Have you found differences between brands worth spending money on when comparing component and HDMI cables?

Answer 1

For short distances (under 15 ft), you are not going to notice any differences between a generic and name-brand cable. Beyond 15 ft, then that is when signals start deteriorating. Then, extra shielding, thicker cables and higher quality cabling will start to stand out.

When I say "high quality", I don't mean Monster Cables that cost $100+. I just mean extra shielding, which could add an extra $10-$20 to the price tag.

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/
http://store.pchcables.com/

I have used these stores in the past. Affordable and high quality cables.

Answer 2

That Danny Lightning guy is a fool. He is just trying to justify his purchase of $100 cables. The signal is digital so a $100 and $5 cable will have virtually no difference at all. You can say they do all you want but tests show that they don't. HDMI is useful for two reasons: It can be used for resolutions up to 1080p, but since you don't have a 1080p tv this doesn't matter. The second reason is that it can transfer audio as well as video. So you can use it for the audio, but it you are just using your tv speakers that the A/V component will be good enough.

Answer 3

Between different brand names for the same type of cable, no.

My cable runs are short (under 6') so there's not going to be a huge amount of difference other than the one you pay at the cash register.

Now, comparing a component video cable to a HDMI cable is different matter. On my TV, I do see a difference, but mainly because I have a large screen capable of 1080p, AND I can only do 1080p through the HDMI port, while component only goes up to 1080i.

Don't pay more than $15-20 for component video or HDMI cables, and don't pay more than $5-10 for a optical audio cable! It's just not worth the extra money.

Answer 4

You don't need to break the bank to get a nice picture ( and sound ) from your system. Some manufacturers have cable on sale for $30K. A lot of hype needless to say! Some custom installers think that they have to sell you those $500 HDMI cables and sucker you into thinking that the money is well worth it. I can GUARANTEE you that in a blind listening/sight test that they would not be able to tell the difference. BTW, power conditioners and voltage stabilizers are pretty to look at, but in a sense it's like adding an air freshener to your car- it won't improve the performance. Even the cheapest electronics have enough capacitors to shield against EMI and RFI. You've heard the saying that if you can package it, people will buy it? Hmmm, pet rock anybody?

Answer 5

Wow! Cables do make a difference. I will say, though, that you do need to balance what you spend on your cables with what you spend on the rest of your system. The better your source components and speakers/display, the better your cables should be. Don't spend $3000 on cables for a $500 "Home Theater In A Box," and don't use courtesy cables on a $20,000 system.
All cables will adversely affect your signals. Some just less than others. A high quality cable will have better shielding to reduce the amount of inteference allowed in, higher quality copper (or better yet silver) to allow for a cleaner signal transmission, a heaver gauge wire to allow for increased signal flow, and a better build quality so that you won't have to replace them until it is time to upgrade to an even better cable later on. There is a reason why ultra high end speaker companies have pure silver internal wiring and often don't even advertise it. It is not just for show.
Any cable line will have limitations on length that you can purchase. Better cables can be purchased in longer runs because they transmit the signal more cleanly. I will admit that it is harder to tell on shorter runs, but it does make a difference.
My wife even appreciated the last cable overhaul I did on our theater system, and she didn't want to. It was a lot of money, but worth every penny. I am now looking to upgrade my cables again. Don't tell my wife. LOL!



Check this out:
http://www.audioquest.com/pdfs/aq_cable_theory.pdf

Answer 6

Hi. Which is capable of producing a better image-the latest digital interconnects,or analog,DVI and HDMI,or Component video and various flavors of RGB ?. The simple truth is that there is no straightforward answer to this complex question!Digital does not always imply better image quality in the case of a video connection. It is not possible to predict whether HDMI cables will perform better than an analog video connection.There are significant differences in the way digital and analog signals are handled that are heavily dependent upon the characteristics of the source device and the display rather than on the type of video connection in use

Answer 7

No. You can find the best prices on the internet.