[Minge]

I need to purchase some DVI and HDMI cables and was wondering about the differences in quality between Monster and Blue Jeans and also the value between the two. If you folks have other suggestions with regards to good qulity DVI cables I would love to hear your suggestions.


Thanks!

 

[Michael Grant]

You should reject Monster DVI/HDMI cables altogether due to their absolutely fraudulent marketing claims. DVI cables DO differ in quality but not the way Monster claims. I don't know anything about Blue Jeans cables.


Quite a few AVS Forum members have used cables from RAM Electronics, an AVS Forum sponsor, with great success. They also have nice return policies in the event a cable doesn't perform well.

http://www.ramelectronics.net

 

[bigdeek]

I've had good luck with both RAM and bluejeans cable. Blue jeans has a no questions return policy. I have had good luck with their 10m dvi and 10m component cables.

 

[TheFerret]

Funny, as I read this thread Lindy's banner ad above was promoting their wares, including HDMI cables. Unfortunately, their 10m DVI-to-DVI is OOS. Their price, though, is better than BJC & RAM's similar cables.


No, I have not tested anyone's cables. Has anyone tested near quality cables without going into the berserker, "I've gotta mortgage my house for cables" realm?

 

[Jason Turk]

Keep in mind with digital cables the quality of the cable is not as important. In other words, go with a decent cable, but unlike with analog, buying a really expensive digital is basically not going to gain you much. Monster makes good cables but are expensive. Offerings from other companies can be the same basic quality level for less money.

 

[Tryg]

pccables.com

 

[wm]

Quote:

Originally posted by Jason Turk Keep in mind with digital cables the quality of the cable is not as important. In other words, go with a decent cable, but unlike with analog, buying a really expensive digital is basically not going to gain you much. Monster makes good cables but are expensive. Offerings from other companies can be the same basic quality level for less money.

Jason,


Not you too? Why do people think that because it's "digital" quality doesn't matter? It's still an analog voltage in the wire. I've been testing quite a few cables here, and have found a lot of difference. If all you need is something that can handle 1080i then you can probably use a cheaper cable, but if you need something that can handle 1080p, so far I have found only 2.


Of those that failed I have seen several different artifacts. Usually I see sparkles or in some cases the projector looses sync or won't sync at all, and these are not subtle problems. However, I tested one that looked fine at 100 IRE, and the static resolution test looked fine, but when I started through different signal levels the image went green at some levels!


William

 

[Tryg]

That means it didnt work.

 

[wm]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying expensive is better. I am saying there is a big difference, especially when you get to 1080p, which is right at the limit of DVI.


Tryg, I agree that it didn't work, but some of the failure modes I am seeing are not obvious at first, you have to look for them. Just like with analog, only different...

 

[TheFerret]

Ok, maybe I should have been more precise, which might be moot now. I am refering to 720P/16:9 transport, and maybe 1080i, but certainly not 1080P (I think).

 

[Michael Grant]

My standard line is that, unlike analog cables, it is possible for a DVI cable to be "perfect". None of the artifacts that William has seen in his tests should be considered acceptable. You should reject any cable that causes such problems, no matter how inexpensive, just as you would reject any digital audio cable causing occasional dropouts.


So yes, quality matters, but there is a "perfect" result and spending lots more money than necessary isn't going to improve upon it.


Now some people claim to see differences in DVI cables due to secondary effects like RFI transmission on the shielding, or ground loop effects, or whatever. I am skeptical, but if you're really concerned about such things and can afford it, a pure fiber optic cable should do the trick. They're more expensive but they have the side benefit of supporting longer lengths. William's quality caveats still apply.

 

[Brandon B]

Quote:

Originally posted by Michael Grant You should reject Monster DVI/HDMI cables altogether due to their absolutely fraudulent marketing claims.

Not to mention because of their favorite activity of suing everyone on the web and in the real world who has made any use of the word 'monster', whether related to cabling or audio in any way, or not.


Even if their product represented good value at its price point, I would avoid them because of this.


BB

 

[jschefdog]

The latest Perfect Vision has an interesting article on buying HDTV. The author went to Best Buy, Sears and Circuit City and asked what he needed to get HDTV. As you might imagine he got a lot of misinformation, but interesting was that Best Buy and Circuit City were both pushing Monster component cables and power protection as "must haves" for HDTV. Not any good quality cable, but specifically Monster. Anytime sales people push something, it's usually because they make a lot of money on it due to high markup.


The Monster stuff does seem pricey to me. Several people have posted about buying their $30 HDMI/DVI adapter, which seems like a lot for a passive adapter. MarkerTek Pro A/V Supply has a 6 foot HDMI to DVI cable for the same price and their stuff is usually good quality, just not as snazzy looking as Monster and the boutique cables.

 

[at4iowa]

William,

You mentioned that you have found only 2 cables that work with 1080p. Which 2 may they be?

 

[Andrikos]

Quote:

Originally posted by TheFerret Funny, as I read this thread Lindy's banner ad above was promoting their wares, including HDMI cables. Unfortunately, their 10m DVI-to-DVI is OOS. Their price, though, is better than BJC & RAM's similar cables. No, I have not tested anyone's cables. Has anyone tested near quality cables without going into the berserker, "I've gotta mortgage my house for cables" realm?

I have the aforementioned Lindy 10m DVI dual link cable.

Works perfectly, made nicely, recommended.

 

[Daniel Hutnicki]

Dont forget to include Bettercables in your list. They arent necessarily the cheapest out there, but the quality is very good

 

[wm]

Quote:

Originally posted by at4iowa William, You mentioned that you have found only 2 cables that work with 1080p. Which 2 may they be?

Well, it's in other threads, but why not here too?


My testing was done at 1920x1080p/60hz, using both PC video cards (ATI, different models) and Faroudja scalers.


Up to 10 meters, Ultralink HDMI Pro, using Ultralink HF-DM adapters at each end. Just about as good as it gets, fits through smaller conduit, and you have HDMI if you need it now or later.


Absolute cleanest, dTronics fiber optic DVI from Digital Connection, tested 10 meters and 15 meters. Definitely not cheap, but not as expensive as some of the "boutique" brands and it works. Big solid connectors that cannot be removed, could be a problem installing it tight spaces.


William

 

[Minge]

Thanks so much everyone. I have always viewed Monster as the Bose of the cable world. Again. I have had great experience with Blue Jeans audio cables so I appreciate the other options people have suggested.


William I am not sure a five to six hundred dollar fiber optic cable is going to make it into my system but I will certainly take a look at Ultralink. Anyone know of a good source for these cables?

 

[wm]

The 10 meter fiber optic is $429. Not cheap but not "five to six hundred dollar" either.

 

[johnny_marin]

Quote:

Originally posted by wm My testing was done at 1920x1080p/60hz, using both PC video cards (ATI, different models) and Faroudja scalers. William

If I understand the DVI spec, you will definitely have problems with [email protected] with a single TMDS link DVI cable as the bandwidth requirements fall just over the 165Mhz limit. But if you use a DVI dual link cable and the appropriate transmitter and receiver (the DVI spec includes all three components), the bandwidth requirements get split evenly over the two TMDS links and the cable should have no problem transmitting the required bandwidth. Of course there are distance limitations with DVI copper cables and to quote Silicon Image "DVI can support cables up to 15 meters, depending on the robustness of the DVI transmitter and receiver."


John