.
I do not remember where I read this
by jostenmeat - 1/23/08 1:55 PM In reply to: If you can point me to sources... by stuntman_mikebut it wouldn't surprise me if it was AVS. There are more professionals, engineers, MIT physicists, etc, there than you can shake a stick at.
In fact, I even used to know what the respective, specific bandwidth ratings were for 1.1 and 1.3 cables. I think I even might have posted them here at CNET before.
Sorry I can't help you more. I've not read anything to the contrary, ever, btw. Can you point to sources that contradict what I am claiming? I'd be curious.
So, if Im not mistaken, the cables are identical, save for rated bandwidth. Who knows when HDMI 1.4, 2.0, or whatever comes out. Im not too worried about the cables, since first of all the tech just isn't there yet, and my runs are currently at a minimum.
IIRC, There's even been some arguments about CAT-5 vs HDMI. Who knows man, who knows.
sorry to disappoint, jostenmeat
I have to get on my computer at home...
by stuntman_mike - 1/23/08 2:09 PM In reply to: I do not remember where I read this by jostenmeatto get the searches that I did on the 1.3 subject. But if memory serves me, there is a FAQ on monoprice that addresses it and also on wikipedia.
There are others, but those are the ones that come to mind right now. I will post links to other sources as soon as I can.
Waste of money...sorry
by dgden - 1/23/08 1:57 PM In reply to: Monster HDMI cable question/help? by pballa76I bought my HDMI cables from Amazon for less than $6 bucks each with shipping. The site says they are 1.3b. Have been using them and they work great...no problems at all. The site says they are gold plated (they look like it but who really knows) and look sturdy.
Bottom line, you definately overpaid for those cables big time. As far as 1.3 standard is concerned for the wider color spectrum - only few sources nowdays have that and even though more will have soon, you at least need to know if your TV supports it, not all of them do by far.
Find yourself a cheaper 1.4 HDMI cable from the sources that most recommend and do not fear. You won't know the difference (because there won't be any) guranteed.
Sorry 1.3 NOT 1.4
by dgden - 1/23/08 1:59 PM In reply to: Waste of money...sorry by dgdenHad typo in the last sentence there...I meant get 1.3 not 1.4 as those don't even exist to my knowledge...
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