Poll: Do expensive HDMI cables actually make a difference?

[Hazy992]

I'd always been told that it doesn't make any difference what HDMI cable you use; that because it's a digital signal it either comes through perfectly or it doesn't come through at all.

However, today I moved my PS3 and my Xbox around so the cables were different than before. I switched the PS3 on and 'OMG IT'S SO BRIGHT AND COLOURFUL! WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON?!' So yeah it looks completely different, and the Xbox picture looks duller than before.

Is this because of the quality of the cables?[footnote]I should mention the Xbox cable is being fed through a HDMI splitter. Is that important?[/footnote] Is the whole 'it's digital so it doesn't matter' thing a bunch of bull? Do you always invest in a more expensive cable or do you go for the cheap option like me?

 

[BlueberryMUNCH]

I don't remember who, but some TV show or...something...tested it out and they found literally no difference.

But yeah, I don't see how it even could make a difference. But yeah as far as I know the quality of the cable doesn't matter; but hey, maybe I'm wrong.

 

[Hazy992]

I don't remember who, but some TV show or...something...tested it out and they found literally no difference.

But yeah, I don't see how it even could make a difference. But yeah as far as I know the quality of the cable doesn't matter; but hey, maybe I'm wrong.

Are you thinking of the Gadget Show? Cause I think they did that. But yeah that's what I thought too, so it seemed odd the picture was brighter :S

 

[vrbtny]

HDMI does 1080p? I dunno. HD-dif cables mean you can stream higher quality videos, but considering that the Xbox and PS3 both transmit in shitty 720p, it really doesn't make much difference.

Also, HDMI cables aren't expensive. They are actually dirt cheap, what you are thinking of is a Xbox/PS3 Component cable, which are damn expensive, because they are console exclusives.

 

[LordLundar]

HDMi and DV-I are digital signals. either it works or it doesn't. Odds are either the console is causing interference on the TV itself or you're letting the hype distort your perception.

 

[BlueberryMUNCH]

I don't remember who, but some TV show or...something...tested it out and they found literally no difference.

But yeah, I don't see how it even could make a difference. But yeah as far as I know the quality of the cable doesn't matter; but hey, maybe I'm wrong.

Are you thinking of the Gadget Show? Cause I think they did that. But yeah that's what I thought too, so it seemed odd the picture was brighter :S

Yeah I think it was.
Hmm...the only explanation I can think is that the cable wasn't plugged in properly before...but then maybe that doesn't make a difference either haha.
Meh, or maybe you just think it's brighter DUNDUNDUN!
Or it's haunted.
Or God made it better.

HDMI does 1080p? I dunno. HD-dif cables mean you can stream higher quality videos, but considering that the Xbox and PS3 both transmit in shitty 720p, it really doesn't make much difference.

Also, HDMI cables aren't expensive. They are actually dirt cheap, what you are thinking of is a Xbox/PS3 Component cable, which are damn expensive, because they are console exclusives.

First of all, it isn't shitty, and secondly, (I'm not sure about the 360) but the PS3 transmits in 1080 soooo...yeah.
And yes they are...if you buy expensive ones...that's like saying that cars aren't expensive.

Try to avoid making stuff up next time:].

 

[Hazy992]

I don't remember who, but some TV show or...something...tested it out and they found literally no difference.

But yeah, I don't see how it even could make a difference. But yeah as far as I know the quality of the cable doesn't matter; but hey, maybe I'm wrong.

Are you thinking of the Gadget Show? Cause I think they did that. But yeah that's what I thought too, so it seemed odd the picture was brighter :S

Yeah I think it was.
Hmm...the only explanation I can think is that the cable wasn't plugged in properly before...but then maybe that doesn't make a difference either haha.
Meh, or maybe you just think it's brighter DUNDUNDUN!
Or it's haunted.
Or God made it better.

Damn, those are all equally valid explanations. This just raises further questions!

 

[Hazy992]

No it makes on difference.

All that affects quality is the length of the cable, after a certain length you get a reduction in image and sound quality.

That's what I thought. And it can't be the length as they're all only about 1m long

 

[BlueberryMUNCH]

I don't remember who, but some TV show or...something...tested it out and they found literally no difference.

But yeah, I don't see how it even could make a difference. But yeah as far as I know the quality of the cable doesn't matter; but hey, maybe I'm wrong.

Are you thinking of the Gadget Show? Cause I think they did that. But yeah that's what I thought too, so it seemed odd the picture was brighter :S

Yeah I think it was.
Hmm...the only explanation I can think is that the cable wasn't plugged in properly before...but then maybe that doesn't make a difference either haha.
Meh, or maybe you just think it's brighter DUNDUNDUN!
Or it's haunted.
Or God made it better.

Damn, those are all equally valid explanations. This just raises further questions!

I know right, especially the last two. Simply has to be it! But yeah, I did summore reading on the internet aaaaaand pretty much every site is saying it makes no diff so yuh:].

 

[Hazy992]

I don't remember who, but some TV show or...something...tested it out and they found literally no difference.

But yeah, I don't see how it even could make a difference. But yeah as far as I know the quality of the cable doesn't matter; but hey, maybe I'm wrong.

Are you thinking of the Gadget Show? Cause I think they did that. But yeah that's what I thought too, so it seemed odd the picture was brighter :S

Yeah I think it was.
Hmm...the only explanation I can think is that the cable wasn't plugged in properly before...but then maybe that doesn't make a difference either haha.
Meh, or maybe you just think it's brighter DUNDUNDUN!
Or it's haunted.
Or God made it better.

Damn, those are all equally valid explanations. This just raises further questions!

I know right, especially the last two. Simply has to be it! But yeah, I did summore reading on the internet aaaaaand pretty much every site is saying it makes no diff so yuh:].

Yeah I'll fiddle around with it, make sure it's plugged in properly, call an exorcist. The usual stuff

 

[Hazy992]

HDMi and DV-I are digital signals. either it works or it doesn't. Odds are either the console is causing interference on the TV itself or you're letting the hype distort your perception.

Well if it's either of those it's the former, as like I said I was under the impression that cables are cables and it doesn't make a difference. The brightness was noticeably higher than before. It took a while to get accustomed to it.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

Did you swap both cables out at both ends? The different HDMI inputs on your tele possibly have different presets or different manual settings, so if you only switched at the console end, that could account for the difference. Also, it's not uncommon for tv manufacturers to put one good socket on a television and then cheap out on the rest...I wouldn't necessarily expect consistency.

 

[Amberella]

I bought an HDMI cable for 2 dollars. It works brilliantly!

 

[StriderShinryu]

Did you swap both cables out at both ends? The different HDMI inputs on your tele possibly have different presets or different manual settings, so if you only switched at the console end, that could account for the difference. Also, it's not uncommon for tv manufacturers to put one good socket on a television and then cheap out on the rest...I wouldn't necessarily expect consistency.

That's my thought as well. Also, you may want to ensure that your cables are completely securely plugged in on both ends. Something may have been pulled slightly loose in the act of moving things around and that may be causing the difference in visual quality you're seeing.

 

[Reaper195]

No. The difference between a cheap HDMI and an expensive one is usually the name and nothing more. I remember reading a thing on the back of a fibre optic cord box that said the gold plated ends made the connection faster. "Yes...gold can make light go faster.......BYE!" *Throws at cashier*

 

[crudus]

HD signals are digital signals. Either it is on or off. There is no middle ground, so there is no difference in signal no matter what you pay for your cable. Now durability and quality of the actual cable is a different story.

All that affects quality is the length of the cable, after a certain length you get a reduction in image and sound quality.

That is only true for analog signals. HDMI cables do not carry analog signals.

 

[Signa]

I thought I remember reading something about the HDCP registry causing some degradation from certain connections. This sounds like what I vaguely remember.

 

[Snotnarok]

There's no difference you just have to make sure it's a certain type of HDMI cable and you're set.