50ft Cable run - best options

[manjina]

Hi all

I am considering a long cable run from my PC to Bravia.

What are the best options here?

HDMI? - What card would I need (recommend?) and can I run audio through HDMI? How?
DVI?
VGA?

With DVI or VGA I would need a separate audio cable, yet they dont seem to make them that length so it would appear that the attenuation may be too great over that range?

Please, help a noob out here?

Also, my pockets arent deep so keep that in mind when recommending a solution?

Thanks

 

[Phelptwan]

I'd probably do something like this, http://www.hometheaterblog.com/hometheater/2006/05/component_dvi_a_1.html

Might be a bit to expensive though.

 

[w1retap]

I'd honestly try something like this for the video. I have the monoprice 35 footer for my projector in my home theater, and it works just great with full 1080p.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10231&cs_id=1023101&p_id=2751&seq=1&format=2

For audio, you'll have to tell us more about how you want everything hooked up.

 

[Phelptwan]

I'd honestly try something like this for the video. I have the monoprice 35 footer for my projector in my home theater, and it works just great with full 1080p.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10231&cs_id=1023101&p_id=2751&seq=1&format=2

For audio, you'll have to tell us more about how you want everything hooked up.

Wow...I didn't think HDMI cables were that cheap yet. Guess I should do some research before I open my mouth...err...use my fingers.

 

[w1retap]

Just be careful not to go with something that is too cheap and turns out to be junk. Monoprice has pretty good cables, and I've purchased many from there. Check out bluejean cables too. They are another trusted cheap cable place.
http://www.bluejeanscable.com/

 

[Tangent inc.]

i have 25' of hdmi to dvi from both bluejeans and monoprice and they are both great cables.

 

[rusty12]

If you want to do that run with HDMI and be positive that you wont have any signal loss I'd hit up DVIGear they have really good HDMI cables that are built for long distances. They probably are going to be a little bit pricey, but, it is another option.

I also recommend bluejeanscables as Tangent inc. did. Excellet cable price/performance ratio.

Whatever you do, don't buy Monster. There are much better deals out there.

 

[Verge]

Wow...I didn't think HDMI cables were that cheap yet. Guess I should do some research before I open my mouth...err...use my fingers.

they aren't bad if you stay out of bestbuy

 

[Trepidati0n]

For runs of 50feet I would avoid VGA unless you plan on making your own cable. The cost just get too high at those distances to minimize all the negetive effects that occur It The art has been dying unforutunately.

If you are just looking to run video, there minimal difference between DVI-D/HDMI cables. The wire structure is the same. When going for runs 25 feet or longer I would recommend cables that have wires gauges of 22 or better (lower is better, not higher). This should minimize signal degridation. However, at runs longer than 15 feet it is still a bit of a crap shoot. Even the best cables can fail.

 

[manjina]

Thanks for the great links and tips everyone.

My sound setup is nothing special, just the Bravia and a crappy old stereo.

Would this cable do ok for audio?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...d=10218&cs_id=1021802&p_id=651&seq=1&format=2


Or would I really be better off going with HDMI - HDMI ?
This one?
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10240&cs_id=1024001&p_id=2678&seq=1&format=2

 

[manjina]

So I really think HDMI to HDMI is my best solution here.

What graphics acrd would you recommend for this and how do I incorporate the audio into the feed?

 

[Justintoxicated]

Best bet for audio would be a long optical cable. I just got mine from monoprice and it looks sweet (good quality), plugging it in right now

 

[Trepidati0n]

Best bet for audio would be a long optical cable. I just got mine from monoprice and it looks sweet (good quality), plugging it in right now

Could you please enlighten me on how the current optical cables are better than a coax cable for long runs for digital audio. I would be quite curious about this.

 

[WCES Ryan]

Could you please enlighten me on how the current optical cables are better than a coax cable for long runs for digital audio. I would be quite curious about this.

No interference

Focus: Any video card with a DVI output should work just fine... just buy an DVI to HDMI cable. If you absolutely must integrate audio into the same cable you are going to have to look at motherboards with HDMI outputs. I haven't yet seen a device that will take an audio stream and convert it to HDMI outputting it along with video. I would just run an optical cable and be done with it.

 

[movax]

Yeah, for my theater run (and for my room), just bought the really nice long Toslink cable (the silvery one with metal jackets), and the thickest HDMI cable they had (22AWG) from Monoprice.

Only thing you really have to look out for is the actual connection; strain relief, because if you've ever untwisted low gauge wires, they'll torque the connector right off the board, and HDMI connectors are small.