Gadgetry's Golden Rule: Buy the cheap cables

siberian khatru · 03-26-2008, 01:54 PM

http://www.popsci.com/gear-gadgets/a...ys-golden-rule

Gadgetry's Golden Rule

"Buy the cheap cables": Remember these words and thou shalt never be ripped off

By Jon Chase Posted 03.25.2008 at 6:51 pm 7 Comments

For the vast majority of us, few are the occasions when our opinions matter in any meaningful way. Say what you will about the importance of teaching your children, or being in charge of your office budget or participating in the voting process, but the sad reality is that your wisdom is an underutilized asset… except when it comes to your tech savvy. If you’re reading this, it’s your responsibility to go out in the world and evangelize against the temptations of bad tech gear.

I recently found myself failing in this regard, after a friend made a big ticket purchase without my counsel. Eager to spend her annual bonus on an HDTV, she made a trip to her local Best Buy before speaking with me, and I can only blame myself that I didn’t get to her sooner. The LCD she bought was reasonable enough—not one I’d pick, mind you—but what got me was that she fell victim to the cable up-sell. It’s the biggest scam there is. So 180 bucks and a fistful of overpriced plastic-wrapped copper later, I’m shaking my head and she’s soured on her purchase, which is a shame.
Related Articles

Much has been written and debated about the cable question, so in light of my friend’s recent misfortune, I’d like to speak plainly and settle the question once and for all. For the record: Pricey, so-called high-end cables and wiring—speaker, HDMI, DVI, Firewire, RCA, USB, you name it—no matter what, are an out-and-out scam.

I know you audiophiles out there are now taking off your $3000 walnut-core, gold-plated headphones and putting out a call on your analog phones to form a lynch mob—but hear me out. The electronics industry’s dirty little secret is that they have extremely thin margins on gear, so they make up the cost difference by up-selling you on extended warranties and incredibly marked-up cables.

Lest I be accused of comparing apples to oranges, or analog to digital, let me concede that when it comes to speaker wire, you should pay attention to gauge and maybe take shielding into consideration. But that’s it. Go get your next speaker wire at Home Depot and save yourself a few hundies. As for digital, certainly some cables may be constructed to be a little more rugged, which if you’re plugging and unplugging your cables a few times a day—which precisely no one does—then their higher build quality may merit a few extra dollars in price. A few dollars.

However, an $8 HDMI cable is as good as any other—for instance this $220 beauty from Monster. One digital signal (it’s just ones and zeros!) works exactly like any other digital signal. Manufacturers will show you oscilloscopes attempting to prove otherwise, and speak of bandwidth and nitrogen-infusions and gold-plating and precious herbs and berries, but that’s all complete nonsense. The human eye (and ear, for that matter) can’t tell the difference and anyone telling you otherwise is selling something—like these $7250 speaker cables.

Consider this the Golden Rule of gadgetry, and make sure your friends hear it. I’ll enjoy reading comments from audio- and videophiles defending their ridiculous purchases, as well as other buying suggestions and possible scams to watch out for.

**TinyEvel** · 03-26-2008, 02:07 PM

Can anyone confirm this?

I'm about to buy cables, and I usually go for the "one level up" ones. Not the ludicrously expensive ones. But still...

**The Franchise** · 03-26-2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinyEvel

Can anyone confirm this?

I'm about to buy cables, and I usually go for the "one level up" ones. Not the ludicrously expensive ones. But still...

http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp

shakesthecat · 03-26-2008, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinyEvel

Can anyone confirm this?

I'm about to buy cables, and I usually go for the "one level up" ones. Not the ludicrously expensive ones. But still...

100% true.

www.monoprice.com

I have the 58in version of your new plasma, and the HDMI and optical audio cables I got from them work great.

kcxiv · 03-26-2008, 02:23 PM

Monster Cables is the biggest rip off ever. I buy my cables from that monoprice.

siberian khatru · 03-26-2008, 03:15 PM

Hmmm -- here's what my dad said:

I have to say that I started out with this attitude,
but experience has changed my mind somewhat. I
started with cheap HDMI cable on my HD set upstairs
and wasn't happy. Upgraded and saw definite
difference. When we got your mom's HD set last fall I
used the HDMI cables that came with the DirecTv HD box
(even though the tech who installed warned me they
weren't real good). Was not happy with the picture at
all. Bought a much more expensive HDMI cable at
BestBuy (not top of the line, but close), came home
and changed cables. BIG difference in picture
quality. I know Consumer Reports says the same thing
this guy says, but my experience has sure been
different.

BigVE · 03-26-2008, 03:26 PM

You people are no real help...I bought the cheap HDMI cable and don't know the difference considering I have never had HD tv before this one. I have been tempted to upgrade just see if it would be better. Hmmmm.

Stewie · 03-26-2008, 03:28 PM

Save your money and buy the cheap cables. This is digital, folks, not analog. Even if the 0's and 1's get messed up in transition your TV is smart enough to figure out what's correct through the packets that are transmitted (probably checksum or some such algorithm).

**TinyEvel** · 03-26-2008, 04:03 PM

I'm about to run cables down my wall. Should I keep some of them separate from each other? You know will there be interference if they are close together.

I have the power cord and two HDMI cables (one for the PS3 and one for the DIRECTV box)

Sure-Oz · 03-26-2008, 06:15 PM

Any major store will rip you off, they are in demand so they can.

Monoprice fo sho

**DaFace** · 03-26-2008, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Hmmm -- here's what my dad said:

I have to say that I started out with this attitude,
but experience has changed my mind somewhat. I
started with cheap HDMI cable on my HD set upstairs
and wasn't happy. Upgraded and saw definite
difference. When we got your mom's HD set last fall I
used the HDMI cables that came with the DirecTv HD box
(even though the tech who installed warned me they
weren't real good). Was not happy with the picture at
all. Bought a much more expensive HDMI cable at
BestBuy (not top of the line, but close), came home
and changed cables. BIG difference in picture
quality. I know Consumer Reports says the same thing
this guy says, but my experience has sure been
different.

I know of no reason that could be true aside from some sort of interference. As the article mentioned, it's a digital signal, so if you're getting a signal, it should be as good as you can get.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 03-26-2008, 09:16 PM

Digital Cables are immune to electromagnetic or RF interference.

Monoprice: Any time, every time.

**TinyEvel** · 03-26-2008, 09:34 PM

Thanks! I was at Best Buy tonight and asked the guy "do you have any HDMI cables that don't cost a milion dolars?"
He said, "We have one that costs a half-million dollars"

Basically, their cheapest one is 59 bucks.

NO THANKS!

Though I did pick up DAWN OF THE DEAD on Blu-Ray

Zombies FTW!

03-26-2008, 01:54 PM
siberian khatru 21st Century Schizoid Fan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Gates of Delirium Casino cash: $1034950	Gadgetry's Golden Rule: Buy the cheap cables http://www.popsci.com/gear-gadgets/a...ys-golden-rule Gadgetry's Golden Rule "Buy the cheap cables": Remember these words and thou shalt never be ripped off By Jon Chase Posted 03.25.2008 at 6:51 pm 7 Comments For the vast majority of us, few are the occasions when our opinions matter in any meaningful way. Say what you will about the importance of teaching your children, or being in charge of your office budget or participating in the voting process, but the sad reality is that your wisdom is an underutilized asset… except when it comes to your tech savvy. If you’re reading this, it’s your responsibility to go out in the world and evangelize against the temptations of bad tech gear. I recently found myself failing in this regard, after a friend made a big ticket purchase without my counsel. Eager to spend her annual bonus on an HDTV, she made a trip to her local Best Buy before speaking with me, and I can only blame myself that I didn’t get to her sooner. The LCD she bought was reasonable enough—not one I’d pick, mind you—but what got me was that she fell victim to the cable up-sell. It’s the biggest scam there is. So 180 bucks and a fistful of overpriced plastic-wrapped copper later, I’m shaking my head and she’s soured on her purchase, which is a shame. Related Articles Much has been written and debated about the cable question, so in light of my friend’s recent misfortune, I’d like to speak plainly and settle the question once and for all. For the record: Pricey, so-called high-end cables and wiring—speaker, HDMI, DVI, Firewire, RCA, USB, you name it—no matter what, are an out-and-out scam. I know you audiophiles out there are now taking off your $3000 walnut-core, gold-plated headphones and putting out a call on your analog phones to form a lynch mob—but hear me out. The electronics industry’s dirty little secret is that they have extremely thin margins on gear, so they make up the cost difference by up-selling you on extended warranties and incredibly marked-up cables. Lest I be accused of comparing apples to oranges, or analog to digital, let me concede that when it comes to speaker wire, you should pay attention to gauge and maybe take shielding into consideration. But that’s it. Go get your next speaker wire at Home Depot and save yourself a few hundies. As for digital, certainly some cables may be constructed to be a little more rugged, which if you’re plugging and unplugging your cables a few times a day—which precisely no one does—then their higher build quality may merit a few extra dollars in price. A few dollars. However, an $8 HDMI cable is as good as any other—for instance this $220 beauty from Monster. One digital signal (it’s just ones and zeros!) works exactly like any other digital signal. Manufacturers will show you oscilloscopes attempting to prove otherwise, and speak of bandwidth and nitrogen-infusions and gold-plating and precious herbs and berries, but that’s all complete nonsense. The human eye (and ear, for that matter) can’t tell the difference and anyone telling you otherwise is selling something—like these $7250 speaker cables. Consider this the Golden Rule of gadgetry, and make sure your friends hear it. I’ll enjoy reading comments from audio- and videophiles defending their ridiculous purchases, as well as other buying suggestions and possible scams to watch out for.
Posts: 69,792

03-26-2008, 02:07 PM	#2
TinyEvel Just a li'l Evel Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bald. Goatee. Jorts. Casino cash: $4129601	Can anyone confirm this? I'm about to buy cables, and I usually go for the "one level up" ones. Not the ludicrously expensive ones. But still...
Posts: 11,924

03-26-2008, 02:23 PM	#5
kcxiv In Search of a Life Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Central Valley, Cali Casino cash: $8807996	Monster Cables is the biggest rip off ever. I buy my cables from that monoprice.
Posts: 29,110

03-26-2008, 03:15 PM	#6
siberian khatru 21st Century Schizoid Fan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Gates of Delirium Casino cash: $1034950	Hmmm -- here's what my dad said: I have to say that I started out with this attitude, but experience has changed my mind somewhat. I started with cheap HDMI cable on my HD set upstairs and wasn't happy. Upgraded and saw definite difference. When we got your mom's HD set last fall I used the HDMI cables that came with the DirecTv HD box (even though the tech who installed warned me they weren't real good). Was not happy with the picture at all. Bought a much more expensive HDMI cable at BestBuy (not top of the line, but close), came home and changed cables. BIG difference in picture quality. I know Consumer Reports says the same thing this guy says, but my experience has sure been different.
Posts: 69,792

03-26-2008, 03:26 PM	#7
BigVE Veteran Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: centralKs Casino cash: $10005250	You people are no real help...I bought the cheap HDMI cable and don't know the difference considering I have never had HD tv before this one. I have been tempted to upgrade just see if it would be better. Hmmmm. __________________ Meh.
Posts: 4,829

03-26-2008, 03:28 PM	#8
Stewie MVP Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West of the Equator Casino cash: $399901	Save your money and buy the cheap cables. This is digital, folks, not analog. Even if the 0's and 1's get messed up in transition your TV is smart enough to figure out what's correct through the packets that are transmitted (probably checksum or some such algorithm). Last edited by Stewie; 03-26-2008 at 03:36 PM..
Posts: 13,705

03-26-2008, 04:03 PM	#9
TinyEvel Just a li'l Evel Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bald. Goatee. Jorts. Casino cash: $4129601	I'm about to run cables down my wall. Should I keep some of them separate from each other? You know will there be interference if they are close together. I have the power cord and two HDMI cables (one for the PS3 and one for the DIRECTV box)
Posts: 11,924

03-26-2008, 06:15 PM	#10
Sure-Oz Stay positive, don't give up Join Date: Dec 2001 Casino cash: $2819383	Any major store will rip you off, they are in demand so they can. Monoprice fo sho
Posts: 46,232

03-26-2008, 09:16 PM	#12
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $7739572	Digital Cables are immune to electromagnetic or RF interference. Monoprice: Any time, every time. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,934

03-26-2008, 09:34 PM	#13
TinyEvel Just a li'l Evel Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bald. Goatee. Jorts. Casino cash: $4129601	Thanks! I was at Best Buy tonight and asked the guy "do you have any HDMI cables that don't cost a milion dolars?" He said, "We have one that costs a half-million dollars" Basically, their cheapest one is 59 bucks. NO THANKS! Though I did pick up DAWN OF THE DEAD on Blu-Ray Zombies FTW!
Posts: 11,924