Answer: Because folks will pay it. Read this:
http://features.csmonitor.com/innova...-so-expensive/
http://features.csmonitor.com/innova...-so-expensive/
Why are HDMI cables so expensive?
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We know why. But they don't have to be. Monoprice has saved me a lot of money.
Here's another thought. It's not just salespeople selling overpriced cables. Magazines like Stereophile have perpetuated the theory that cables sound different, even digital cables.
Here's another thought. It's not just salespeople selling overpriced cables. Magazines like Stereophile have perpetuated the theory that cables sound different, even digital cables.
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171 Posts
Uh...they DO sound different. Here, take a listen.
Monoprice Cables
"Honey, your Monoprice HDMI cables arrived!"
"Yay - let's go buy steaks and lobster to have while we watch Baraka!"
Monster Cables
"Honey, your credit card bill for the Monster HDMI Cable arrived!"
"OH MY GOD! WE HAVE TO SELL THE HOUSE!"
See? I'm not sure how it could be any clearer.
Uh...they DO sound different. Here, take a listen.
Monoprice Cables
"Honey, your Monoprice HDMI cables arrived!"
"Yay - let's go buy steaks and lobster to have while we watch Baraka!"
Monster Cables
"Honey, your credit card bill for the Monster HDMI Cable arrived!"
"OH MY GOD! WE HAVE TO SELL THE HOUSE!"
See? I'm not sure how it could be any clearer.
This is one of the things that PISSES ME OFF. I bought my 37" bedroom TV at Bestbuy. After I picked the one I wanted, we head to the counter. First they push the extended warranty. Knowing that LCD has a sub 5% failure rate I said NO. If something goes wrong it will usually happen under the manufacturers warranty. He pushed. I told him "I have saved over $2,000 by not buying extended warranties, if this $800 TV breaks, I'll be fine".
Then he hits me with "Your gonna need an HDMI cable if you want HD". Really? "Yeah the only way to get a true HD picture is with an HDMI cable". I told him that I get them for free with Verizon Fios. He then said "The ones they give you are crap, the picture will look terrible, you really need a good one like this Monster Cable".
I flipped out. I asked him if he knows how a digital signal works, and if he did, could he explain to me how the Monster Cable would outperform a $5 cable. I told him if you honestly believe what you are saying you need to do research. Not only are you wrong, but you're a crook. He apologized and gave me this stare. I was tempted to talk to a manager but I know the guy is doing as told.
He can pull this crap with anyone else but he should of known I knew what I was talking about when I was selecting the TV. I knew almost everything about them including model numbers, which were 720p vs 1080p, which were good deals, etc. After I told him no, he should of kept his mouth shut.
The sad part is I see so many people in the front of the store, holding a Monster HDMI cable waiting for their new HDTV. I have on occasion told people to return the cable because they are getting ripped off. I mention Monoprice or Amazon for $5 or so cables. Also to look up "expensive HDMI cables" before opening their cable if they don't believe me. Couple of people have thanked me because they thought they were being hosed.
Then he hits me with "Your gonna need an HDMI cable if you want HD". Really? "Yeah the only way to get a true HD picture is with an HDMI cable". I told him that I get them for free with Verizon Fios. He then said "The ones they give you are crap, the picture will look terrible, you really need a good one like this Monster Cable".
I flipped out. I asked him if he knows how a digital signal works, and if he did, could he explain to me how the Monster Cable would outperform a $5 cable. I told him if you honestly believe what you are saying you need to do research. Not only are you wrong, but you're a crook. He apologized and gave me this stare. I was tempted to talk to a manager but I know the guy is doing as told.
He can pull this crap with anyone else but he should of known I knew what I was talking about when I was selecting the TV. I knew almost everything about them including model numbers, which were 720p vs 1080p, which were good deals, etc. After I told him no, he should of kept his mouth shut.
The sad part is I see so many people in the front of the store, holding a Monster HDMI cable waiting for their new HDTV. I have on occasion told people to return the cable because they are getting ripped off. I mention Monoprice or Amazon for $5 or so cables. Also to look up "expensive HDMI cables" before opening their cable if they don't believe me. Couple of people have thanked me because they thought they were being hosed.
I use a projector mounted to the ceiling. The Fios salesman told me they provide the cable. I told him that the cable had to run from the Fios box to the projector and asked whether Verizon was going to provide the cable. He said, "yes." I said, "let's add that on the contract papers." Sure enough, when the installer came he didn't have a 35' HDMI cable. I told him it was in my contract and had Verizon customer service credit me with the $75 that I ordered from Monoprice.
But yes, Monoprice sells a 35', 22-AWG, HDMI Silver-Plated Copper cable , with Gold Plated Connectors, cheaper than Best Buy sells a 6' Monster Cable.
It's like everything, you need to know what things are worth. Franklin said, "a fool and his money will soon be parted."
But yes, Monoprice sells a 35', 22-AWG, HDMI Silver-Plated Copper cable , with Gold Plated Connectors, cheaper than Best Buy sells a 6' Monster Cable.
It's like everything, you need to know what things are worth. Franklin said, "a fool and his money will soon be parted."
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I've researched cables. I've even spoken with direct suppliers in China who supply stores here like Monoprice and others. Apart from the shipping cost and the fact you have a required lot size when you purchase (ie. 200-500 units for a minimum order) the bottom line is still that HDMI cables start out with 1.5' costing well under $1 each and gradually increase in price as they get longer...however even a 10' cable is still under $1.
Keep in mind that there are many levels of quality also. You can buy the dirt dirt cheap ones for much less or buy a braided high-quality cable with gold plating for alittle more. Even the most expensive HDMI cables I could purchase were under $3 each, imagine what a bulk buyer would pay who gets steep discounts (like Monoprice).
I've researched cables. I've even spoken with direct suppliers in China who supply stores here like Monoprice and others. Apart from the shipping cost and the fact you have a required lot size when you purchase (ie. 200-500 units for a minimum order) the bottom line is still that HDMI cables start out with 1.5' costing well under $1 each and gradually increase in price as they get longer...however even a 10' cable is still under $1.
Keep in mind that there are many levels of quality also. You can buy the dirt dirt cheap ones for much less or buy a braided high-quality cable with gold plating for alittle more. Even the most expensive HDMI cables I could purchase were under $3 each, imagine what a bulk buyer would pay who gets steep discounts (like Monoprice).
Not so, really. It is kinda hard to do Internet research on HDTVs these days without running into a word or two on HDMI cables. Much more often, it is the types: "Hey, the bonus check has arrived, lets head to BestBuy and get us a nice huge TV!"
Oh, and about that sales clerk: these guys are pressured by management to try their darnedest to get you to buy their extended warranty and the overpriced cable - don't hold it against him. Jobs are tough to land these days. If you did call a manager, you'd only be in for a major sermon extolling virtues of extended warranties and Monster cables.
Oh, and about that sales clerk: these guys are pressured by management to try their darnedest to get you to buy their extended warranty and the overpriced cable - don't hold it against him. Jobs are tough to land these days. If you did call a manager, you'd only be in for a major sermon extolling virtues of extended warranties and Monster cables.
I dont understand either but the sales person did stretch the truth a bit. Granted if he said the cables would all perform equally they would never sell a more expensive one.
Bottom, line of you are going to shop B&M you should expect this and probably only be angry if you did indeed purchase the cable and then found out after that it performed no better than a generic one.
I dont understand either but the sales person did stretch the truth a bit. Granted if he said the cables would all perform equally they would never sell a more expensive one.
Bottom, line of you are going to shop B&M you should expect this and probably only be angry if you did indeed purchase the cable and then found out after that it performed no better than a generic one.
I hate to say it, but a while back a sales guy at musicdirect.com talked me into buying a $200 Audioquest HDMI cable. I didn't know then what I know now, but he was telling me how a cheap cable would show "artifacts" whereas this one wouldn't, and not knowing better, I just bought his hype.
Ordinarily, I would say, "Don't buy from musicdirect.com, they're ripoff artists!" but the fact is, I was the fool, and my money and I were soon parted. The sales guy was just trying to make a profit for his company, and I can't say I really hold it against him. He was just doing what lots of electronic stores do - take advantage of the general public's naivete about digital cables. And I should say that some of the people at musicdirect.com have offered me helpful advice in setting up my home theater.
But I will say this, now that I'm better educated, if you're considering buying an HDMI cable: 1. Buy an inexpensive one, don't drink the kool-aid about "artifact eliminating" or anything like that, and 2. Do not trust musicdirect.com sales guys when they make a sales pitch.
Ordinarily, I would say, "Don't buy from musicdirect.com, they're ripoff artists!" but the fact is, I was the fool, and my money and I were soon parted. The sales guy was just trying to make a profit for his company, and I can't say I really hold it against him. He was just doing what lots of electronic stores do - take advantage of the general public's naivete about digital cables. And I should say that some of the people at musicdirect.com have offered me helpful advice in setting up my home theater.
But I will say this, now that I'm better educated, if you're considering buying an HDMI cable: 1. Buy an inexpensive one, don't drink the kool-aid about "artifact eliminating" or anything like that, and 2. Do not trust musicdirect.com sales guys when they make a sales pitch.
I would guess that the majority of people who would go to Best Buy might go to several web sites such as Sears , Amazon or Costco, see TV's on sale and then make their buying decision. Let's face it, most people don't go to the time or trouble to come here or price cables at places like Monoprice.com. Instead, they listen to the "experts" at Best Buy or Fry's and figure "I'm spending two grand or more on a system, what's an extra hundred for cables."
Hell, I remember when stereo magazine were telling people to budget 20% of their purchase for speaker cables?"
Hell, I remember when stereo magazine were telling people to budget 20% of their purchase for speaker cables?"
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Sales people only do what they are told, right or wrong. When I went into BB to ask about a lamp replacement for my TV they said what kind of cable are you running? Component? I said no HDMI. Is it a Monster Cable, because they make the best cable for the best possible picture. Really I said, I have
6' HDMI cable bought off the net thats rated for 1600P 22awg wire gold plated ends and braided in a pretty blue fabric all for $10 delivered. Oh, the sales person says, if it's not a Monster your cable is not getting the best signal from your Blu Ray player to the TV! I then educated him about the 1's and 0's. He didn't like that one bit (no pun intended) They are pushy and I don't like to be pushed into paying $100 for somehthing I don't need. Theres a sucker born everyday. I might not have been born yesterday, maybe the day before but there is no G for gulible on my forehead!
Jeff
6' HDMI cable bought off the net thats rated for 1600P 22awg wire gold plated ends and braided in a pretty blue fabric all for $10 delivered. Oh, the sales person says, if it's not a Monster your cable is not getting the best signal from your Blu Ray player to the TV! I then educated him about the 1's and 0's. He didn't like that one bit (no pun intended) They are pushy and I don't like to be pushed into paying $100 for somehthing I don't need. Theres a sucker born everyday. I might not have been born yesterday, maybe the day before but there is no G for gulible on my forehead!
Jeff
Just wanted to ask the peoples of the forums opinions on HDMI 1.1 vs 1.3a with respect to the new tvs and blu-ray players?
Since Best Buy has been brought up so much in this thread, thought i'd bring it up. They're Dynex brand HDMI cables are only rated at the 1.1, where as their Rocketfish are 1.3a. Does this even matter anymore?
I could see that being an issue with "handshake issues" but i've been out of the HDMI loop for a few months..
Since Best Buy has been brought up so much in this thread, thought i'd bring it up. They're Dynex brand HDMI cables are only rated at the 1.1, where as their Rocketfish are 1.3a. Does this even matter anymore?
I could see that being an issue with "handshake issues" but i've been out of the HDMI loop for a few months..
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