Which HDMI/optical cables for Sky HD, Panasonic BD-35, Yamaha RX-V1900??

[admin_exported]

I currently have sky hd and am soon to be getting an RX-V1900 reciever and bd-35 blue ray player (in that order).

Firstly I am wondering whether I need a HDMI cable AND an optical cable to get the best sound from sky hd, or can I get hd sound via hdmi from sky? Is the hdmi cable that sky provide with the box any good?

Secondly I am looking for a good HDMI cable to connect my RX-v1900 to my tv and also my blue ray player to my RX-v1900. Can anyone reccommend a good quality cable that doesn't break the bank? Also if I am going to need an optical cable can anyone recommend a good one?

Thanks in advance

 

[professorhat]

Currently, the Sky HD box can only output stereo over HDMI, so to get 5.1 sound, you need an optical cable as well (NB - this isn't HD audio, just Dolby Digital but it's the best you'll get from a TV based service in the UK). On the cable provided in the box, I can't say with absolute knowledge it won't be any good, but I would bet a substantial amount of money it could be improved upon!
I use a Chord HDMI 1.3 Silver Plus cable for all my important HDMI connections and I think it's marvellous, but take a look at the WHF reviews to find one for your budget if this is too much. For optical cables, I'm a big fan of QED (such as this one).

 

[d4v3pum4]

The cable supplied with the sky hd box will work fine and you will NOT see any improvements. It looks sturdy enough so unless you're planning on playing tug-of-war with it, I wouldn't worry about it falling apart. If you need new hdmi cables check ukhdmi.com or if you don't mind spending a bit more look at Mark Grant's hdmi cables. I use Mark's cables in my own setup and can recommend the cables and his service, both are excellent.

As for optical, again save your £ and look at the fisual pro at audiovisualonline.co.uk for a fiver. It is exactly the same as a QED model I have costing 5 times as much, so can only presume they're made in the same factory and QED simply stick a badge on, which I might add goes for about 99% of HDMI cables, they're all made in China. Go figure.

With digital cables, save your money and spend what you can afford only!