LENGTH OF CABLES

[admin_exported]

Hi,

I currently have a cinema system comprising of:- Yamaha DSP-AX750se Amp and full large speaker system + sub-woofer.

I am updating the system from DVD to a Sony BDP-S550 Blu-Ray Player and have ordered the new Panasonic 50" V-10 Plasma and a SkyHD+ box.

When I set my current system up I was told that all cables need to be the same length as the longest cable to synchronise everything. Therefore they are all 25ft long inc. the S-Video cable for my current TV which is a pain trying to hide so much.

Obviously with my new stuff I will be changing to HDMI cables from the Blu-Ray Player and Sky box.

My questions are:-

1. Do I need 25ft HDMI cables? 2. Is there a massive difference between HDMI cables?

I do have a 3mtr Belkin F8V3311B3M cable which was about £20. Will I see a lot of benefit by spending more?

Hope someone can help?

Focksy

 

[Andrew Everard]

In a stereo system, it's worth keeping the front left and right cables the same length.

Otherwise the answer to your question about keeping all cables the same length is no.

 

[Anonymous]

I would keep the HDMI cable length as short as possible.

 

[Anonymous]

Who told you they all need to be the same length? Not the person who sold you the cables, I hope. Keep all of your cables as short as possible. You'll save a bundle and they'll work better.

 

[Anonymous]

Wow, you guys know your stuff!!

The speaker cables I bought about 5 years ago when I set it up, so unless I tear the whole thing up I gues I'll have to leave them.

But you reckon that mixing in an HDMI cable that's only a couple of mtrs in length won't create a delay eg sound delay creating a 'Bruce Lee' kung foo movie whereby the lips move slightly before the sound arrives?

Perhaps you can tell me whether I have ordered the right Blu-Ray player?

I was going to get the Panasonic one as I understand that it is superb and it would match the TV as in Viera.

But then I was told that it only has HD sound via an HDMI and as my amp doesn't have HDMI I chose the Sony as it apparently transmits HD by optical as well. Is this right? Or have I been given another bum line?

So, I,m thinking that I would have an HDMI fron the blu-ray to the tv for the picture and then the optical also from the Blu-ray but into the amp?

And what is the difference between a normal HDMI cable for about £20 and a 100hz, super high speed white HDMI that I have been told is a must...but costs about £90?

Sorry to pick your knowledge but I do find the shop info confusing!

Focksy

 

[simonlewis]

You need a blu-ray player with analogue outputs & 3.1 phono cables to connect to your amp, optical/coaxial cables won't transmit HD audio.

For HDMI cables you may be best sticking to chord or QED around £30pm.

 

[The_Lhc]

focksy: Wow, you guys know your stuff!!

Not as much as the guy you've been buying your gear off apparently...

The speaker cables I bought about 5 years ago when I set it up, so unless I tear the whole thing up I gues I'll have to leave them.

Well first things first you don't need to worry about the speaker cables being different lengths from the other cables.

But you reckon that mixing in an HDMI cable that's only a couple of mtrs in length won't create a delay eg sound delay creating a 'Bruce Lee' kung foo movie whereby the lips move slightly before the sound arrives?

Why would it? Think it through and ask yourself why that might happen. As it happens with HDMI you MIGHT get a lip sync problem but that's a "feature" of HDMI, rather than anything to do with the length of the cable, but you'll be able to adjust the lip sync in your new amp (assuming you're getting a new amp obviously).

Perhaps you can tell me whether I have ordered the right Blu-Ray player?

I was going to get the Panasonic one as I understand that it is superb and it would match the TV as in Viera.

But then I was told that it only has HD sound via an HDMI and as my amp doesn't have HDMI I chose the Sony as it apparently transmits HD by optical as well. Is this right? Or have I been given another bum line?

You certainly have I'm afraid, who is this idiot you're buying your stuff from, NO Blu-Ray player can send HD Audio down the optical (or coaxial) cable, the cable simply doesn't have the bandwidth required for HD Audio. In either case you'll only get HD audio if the Blu-ray player has multi-channel analogue outputs and decodes the HD audio itself. You need to connect these outputs to the equivalent inputs on your amp in that case.

So, I,m thinking that I would have an HDMI fron the blu-ray to the tv for the picture and then the optical also from the Blu-ray but into the amp?

you can, but like I say, you won't get HD audio that way.

And what is the difference between a normal HDMI cable for about £20 and a 100hz, super high speed white HDMI that I have been told is a must...but costs about £90?

I don't think anyone will answer that question anymore!

 

[Anonymous]

focksy:
Sorry to pick your knowledge but I do find the shop info confusing!

Focksy

What shop is it?.... just so we know to stay well clear!

 

[Anonymous]

Hi the_lhc,

I'm not getting a new amp because I have been very happy with the Yamaha.

I have just checked and the Sony has 7.1 channel analogue outputs. Are you saying that I should use these for HD sound? The Panasonic doesn't have these so I've been told.

What would you recommend for the Sky HD+ box when it arrives? Does this have analogue outputs do you know?

Sorry to be a pain but it is great getting completely honest unbiased advice.

Kind regardsFocksy

 

[Anonymous]

You'd need an HDMI cable many miles long to notice any lag, maybe not even then. So don't worry about cable length!

 

[simonlewis]

Sky HD only transmits stereo via HDMI, so in this case you are best using an opticle cable to the amp for sound, as well as useing HDMI to your tv or amp.

 

[Andrew Everard]

And yes, use the multichannel analogue outputs on the Sony into the Yamaha's multichannel analogue inputs.

 

[hammill]

chainrock:

You'd need an HDMI cable many miles long to notice any lag, maybe not even then. So don't worry about cable length!
To the best of my knowledge, the rate of propagation of electromagnetic radiation is roughly c (a bit less) which is 300000000 metres per second. To get a 1000th second delay difference would require one cable 300000 metres longer than the other.

 

[Anonymous]

hammill:chainrock:

You'd need an HDMI cable many miles long to notice any lag, maybe not even then. So don't worry about cable length!

To the best of my knowledge, the rate of propagation of electromagnetic radiation is roughly c (a bit less) which is 300000000 metres per second. To get a 1000th second delay difference would require one cable 300000 metres longer than the other.

And imagine trying to hide one of those under the carpet!

 

[The_Lhc]

I used to work with guys who designed optical delay lines, where it was necessary to hold up an optical signal for a certain length of time. I say designed, it was basically just laying out different lengths of cable in a big loop depending on how long you need the signal delayed by (not very long for the Optoelectronic applications they were working with).

You can achieve something similar by using different materials for your optical cable, as the speed of light is only constant in a perfect vacuum, change the carrier material and you can change the speed, quite drastically in some conditions.

 

[Anonymous]

Oh my God...you've lost me!!!!!!!

But, in answer to chainrock I was worried that the sound would arrive slightly later than the picture if the HDMI cable is much shorter. But it sounds as though I don't have to worry...yes?

 

[Anonymous]

Yes! You really have nothing to worry about. Select a length that fits your system.

 

[The_Lhc]

Well as I've already said, it might, but not because of cable length. If you do have HDMI lip-sync problems I think you should be able to adjust it in the Blu-ray player's menus so it doesn't happen.

But in general you absolutely do not need the video cables to be the same length as the speaker cables.

 

[Anonymous]

Ok, thank you very much for youe help guys..it's much appreciated.

But could you stick your necks out and name the leads that I need. I understand now from reading an internet article that all this 100hz super high speed cable talked about in shops is baloney?

Do you have a specific make/model of HDMI cable that would get the best out of the Sony S550 Blu-Ray into the V-10 Panasonic?

And the same for the analogue connections?

Focksy

 

[d4v3pum4]

Try hdcable for the HDMI cables, they carry a lifetime guarantee and are all officially tested (official HDMI adopter). I also use bettercables and octava in my system, which are available from a very reliable source. Speak to Joe or John at tmfsolutions.co.uk, they're very knowledgable and honest guys and you won't get any cable baloney from them. For further information on HDMI see the FAQ at bluejeanscables.com. You can also buy them from them at bluejeanscables.co.uk. Again, good quality cables at good prices.

For analogue cables, I used bluejeans but markgrantcables (advertises in WHF) uses the same components. I have just ordered a pair of phonos for my 2nd squeezebox and can highly recommend them. Excellent quality and half the price of the brand name stuff.

 

[Anonymous]

focksy:

But could you stick your necks out and name the leads that I need. I understand now from reading an internet article that all this 100hz super high speed cable talked about in shops is baloney?

Do you have a specific make/model of HDMI cable that would get the best out of the Sony S550 Blu-Ray into the V-10 Panasonic?

Focksy

HaHa...you'll be lucky! just type HDMI into the search box and allocate yourself a few hours to digest the info.

Don't ask me, my lips are sealed

 

[professorhat]

How about this? Or if you're willing to spend a little more, one of these?

Whichever you go for, it's best to try and get one on a money back guarantee (many e-tailers offer this) so if you're not happy the cable isn't improving performance over a standard "freebie" type cable, you can send it back for a refund.