If you own an HDTV, you probably know that the type of cable connecting your set top box to your TV makes a big difference in quality. But there’s no reason to pay $120 or more for this cable. In fact, if you pay more than $20 you’re making a huge mistake.
Cable and satellite companies recommend you connect your set top box to your TV using an HDMI cable (also known as a Monster cable). Electronic stores like Best Buy and Radio Shack love to sell HDMI cables for a huge profit. They’ll buy a $6 cable from a wholesaler and mark it up to well over a $100. These are one of their most profitable items!
Never, ever buy an HDMI cable from an electronics retailer. An HDMI cable is a digital cable which, by definition has no signal loss no matter what brand you buy. As long as it meets HDMI standards, the only real difference between HDMI cables is the price.
So instead of buying from a fancy retailer, get the same equipment at a wholesale price online (I usually check out Monoprice.com). The same goes for speaker wire, Ethernet cable, and many other AV wires or connectors.
Tip: When getting a set top box installed for a new TV, make sure you have the TV out of the box. The cable companies will usually give you a free HDMI cable when hooking up the service. If you don’t have the TV around, they may not leave you a cable.
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I can’t believe how overpriced these cables are in stores!! You’re exactly right about buying them online. Some of my friends even made it cheaper by buying a lot of cable and splitting it between them to save on the shipping price (cheaper in bulk too).
Good reminder!
Tim, great idea (for coax, CAT5, and speaker wire)…if you’re a little technically inclined, buy a spool and put on the connectors yourself. Great way to save cash!
It’s horrible how they take advantage of people like that. You would think that the Internet would stop them (because it only takes a few seconds to find a better price), but so many people are afraid that they’ll get a cheap product.
They did the same thing with S-video in the past too! It was outrageous what they try to get away with!
Nice job flushing this out (I forgot about it…).
Oh My Gosh!!!! I just bought one of these darn cables last week. I am so mad at myself now because I didn’t even realize I needed an HDMI cable and I just bought it because the TV needed it.
Smack me now!!!
Buy your cables from:
http://www.bluejeanscable.com/
I’ve bought from them in the past. Don’t get ripped off in buying cables!
The statement that HDMI, regardless of quality, will deliver the same performance is false.
The person who is using a $10 HDMI cable purchased online will do just fine if the length of the cable is six feet or less. That’s perfect for 95% of people who use HDMI. The fact of the matter is that HDMI is a poor standard. Anything over ten feet in length that is of $10 cable quality is just asking for trouble. From snow/static in your image, TV sets being unable to lock onto the signal, to washed out images, inexpensive cables just can’t cut it.
In fact for HDMI runs over twenty-five feet the cable has to be designed to run in only one direction. If the cable is reversed then it will deliver even poorer quality.
So for the vast majority of this blogs readers this article makes sense. Unless you really care about image quality and getting the absolute most out of your HDTV purchase (professional calibration, high quality components, etc.) it makes no sense to purchase high grade, expensive cables.
John, you make a good point. Fortunately, (as you point out) I think the vast majority of HDMI use is a short run from the TV to a set-top device which is usually less than 10 feet and quality isn’t an issue.