HDMI Cable Ver 1.3

[Frankie]

I was looking at some cables over at Monoprice and noticed that they sell HDMI cable that is verified for ver 1.3

What's the difference between this HDMI cable and regular HDMI

Isn't it just a digital carrier?

F

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by Frankie

I was looking at some cables over at Monoprice and noticed that they sell HDMI cable that is verified for ver 1.3

What's the difference between this HDMI cable and regular HDMI

Isn't it just a digital carrier?

F

Yeah, but HDMI 1.3 cables have to be certified at a higher bandwidth.

[Derb]

I didn't look it up, but read from a post at HDD that HDMI's site lists the spec 1.3 as a hardware only spec & has nothing to do with what HDMI cable you buy. In others words, no versions for cables, just hardware.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by Derb

I didn't look it up, but read from a post at HDD that HDMI's site lists the spec 1.3 as a hardware only spec & has nothing to do with what HDMI cable you buy. In others words, no versions for cables, just hardware.

Cables have to be able to transmit a higher bandwidth signal with HDMI 1.3:
http://www.hdmi.org/press/pr/pr_20060622.aspx

Originally Posted by HDMI.ORG

New HDMI 1.3 capabilities include:

Higher speed: HDMI 1.3 increases its single-link bandwidth from 165MHz (4.95 gigabits per second) to 340 MHz (10.2 Gbps)

While it shouldn't affect a good cable, its possible some cables that passed HDMI 1.2 certification will fail HDMI 1.3 certification due to the bandwidth increase. To draw a parallel to computers, this is comparable to USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 cable certification differences.

[plissken99]

But is there any circumstance in which a cable would fail? As there is nothing to warrant the 1.3 spec anyway(deep color isn't in any sources, and current cables tramsit 1080p with PCM 5.1 just fine).

[Frankie]

I saw some cables in BB the other day and nowhere on the package does it indicate whether it’s 1.0 or 1.3 compliant. That’s what got me to thinking about it.

I can’t recall seeing it on the Monster cable package either.

My receiver is only 1.1 compliant ( I think) so there no reason for me to spend the extra money on cables that I’ll never experience the full benefit.

One more question. Which gauge should I get? I only need 6 ft of cable. Is 28 guage okay?

F

[dugpa]

Originally Posted by Frankie

One more question. Which gauge should I get? I only need 6 ft of cable. Is 28 guage okay?

At six feet most anything should be fine unless it's a really, really badly made cable. It's at 10'+ where you really need to start worrying about the guage of the cable.

[Frankie]

I ordered 3 28 guage cables from Monoprice so they should be fine.

What I can't figure out is how the local stores get away with charging $70 - $200 for a cable that I can get online for $10

The markup is unthinkable.

Monstor must pay BB and others a lot of cash to carry their stuff.

F

[dugpa]

Originally Posted by Frankie

Monstor must pay BB and others a lot of cash to carry their stuff.

Monster doesn't pay stores anything. Stores are in the business of making money as well after all, so they both profit. The number of people who know about monoprice is small compared to the market for cables, so they still sell pleanty of monster and such. After all, every J6P who comes in and buys their new HDTV for the big game will need cables to hook things up with.

[Frankie]

But much like a food processor pays a grocery store to carry their product there must be similar kind of deal with electronic stores.

To have the display rack in that perfect spot you have to pay.

F

[sub780lime]

But I have never been in a best buy with a specific Monster cable display. Their cables are typically just displayed by category, just like Circuit City. Monster doesn't need to pay Monster anything. Best Buy wants to sell Monsters cables because they sell for more. Thats more overall revenue coming into the store.

[Frankie]

Well I dunno about that,. The one I was in had all the monster cable in and around all the HD displays. Every time you turned around there was some monster cable hanging on a rack.

When I asked the sales guy where the non monster cable was we had to take a little walk 2 isles over opposite the VCR display.

I mean really, you don't think the get or pay for that ideal high profile spot?

Trust me they do.

F

[plissken99]

I work at Best Buy, Monster gets no special treatment at our store. As a matter of fact, we're encouraged to push the 'cheap' Dynex cables, as the store gets a larger profit off them as we own Dynex.

For example, my discount is cost + %5. On Monster cables I typically get 20-30% off, so a $100 HDMI cable is about $70 for me. A $60 6ft Dynex cable is $7 for me!! Basically all cables are horribly overpriced, the mark ups are riduclous. I got a $27 Geek Squad USB extention cable for $1.95.

Ultimate Electronics might be a different case. A short conversation with a salesguy there ended when he insisted "Monster cables are the best cables in the world", "nothing else even compares" lol.

[sub780lime]

To sum up: buy your cables online. In store is way overpriced.