Are hdmi cables just hdmi cables?
Discussion
ymwoods said:
This. The signal is digital so the signal is either on or off unlike analogue signals where it could be anything in-between.
In an analogue system the quality of the cable of of utmost importance and can make a state of the art system look like a cheap one. In a digital system it makes no difference aslong as the quality of cable used is good enough to get the signal there. Think digital TV, you either have a signal, or you don't. you don't get a snowy picture or anything in-between nothing and decent.
As the digital signal is either on or off you only need good enough quality to ensure that the signal gets there, the strength of the signal (as long as it does not keep getting lost) is of no concern.
This isn't really true. The digital signal isn't on or off in its entirely, it's sending billions of on/off commands per second, each relating to a specific piece of the image/sound/error correction. In an analogue system the quality of the cable of of utmost importance and can make a state of the art system look like a cheap one. In a digital system it makes no difference aslong as the quality of cable used is good enough to get the signal there. Think digital TV, you either have a signal, or you don't. you don't get a snowy picture or anything in-between nothing and decent.
As the digital signal is either on or off you only need good enough quality to ensure that the signal gets there, the strength of the signal (as long as it does not keep getting lost) is of no concern.
You can lose a lot of that data, depending on the level of error correction of course, before you notice picture issues, but then there comes a point where you start losing picture information.
Defects in the picture then become evident.
These defects can be things like: sparkling (little white/coloured dots randomly appearing), blockiness, picture freezing, flashing/brief images and black frames plus other things.
You tend not to see it very much on HDMI because your cable runs are generally short.
However, on a pure SDI digital signal, when the cable lengths are reaching the extremes of what's possible (so on HD that's in excess of 60 - 70 metres, depending on the cable), these effect can and do occur. Cable quality then becomes a factor in whether or not the picture is useable.
ts a lung at like 15ft 
the problem is you try and make it suitable for the layman and then you get jumped on by the ones that a bit more clued up so your a devil if you do etc
the key is if you have a picture and its not dropping out then your cable is fine dont change it if you have no picture buy a cheap one thats a pretty colour and you will be fine unless your trying to drive a tv that 25 ft away !
if you want a daddy of a cable then the blue jeans cables are good but not cheap but they can provide data to back things up.
the key is if you have a picture and its not dropping out then your cable is fine dont change it if you have no picture buy a cheap one thats a pretty colour and you will be fine unless your trying to drive a tv that 25 ft away !
if you want a daddy of a cable then the blue jeans cables are good but not cheap but they can provide data to back things up.
Sheepshanks said:
warmfuzzies said:
I have a 10m generic eBay item. For my setup, works a treat, for about £15...
Sorry, but that must be hopeless. You need this: http://www.futureshop.co.uk/wireworld-platinum-sta......and their main lead too - http://www.futureshop.co.uk/wireworld-platinum-ele... . Don't forget to buy one for each piece of kit you've got.
ladderino said:
Make sure that whatever cable you buy, you put it in the freezer first. 
I used to spend time on some of the AV and HiFi forums when I was building my system, but eventually the antics, like the above, got a bit wearing.
I think these techniques were some of my favourites though. It's where I learned that humans apparently don't like right angles -
http://pwbelectronics.co.uk/Free_Techniques/Free_T...
The CD shaver is also a wondrous device -
http://www.audiodesksysteme.de/index.php?kat=10_17...
The PWB link made me chuckle I used to spend time on some of the AV and HiFi forums when I was building my system, but eventually the antics, like the above, got a bit wearing.
I think these techniques were some of my favourites though. It's where I learned that humans apparently don't like right angles -
http://pwbelectronics.co.uk/Free_Techniques/Free_T...
The CD shaver is also a wondrous device -
http://www.audiodesksysteme.de/index.php?kat=10_17...
but I think there is some reasonable science behind the Audiodesk product. I have no idea whether the shaver improves CD sound or not but having repaired a lot of CD players in my time I know a lot of discs aren't mechanically balanced when they leave the factory and some wobble like hell inside the player; this gives the players focussing servos and error correction a really hard time causing skips and dropouts. I think the shaver claims to balance the disc and also add a chamfer to the disc edge try and limit refracting laser light inside the polycarbonate substrate. This chamfer might also limit how hard the error correction has to work.Apologies for going off topic.
Edited by Crackie on Thursday 31st July 16:46
Halmyre said:
That crashing noise was my jaw hitting the floor. Every time I follow a link to some ridiculously over-priced piece of hi-fi hong-kong-phooey I think "nothing will ever beat that", but then a new link comes along and I'm proved wrong.
I didn't click on the link assuming it would be a couple of hundred quid or something ridiculous like that.Your comment made me click.
Feck me. Some people have too much money.
I actually used to believe in the poundland cables done the same job camp. They actually do, but when my computer turned on, the RF signal? comes out the wire with little shielding knocking my tv channels off air, a little better if the antenna wire is further away. Swapped my dads (thought was a scam £30 cable) and it now works perfectly. Who woulda thought lol
hotchy said:
I actually used to believe in the poundland cables done the same job camp. They actually do, but when my computer turned on, the RF signal? comes out the wire with little shielding knocking my tv channels off air, a little better if the antenna wire is further away. Swapped my dads (thought was a scam £30 cable) and it now works perfectly. Who woulda thought lol
That's how it starts - you think "just a little bit won't hurt, I can stop any time". Next thing you know you're hanging round Richer Sounds waiting for them to open up. From there it's a swift descent to the land of oxygen-free copper cables and damped tungsten feet and bankruptcy.hotchy said:
I actually used to believe in the poundland cables done the same job camp. They actually do, but when my computer turned on, the RF signal? comes out the wire with little shielding knocking my tv channels off air, a little better if the antenna wire is further away. Swapped my dads (thought was a scam £30 cable) and it now works perfectly. Who woulda thought lol
So you didn't trying another cheap cable then? You know, testing the fact that it wasn't just a dodgy cable you bought, instead of just assuming all cheap cables are the same because you had a dodgy one.Halmyre said:
Sheepshanks said:
warmfuzzies said:
I have a 10m generic eBay item. For my setup, works a treat, for about £15...
Sorry, but that must be hopeless. You need this: http://www.futureshop.co.uk/wireworld-platinum-sta......and their main lead too - http://www.futureshop.co.uk/wireworld-platinum-ele... . Don't forget to buy one for each piece of kit you've got.
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