Why Are HDMI Cables So Expensive?

There are some HDMI standards to be aware of. HDMI versions have added features like ethernet and support for 3D and 4K television signals.
HDMI is a digital signal so going for a thick gauge is not important here.
For those running long lengths or need thin cables, look into REDMERE technology of HDMI. Monoprice has them. They can only be run in one direction but the cable is very thin and flexible. I had the Amazon basics HDMI cable once. Braided and beautiful, I had to get rid of it as it was so thick that it broke a HDMI connector in my receiver. The REDMERE cables will never have that problem. They are worth the cost from Monoprice IMHO.
 
I used to use the RCA branded cables from Target for a/v use. Silver braided outer shield with clear cover. Looked like a hefty cable and performed well. Then I started using monoprice cables for work and home. I've had no issues with the cables I've purchased from them.

Last week I needed a cheap HDMI cable to troubleshoot a Raspberry Pi. I went to Fry's, and the cheapest I saw was a 3ft RCA cable for $9. Then wandering around a little more, I saw a guy restocking cables. 6ft no-name cable for $4.99. I took that one in a heartbeat. Guy tries to tell me I need a better cable then that. I told him it was for a console cable, and all I needed to do is see the screen. I'll save myself the $5.
 
The only time I've had a problem with a bottom of the barrel cheap HDMI cable was with my 3d projector, it would cause glitching, I bought a slightly more expensive one for 8 bux and its worked perfectly ever since.
 
nwvwe paid more than 4 includeing shipping from Amazon lol 1 cent for cable 4 for shipping .they have all workedfinefor all my hdmi cable needs.
 
I got escorted out of a best buy a few years ago and told not to come back because I overheard a salesmen telling a guy in his 70s who was buying a flat-screen for his estranged grandson in a last ditch effort to have a relationship. The old guy was literally emptying his pockets and the best buy employee was telling him he absolutely needed the $110 monster home cable and without it the TV wouldn't work. I stepped in and told him the bargain shop accross the street had the same length cable for $4 and that the difference wasn't worth sacrificing your own meals for. I also told him that the $200 monster "clean power" surge protector was a total scam(those stupid things that 'cleaned your electrical signal for best picture). Security walked me out.
 
Droc said:
I got escorted out of a best buy a few years ago and told not to come back because I overheard a salesmen telling a guy in his 70s who was buying a flat-screen for his estranged grandson in a last ditch effort to have a relationship. The old guy was literally emptying his pockets and the best buy employee was telling him he absolutely needed the $110 monster home cable and without it the TV wouldn't work. I stepped in and told him the bargain shop accross the street had the same length cable for $4 and that the difference wasn't worth sacrificing your own meals for. I also told him that the $200 monster "clean power" surge protector was a total scam(those stupid things that 'cleaned your electrical signal for best picture). Security walked me out.
Click to expand...

While i'm very glad you did that because no one deserves to be ripped off. If you have to buy your son something to get them to talk to you either the father or the son are absolutely terrible... etc.
 
Wow... I thought everyone knew the "top shelf" HDMI cables made your 1's straighter and 0's rounder.
 
lord_farfig said:
Wow... I thought everyone knew the "top shelf" HDMI cables made your 1's straighter and 0's rounder.
Click to expand...

I know your comment is facetious, but cables will attenuate high frequency components of the signal, which actually does round it.
 
PersonalJ said:
The worst part is many of the employees at retailers are adamant there is an actual difference in image quality due to cable construction when working with digital signals.
Click to expand...

And long gone is the time when employes at retailers knew ANYTHING about what they were selling.
 
Ricky302 said:
No, the 'versions' only apply to the equipment not to the cables.
Click to expand...

That is incorrect, cables need to support a higher bandwidth for higher resolutions, higher refresh rates, higher quality audio, and 3D. Some cables exceed their rating but I wouldn't get a 1.3 or lower rated cable and expect it to work with 4k. HDMI with Ethernet also requires a cable that specifically supports it, iirc it uses a previously unused pin.
 
Ebernanut said:
That is incorrect, cables need to support a higher bandwidth for higher resolutions, higher refresh rates, higher quality audio, and 3D. Some cables exceed their rating but I wouldn't get a 1.3 or lower rated cable and expect it to work with 4k.
Click to expand...

AFAIK nothing changed in the cable spec. so actually one should expect a built to spec High Speed HDMI 1.3 to work correctly even with HDMI 2.0

If the spec is the same do you think they use a magic wand to make only new cables support higher bandwidth? No, but you can sure expect them to change the tooling to stamp a big HDMI 2.0 logo on the new stuff and send out a memo to BestBuy to ensure clueless consumers buy $100 in new HDMI exactly the same as their existing set.
 
gunbust3r said:
AFAIK nothing changed in the cable spec. so actually one should expect a built to spec High Speed HDMI 1.3 to work correctly even with HDMI 2.0

If the spec is the same do you think they use a magic wand to make only new cables support higher bandwidth? No, but you can sure expect them to change the tooling to stamp a big HDMI 2.0 logo on the new stuff and send out a memo to BestBuy to ensure clueless consumers buy $100 in new HDMI exactly the same as their existing set.
Click to expand...

except that HDMI 1.4 even uses 2 pins that were previously unused for ARC (audio return channel) and HEC (HDMI Ethernet channel)? Yeah no change at all
 
Sorry to all the mono price fanboys but their micro USB cords are crap. I buy tons of them because they are under a dollar apiece but one breaks about every month.. I finally boug a Monster one for $3 and it has been going strong for the last two years.
 
Staples said:
Sorry to all the mono price fanboys but their micro USB cords are crap. I buy tons of them because they are under a dollar apiece but one breaks about every month.. I finally boug a Monster one for $3 and it has been going strong for the last two years.
Click to expand...

Treat it right and it won't break so often. Pull straight out by the connector, not the cord. Don't tightly bend the cable. bought a 5-pack of generic micro-USB cables off Amazon for $2.99 last year for my devices. All the cables still work fine.
 
There is a sliding scale for all cable products: Utter Crap, Cheap, Average, Overpriced, Monster Price.

Most normal people just need Cheap to Average. If you're lucky, Utter Crap will work, but can be hit and miss on the QA. Overpriced should be better built.

Trouble is, we then have that dodgy dealer who gets Utter Crap and adds an Overpriced cost to it confusing the above system of paying more cash for better quality....

Buy from someone you trust. Simple.
 
I've probably bought and used 8-10 HDMI cables from both Monoprice and Amazon they were always about $3. All work just fine. 99% of us don't need anything else.
 
There was a time when only the super duper purity of a monster hdmi cable would carry an hdmi signal over 50ft.

I never needed one though.
 
VladDracule said:
except that HDMI 1.4 even uses 2 pins that were previously unused for ARC (audio return channel) and HEC (HDMI Ethernet channel)? Yeah no change at all
Click to expand...
Jeeez :rolleyes:, the equipment uses these pins, they were always there in the cable, the first HDMI cable had 19 pins and 19 wires and so does the latest one, the only difference is wire thickness, material and build quality.
 
Ricky302 said:
Jeeez :rolleyes:, the equipment uses these pins, they were always there in the cable, the first HDMI cable had 19 pins and 19 wires and so does the latest one, the only difference is wire thickness, material and build quality.
Click to expand...

That's true for ARC but not HEC(Ethernet), HEC requires a cable that supports it.
 
gunbust3r said:
AFAIK nothing changed in the cable spec. so actually one should expect a built to spec High Speed HDMI 1.3 to work correctly even with HDMI 2.0

If the spec is the same do you think they use a magic wand to make only new cables support higher bandwidth? No, but you can sure expect them to change the tooling to stamp a big HDMI 2.0 logo on the new stuff and send out a memo to BestBuy to ensure clueless consumers buy $100 in new HDMI exactly the same as their existing set.
Click to expand...

My memory was slightly off, 1.3 cables support the same bandwidth as 1.4, it's 1.2 and earlier that isn't required to support the same bandwidth. 2.0 requires even higher bandwidth than that, of course you only need that extra bandwidth in certain situations and there's nothing that says a cable can't exceed specs and work anyway but it's not guaranteed.
 
I haven't paid for an HDMI cable for over a year. And it's not from lack of use. I just wait until the free-after-rebate specials come around. Then then stock up!
 
Another reason cables are expensive is because of impulse buys. Someone goes and shops around and eventually decides on a TV. They either buy it from best buy or order it. Then it comes and they realize oh shit I don't have an HDMI cable long enough. Or Maybe they just say I am not sure if I have one at home. Right then best buy makes an impulse sale so good it makes up for every other problem they have. Because the person is so ecstatic about getting this awesome new giant TV running that they need to have it running RIGHT NOW. And they will either buy the cable for whatever price right in best buy or will run to a store to get one.

This is basically the same reason a fountain drink at a restaurant costs $2 for a glass when you can buy a 2 liter that could filly up 6 of those glasses for $1 at the grocery store. The food brings you in the drink makes them money.

I am a monoprice guy and I am reserved enough to wait, I refuse to pay the price out of principle more than anything. But I can tell you many many people I have helped setup a TV simply wont wait. I tell them just order from monoprice its so cheap you can order extra, but they just have to have it right now and they end up running to the store.

In some ways the entire brick and mortar world exists like this now. Best buy is just hoping there is something you forgot, or you have report due tomorrow and your computer crashed so you will buy one from them right then.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top