1st cable upgrade - please help

[admin_exported]

Hi, I'm just upgrading from my old CRT tv and moving into the 'new' HD world

With my crappy old CRT set I have never really paid much attention to the cables connecting things together as the tv was the weakest link in the chain. However, now that things are changing, I'm interested in peoples options on which cables I should use to connect things together.

I (will) have a 37in panna tv (not sure on exact model yet), a PS3, a humax pvr, and a denon amp (no hdmi input). In my book that means I need: 1x HDMI lead, 1x scart and 1x optical sound (ps3 to amp). What cables would you recommend for this setup? Bare in mind that this is my first cable upgrade so not interested in paying out a couple of hundred quid on a few cables.

Cheers, Sam

 

[professorhat]

Hi there - the basic rule of thumb is to spend approximately 10% of your system's worth on cables. Personally, I'd probably go QED for all these cables i.e. QED Qunex HDMI-P, QED P2110 Scart and QED Performance Optical lead which comes out around £110 for the lot.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, that sounds a reasonable / affordable amount to spend, where would you recommend buying them from?

 

[professorhat]

I get all mine from Hi-Fi Cables. Good service, generally quick delivery (they do a fast dispatch anyway, then you're at the mercy of Royal Mail!) and a 30 day money back guarantee (minus postage) if you don't like what you hear!

 

[Anonymous]

Got mine from Hi-Fi Cables too, quick delivery.

 

[Anonymous]

qed or ixos i have qed qunex ot optical £30 pretty good performance on the games try with heavenly sword cant comment on films though as
sony have green screen if i output through rgb ;p so i use my tosh instead, still wish sony put a coax output on the ps3 instead as id prefer tto use the ixos 608 ne day

 

[Anonymous]

theres a dedicated qed site cant remember it but google qed cable and it should be near the top

 

[Anonymous]

cheers for your advice guys

 

[Anonymous]

OPTICAL, and HDMI cables are all the same, buy the cheapest cable you can buy. Digital signals do not degrade nowadays. The old analogue cables had degredation problems, and that is why you bought gold plating etc.. but Digital is different. I buy £3 HDMI cables, they are identical in quality to £90 HDMI cables.

 

[professorhat]

[quote user="Pincho Paxton"]Digital signals do not degrade nowadays.[/quote]
Lol - brilliant. I remember the old days when this was all fields and digital signals degraded...

 

[Anonymous]

Back then we were given analogue and were grateful for it. Tell that to the kids nowadays and do they believe you?......

 

[professorhat]

In your opinion...

 

[professorhat]

Here we go...

As I've said before, these things are a guide. The 10% rule refers to your system as a whole, not for just the two sources you are connecting up. And if you don't want to spend that much, no one is insisting you do, just that it may be wise to try it and see if you get improvements from a system you've spent a lot of money on. By all means though, if (a) you were happy to spend £200 on an HDMI cable and (b) you found it looked much so better than a £50 HDMI cable that it was worth the money, I'd say go for it.

Basically, I'm happy for people to spend what they are happy to spend and if they like it keep it, just in the same way I'm happy for you to spend a few pounds on your cables and be happy with this. As long as you're happy with it, I'm happy that you're happy with it.

So when someone asks for advice on some cables, I give them my opinion and state that it's my opinion and point them to a retailer which does money back guarantees in case they too think it's a all a big waste of money when they try them out. On the other hand, people who refute expensive cables make a difference seem to not want people to try anything or have their own opinions, but just trust their "scientific facts" (which never seem to be produced when requested), instead of trusting their eyes and ears. Seems a little draconian to me...

And now look, you've got me involved in another cable discussion again - something I promised I wasn't going to do!

 

[Andrew Everard]

So now we've moved on from 'all cable manufacturers are charlatans' to 'everyone else apart from those of us who have seen the light is stupid and self-deluding'.

What's the weather like up on that lofty perch?

 

[professorhat]

[quote user="fr0g"]but as so many people have been drawn into the madness that is cable religion[/quote]

I love a bit of cable religion me...

Blessed are the freebie cables, for they shall inherit the earth... Amen. Please open your operating manuals to page 4...

In all seriousness though, we're just raking over dead leaves here as whenever someone tells you they've double blind tested their cables (as WHF have repeatedly told us they do), their tests are not deemed worthy and so the argument goes on! Either that or, of course, they are in league with the evil cable manufacturers (or insert other libelous comment here to suit).

In the end, I think the only fair method is to let people decide for themselves and I'll continue to give out the same advice (and then of course secretly cry Hallelujah when another one joins the fold!)

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="fr0g"][quote user="Pincho Paxton"]
OPTICAL, and HDMI cables are all the same, buy the cheapest cable you can buy. Digital signals do not degrade nowadays. The old analogue cables had degredation problems, and that is why you bought gold plating etc.. but Digital is different. I buy £3 HDMI cables, they are identical in quality to £90 HDMI cables.

[/quote]

Not quite true. I agree to a point, but many £3 cables are shockingly made, and not up to scratch. I would always recommend getting a well made, chunky moulded plug style cable.

But the 10% 'rule' is totally silly when it comes to digi-cables.

[/quote]

I have 4 varying HDMI cables from £3 to £25 with various platings. My £3 cable is actually my best cable because it fits in the socket tight, and has gold plating (not that it makes any difference) My most expensive £25 cable is my worst, because it is too thick to bend around corners, and has loose fittings, and because it can't bend, the fittings are easily pulled out. But apart from anything else, the picture quality never changes.

 

[professorhat]

[quote user="fr0g"]WHF say they double blind, but I have yet to see a 'proper' scientific laying out of exactly how that ABX test was carried out, together with results. [/quote]
So they're lying?

 

[professorhat]

Not really. They say they do it. Thus either they are telling the truth and you believe them, or they are lying. Unless you think they're all clueless and haven't any idea how to conduct such tests?

I'm sure you would like to the detailed results of such tests. The issue is, WHF is a magazine designed for everyday consumers to decide which audio / visual components and accessories they want. The very market they cater for does not want hugely detailed scientific results in every review which confuse them and put them off reading the magazine. For this reason, they're not going to put these things in just for you I'm afraid.

 

[Andrew Everard]

[quote user="fr0g"]You are putting words into my mouth.[/quote]

[quote user="fr0g"]...as so many people have been drawn into the madness that is cable
religion, they get home, swap the cables, and they hear, or see a
difference...where there is none. Happy with the purchase, and the
shiny brand emblazened length of wire, they never try such a simple
task as a blind listening test.[/quote]

Class discuss.

(And by the way, I am not, nor never will be, a dude)

 

[Anonymous]

It tis a pickle, the old cable discussion. But quite right Proffessor.
I too would like to see a proper thorough test done on various popular cables from a range of prices. This would also be one heck of a marathon task for whoever had to do it though and after a while it would be hard to trust your own eyes! lol.

Still, It would be really interesting the results of a test like that would provide. Could really stuff some manufacturers though, perhaps thats why it hasen't been done?.

Laterz

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Pincho Paxton"][quote user="fr0g"][quote user="Pincho Paxton"]
OPTICAL, and HDMI cables are all the same, buy the cheapest cable you can buy. Digital signals do not degrade nowadays. The old analogue cables had degredation problems, and that is why you bought gold plating etc.. but Digital is different. I buy £3 HDMI cables, they are identical in quality to £90 HDMI cables.

[/quote]

Not quite true. I agree to a point, but many £3 cables are shockingly made, and not up to scratch. I would always recommend getting a well made, chunky moulded plug style cable.

But the 10% 'rule' is totally silly when it comes to digi-cables.

[/quote]

I have 4 varying HDMI cables from £3 to £25 with various platings. My £3 cable is actually my best cable because it fits in the socket tight, and has gold plating (not that it makes any difference) My most expensive £25 cable is my worst, because it is too thick to bend around corners, and has loose fittings, and because it can't bend, the fittings are easily pulled out. But apart from anything else, the picture quality never changes.

[/quote]

i know what you mean theres about as much difference between expensive cables and a polaroid hdtv and a pioneer hdtv i mean they either play hd or not?
dont know why im getting a panny pz85 instead of that polaroid [must be good with photos]
i spose i must like the sound of the name

 

[Andrew Everard]

[quote user="fr0g"]I'm not sure of the point of the double quote?[/quote]

Just offering people the chance to compare and contrast.

[quote user="fr0g"] Where have I stated that everyone is self-deluding?[/quote]

The self-delusion of those that have not seen the true light was the implication of your post, IMHO.