Holiday season reminder: Buy cheap HDMI cables

In the bustle of holiday shopping, it's easy to be persuaded by the salesperson at your local retailer that you need to buy a $50 HDMI cable to make your new gear work. They might say the expensive cable "supports faster speeds," "has better video quality," or that "cheap cables don't support 1080p"--pretty much anything to get you to throw that high-margin HDMI cable in your shopping cart. But the truth is that expensive HDMI cables aren't worth it and the cheap cables available online are just as good. In fact, our guide to HDMI cables says this in bold, at the top of the page:

CNET strongly recommends cheap HDMI cables widely available from online retailers instead of the expensive counterparts sold in your local electronics store.

The full guide explains all the reasons in detail, but the main takeaway is that you should never pay more than $10 for a standard 6-foot HDMI cable. Cheap HDMI cables can be found all over the Web--we've had good experiences with both Monoprice and Amazon. Then you can take the money you saved and get some gear that's actually worth it--check out CNET's Holiday Gift Guide for suggestions.

Read CNET's Quick Guide to HDMI cables.

[imotionsrt4]

I agree with you completly. The main problem people have is they need that INSTANT gratification. They buy the TV on a whim, or they can't wait to get the TV home and get it up and going. So they get taken for $50-100 for gold plated cables.

But even going to other retailers will sometimes yield cheaper cables.

most people can't deal with having the tv sitting in a room for 4 days while they wait on a cable to come in the mail.

[moongfa]

I couldn't agree more. I needed to purchase 3 HDMI cables but didn't want to pay more for the 3 of them than I paid for my Blu-Ray player. I found them through Amazon for 1.31 each. Figuring that I had nothing to lose if they didn't work well, I spent the $3.93 total. They're awesome! I have a new 52" Samsung and the picture, using the $1.31 HDMI cables, is completely stunning! My family sat watching in amazement. The audio is phenomenal, too. There's no way a $100 cable could do a better job. I'm going to purchase 2 more for my other TVs.

[darkcobra]

Well normally I would agree also. Until recently when several otherwise pretty decent HDMI cables that I had just wouldn't display a video signal from my new HP computer to my Samsung DLP display. It was less than a 2 meter run. I tried several HDMI cables and kept getting signal loss errors on screen. In frustration, I bought a higher end cable and I've had great signal for months now. I think C/NET is right in suggesting you START with the lower end stuff, but if they don't work you can always try a higher end cable. Hey, if it doesn't work you can always return it!

Cheap cables that work are a great idea. It's a way of NOT supporting a company who can't understand the difference between a child-friendly amusement facility and a cable making company. The cable company is bullying a number of companies who have nothing to do with their business; as a corporate bad citizen, they don't deserve my business.

[50y/o]

Good to know and I wish I had seen earlier CNet Quick Guide when I bought more expensive a year and half ago. Could someone please advise me now...my Samsung TV, Panasonic DVD/VHS Recorder and Onkyo Reciever, are all, 1.3 HDMI Version. Not sure about Cable Box. Am I getting the best use/video/audio out of these products with the cables I am currently using...not v1.3 I'm guessing as I saved the packaging and do not see as marked? Thanks.

[tech_junky48]

The majority of HDMI cables support version 1.3 (I believe the figure was 90-95%), marked as such or not. That said, even if they fall into the other 5-10%, you can always go on Amazon and get 1.3's (Mine were ~$1.50 each and have HDMI 1.3b marked on the cable) The fact of the matter, though, is that, unless you want to do something like control your DVD player through you TV remote, 1.3 doesn't really add anything. True Color isn't all that important, since it won't change your perception of the image.

[50y/o]

thanks very much tech_junky48 for the good advice!

[mderby05]

I disagree with this completely. I bought monster cables on ebay for about 1/6th the price of those at a B&M store, and I had been using Best Buy off-brand prior, and I noticed a huge difference. The sound was better, I wasnt having to replug the connection every time I turned the device on, and by definition, if you want less loss of signal (digital does have the capability of signal loss- imagine pouring a bucket of 1's and 0's down a slide with a hole in it) it is a fact that certain metals are better conductors than others. If you set yourselves up with a 120hz 1080p, you will see less artifacting on your heavy action frames with the more expensive cables than you would with the cheap ones. I have $10,000 worth of equipment, including A Bose Lifestyle system, and the HDMI cables do make a difference. I'm dissappointed, CNET... it seems as though you are not talking to your audio- and videophiles to the extent that you once did. Shame on you.

[darkcobra]

Hi! I'm the guy who earlier needed an expensive cable to resolve my particular issue. I just wanted to say that I too was in the high end camp (in both audio & video) and always buying expensive cables to go with my very expensive system. No doubt they worked very well and I still use some of them. However, as the years past I began to realize that most of the improvements were not always so perceptible either in audio or video. I began to notice that most of the time I really could NOT tell the difference between a ten dollar cable or one costing a hundred dollars. Sometimes I could but in many cases I could not. If the difference between them can't so often be seen or heard there isn't too much point in ALWAYS spending that much money.

In the case I experienced above I had to resort back to a higher end cable for sure, so what you say is definitely true that it CAN make a difference. I just think that C/NET is saying is that for MOST people they probably will NOT see or hear the difference in their systems. Most people do NOT have really high end systems that will reveal those differences. So i see why C/NET is telling people to start with low end cables and not be swayed by sales pitches that ONLY high end cables will do. I couldn't help but to chuckle a bit when you referred to C/NET as an audiophile/videophile entity. It's a nice site but HARDLY anything really esoteric. I mean you're not going to see too much Conrad Johnson, Krell, MacIntosh, Martin Logan type stuff here very often (well sometimes). Peace !!!

[jayj9585]

Hi, I work at best buy. Our discounts are we get products 5% over cost. We get 100 dollar hdmi cords for 7 dollars. The prices on those cords are so marked up i feel bad selling them to people. I know you dropped some serious cash hoping they were different but in reality there not.

[Polarsled]

mderby05, this may be your experience, but it is not the norm. Myself and most of the people I know are using
10$ cables, with absolutely no problems at all. The cables either work or they dont. If there are problems with sound or picture, it is because some connection in the cable may be bad. So what, you can buy 10 of these cables before you get to the price of a Monster cable. Do some more research on the net, or compare side to side, you will see there is no difference. Anybody reading this, do NOT waste your money on expensive cables. Do what I did, buy 3 at 5 bucks a piece (on sale at Amazon) and you will probably have 3 great cables. If one does not work, so what. Cnet, keep up the honest evaluations. Thanks

[hockeymanc]

LOL @ BLOSE. Please stop calling yourself an audiophile...

[Bozco11]

hahaha, $10,000 in gear because you overpaid to get Bose and a 120hz LCD. You could have got better audio for cheaper and a much better plasma for at least the same price.

Back to the story. Cnet has documented in previous articles that they've tried out multiple hdmi cables and never noticed any difference. Now we've got people trying to justify their expensive cable purchase by defending it to the end. Hmmm, imagining the difference to sleep better at night? Naaaa

[moneyinthebizank]

This dude's post is probably the funniest thing I have heard in a while. I have ten thousand dollars worth of equipment!!! And... and... and MONSTER CABLES!!! (I've even got the receipts!) I even have a Bose system!!! Look at me! I'm an audiophile AND a videophile (I have SET MYSELF UP with 120Hz, 1080p, 10,000 dollars, AND Bose) and CNET is not speaking my language... Son, imagine pouring one 1 and buckets of 0's into HDMI cables for no reason... Wait, I guess you already did that. I will imagine it then.

[lawgone]

As soon as I read Bose Lifestyle system I realized you didn't know what you're talking about. Sorry man. Look Bose sounds just fine. It's just that it's extrememly overpriced. When you're done with it, take it apart and look at the cheap components they use and you'll see what I mean. How I know this is I too was suckered into a Bose when I was in college. Took the grill off the speaker and was shocked to see I had paid that much for cheap paper cone speakers. Live and learn I suppose. But really, HDMI cables, they are all the same. I paid $10 for each of mine and they work flawlessly.

[ThePoke]

I have to disagree... My experience with high-end cables is YES - they use pretty alloys... but they're forever needing re-soldered as the solder don't bond well. As I've repaired these $80 cables multiple times, that'd be HUDNREDS a standard consumer would have wasted on replacements....

No offense - but admitting you have a bose says a lot. They're one of the most overpriced and least capable players out there. They can't even play a DVD-RW that any $25 samsung, emerson and apex player can handle with ease. They freeze, lock and skip and spend more time on tech's benches than cheaper players. (Two of my friends are on their 3rd main unit). So I wouldn't brag about a Bose as knowing how to choose a quality system.

I have a dozen friends with Bose, Pioneer Elite, Sony XBR and the like.... and I feel bad for them... They didn't even consider systems like mine because it lacked bragging rights. Yet for 1/5th the cost, I have a very comparable, high-quality experience... (with no payments).

And that is I have exceptional hearing and eyesight (DLPs give me motion sickness... the artifacting and ghosting of even the best LCDs drives me NUTS... and I had a hard time watching TV until about 10 years ago when they finally got that high-pitch whine out of all but the cheapest sets...).

[kayak99]

Whoa, until you got to the fact you use Blose LIfestyle I actually thought you knew what you were talking about. Blose (yes, spelled my way) sells to unsuspecting consumers not audiophiles. Prove me wrong, call Blose and ask them for the frequency range of their speakers and systems. They won't tell you because they are garbage. No highs, no lows. Audiophiles, and others who value their systems do not use Blose.


As far as the topic, get good cables, yes, but one does not need the ones designed to clip the buyer.

Oh, and so you also know, much of what is sold on fleabay are clones, not true brands. Hope you got lucky and did get your (overpriced) Monster cables cheap rather than the chinese knockoffs.

[woodygg]

Hate to break it to you... some people just need to feel like they're getting the best... you just wasted a lot of money. It's your money though, so more power to you. I certainly don't use the $1.50 cables mentioned here.... but there are very good cables for just a bit more that perform as well as any you have purchased. As you pointed out, it's digital. Either the signal gets there or it doesn't.

[donsms]

Now why are you trying to make Monster Cable employees Holiday bonus checks go from green to pink?Cmon CNET ,have a heart will ya!

[xavierwalls]

I always tell people if you buy cheap HT stuff buy cheap cables if you are buying better high end stuff you would benefit from teh cables that are made with better components. This might be the most stupid article ever written by Cnet ever. Do cables have huge markup? Of course they do, absolutely everything in home theater has huge markup. I went from store brand HDMI which cost a couple bucks to the much higher end M series once I got my complete system done (about 12 grand) it was a remarkable difference in everything once the change was made.
I am looking forward to the guy who buys a Pioneer elite and tells me he will put a $1 Hdmi cable on it.

[hockeymanc]

Don't bash the article just because you wasted your money on silly cables.

I have a Pioneer Elite Kuro and monoprice HDMI cables worked just fine. How do I know? I used the uber-expensive Monster Cables from Best Buy while waiting for my "$1 cable" to arrive in the mail. I figured if after a comparison test the Monster really is better then I would only have been out 5 bucks for trying monoprice. I returned the Monster stuff ASAP and saved myself $$$ because there were no differences whatsoever.

Don't get me wrong, there are good cables out there. I use anti-ic's for all my interconnects and they made a world of difference. The important distinction is that there are "good" expensive cables and "bad" (overpriced) expensive cables. Monster Cables and its ilk certainly fall in the latter category.

Bottom line, test everything yourself. Start with the cheapest and move up *only* if you're not satisfied.

[woodygg]

You're confusing good speaker wire with HDMI cables... digital versus analog is a big difference. It's your money though... overpay for HDMI if you want...

[CharlesCopus]

So do I understand this right-
I'm going to be buying the Samsung LN55A950 with a Samsung BD-P2550 along with a Bose LS38. Also with this I will have my HD cable box connected. All I have to do is go to Walmart and get $9.00 HDMI cables?
C'mon Cnet! If I'm investing 10k why would I run this $9.00 HDMI cable?

[woodygg]

"C'mon Cnet! If I'm investing 10k why would I run this $9.00 HDMI cable? "

there's one born every minute... wish i was the sales guy when you show up... i'd sell you that wonderful extended warranty too.

[sobishop]

If your able to just "throw away" $10,000 on HT setup then $100 HDMI cable isn't gonna be a big deal obviously. Nobody has such a keen sense of audio and visual perception that they are gonna know the difference between cheap and expensive HDMI cable reception. I'm sure this stuff is mass produced just like everything else so your gonna have defects but overall it's all constructed the same way so you either pay its actual value or you pay for the brand name.

[pescado]

I own two Sony XBRs and a Pioneer Elite, and I've tried the cheap/expensive approach with Rocketfish and Monster. The picture quality looked about the same on the smallest TV (32"), and fairly similar on the larger two; but there was a BIG audio quality difference.

[sting7k]

Cnet you should take out ads all over the place and get this word out there. I love nothing more than to hang around the TV section at best buy and watch the salesmen push $100+ Monster Cable HDMI cables to customers going on and on about how such and such has higher bandwidth and speed and this one won't give them 1080p.

My $7 12" foot cable from monoprice delievers 1080p just fine to my TV so I just don't get it.

[Balloonknot]

So true...

Is there a difference between the $100 HDMI's and the $10 ones? Sure.

Is there a $90 difference? Nope.

Same with 720p vs 1080p tv's...why spend $1000's more for somthing that is only incrementally better?

And can someone explain to me why Sony thinks it's wise to charge $2000+ for a 40" LCD when you can get a 50 inch plasma, with a better picture, for less than $1000????!!!!???? They must be joking!!! No wonder they're about to lay off 8000 full time and 8000 part time workers...

[sobishop]

Plasma is headed the way of the HD-DVD. That is why you can get them cheap right now. You will have a hard time finding someone to service them later on down the road so they are not a long term investment.

[panchovilla81]

ok wait... you can compare inexpensive hdmi to monster and other brands... thats a fair comparison... but PLEASE do not try to tell people that Sony LCD's are that same as generic brands...

120hz is better than 60
1080p is better than 720p
Sony is better than Dynex

Hyundai's and Ferrari's are very comparable.

[Bozco11]

You are a fool. The lower manufacturing cost that goes into plasma is why they're cheaper than their LCD counterparts, especially at the larger sizes. Why would plasma be going anywhere with it being better and cheaper?

[Balloonknot]

Right on, Bozco. Sony LCD tv's are some of the most overpriced consumer items, period. The value just isn't there. I can get a 50" Panasonic plasma for $900 that looks better to me than the Sony XBR6 40" for $2400.

Anyone who pays attention to this stuff knows that the Pioneer PLASMA is the reference monitor for many experts. There's even a review on CNET today clearly stating what a ripoff (I read between the lines) the Sony LCD's are. If you buy a $100 HDMI and a $2400 40" LCD you are a fool. Even if money is no object for you, the Sony LCD's are not the best anyway.

[sobishop]

You might get a sub-$1000 plasma with better picture but not better quality. You want to talk about an outrageous price and that is the Pioneer Plasma. Plasmas are in limited supply and will soon be obsolete when LED and OLED become consumer friendly.

[woodygg]

sobishop said...

"You might get a sub-$1000 plasma with better picture but not better quality."

huh?

all i care about is the picture.

and per your earlier comment about finding someone to service my plasma?

a. yes, i will be able to find someone to service for years and years to come.
b. who cares? tv's are becoming better and cheaper all the time. in a few years, i'm the type who will want a new one anyway.... my panasonic plasma is a few years old, looks better than any lcd you currently have, and is working just fine. granted, my next tv will probably be a lcd in a few years... but that will be then, this is now.

however... the quality is the same.

[ledesmkv]

MDerby05 - It's hard for your opinon to gain credibility if you claim that your $10,000 worth of equipment is being run through a Bose Lifestyle system... another product like (Monster cables) that are considered to be overpriced for the performance.

Gizmodo ran a test on Monoprice vs. Monster Cable using the equipment at the Monster Cable facility. Basically, they found that the Monoprice cable performed just as well as the Monster cable up at 6-35ft lengths. Hard to argue with that.

[dirty55409]

If anyone thinks they are getting "better" sound or video out of a $100+ HDMI chord I have one word for you... Placebo. You think you'll get better sound therefore you're predisposed to concluding that it must be better since it cost more. Clutch your monster cable late at night and all this cheap hdmi cable nightmare will go away lol

[pescado]

Actually, I worked for Best Buy and bought the cheap cable for $7, the Monster for $17. No placebo effect there. Have you ever done a comparison yourself?

[Bozco11]

pescado, you are my hero. Taking your Best Buy paycheck and putting it towards 2 Sonys and a Pioneer.

I won't get started on best buy worker knowledge.....

[sobishop]

AMEN, dirty55409! People are so easily fooled. If you compare a Bose to an RCA system from Wal-Mart then yes you will hear and see a HUGE difference in quality but comparing cables will be minuscule to no difference at all.

[gerrald54]

I am a 58 year old disabled white man with long hair and i was told to leave a BEST BUY store. Oviously i did not fit the profile of the person that they want in their store. What does that tell you about this company.

[woodygg]

sure.....

you forgot to mention something me thinks....

[cyoho1088]

ok so i have a 12" rocketfish Hdmi cable running from my ps3 to my sony kdl46z4100/b , i got the tv brand new for 800 dollars from sony cyber scholar accomodation via sonystyle.com , not really impressed with the 120hz esp when watchin blu-ray, I notice that isn't very smooth refresh rates, in better terms , it doesn't look like what i thought 120hz would look like, should i upgrade to a monster or is it just my tv ? or???? input please...

[adm1map]

HDMI as with Optical is a "Digital Interface". Digital cables are not like the old Analog cables. Analog requires a sign wave to be transmitted exactly as indicated by the output. A high quality analog cable DOES make a difference. HOWEVER, on a digital system (HDMI, DVI, FICON, etc...) it DOES NOT!!! The tranmit a digitial signal, it's either a 1 or a 0 at the other side and they use error check codes to ensure the correct binary representation comes across.

There is absolutely no difference in a high end or low end cable as long as it meets the 1.3 spec. Do not be fooled.

[dennisl59]

The Cable Discussion has been going on for at least 20 years. Back in the day, Stereo Review Magazine, performed double-blind tests between "regular" speaker cable and the "Brand Name" cables. The listeners could NOT HEAR a difference. Period. And those people had the "best ears" in the Industry.

Fast Forward. If the Cable meets the Digital Specification, buy the most inexpensive.

I, in fact, used this article as the reference to buy a HDMI cable for my BluRay Panasonic DMP-BD35 Player. 10 bucks. Done.

Happy New Year

Caio'

[iceman721]

For those in need of instant gratification do what I did. I bought a Monster 1000HD cable with my new Samsung series 6 plasma from CC (pre-bankruptcy). I demo'd the cable while waiting on Monoprice to ship my "real" 24 gauge HDMI 1.3 Category 2 cables. I returned my Monster cable to the store within a few days after receiving all of my Monoprice cables that I would be using to connect my entire home theater system. I tested the Monster cable directly against the Monoprice cable and I can say with no problem that there is NO DIFFERENCE. The only way I would even think of using a name brand cable is if I had a long run (over 15ft) of cable maybe behind a wall. I don't so I am using my Monoprice HDMI cables to connect my DVR, Onkyo A/V receiver, Blu Ray/HD DVD player & Media Center Computer. No issues at all.

The other kicker is that all of my Monoprice HDMI cables and 100ft of speaker wire including shipping were about 30 dollars less than that one Monster cable. Waste your money if you want I chose to spend mine wisely.

Merry Christmas!!