Pricey A/V Cables? Don't Be Fooled

Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:24AM EDT

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If you've ever been shopping for an HDTV at a big electronics retail store, you'll know the drill—basically, once the pushy salespeople hit you up for the $500 extended warranty, they steer you toward the $100 (or more) HDMI, digital audio and coaxial cables. Usually, these cables come in fancy packaging, the connectors are dipped in gold (literally), and you're told that if you're buying a $3,000 TV, you might as well throw down a couple hundred more for the very best cables. Don't fall for it.

While the top-dollar cables at the electronics store sure looks amazing, you really, honestly don't need them. Bargain HDMI, optical and coaxial cables will deliver excellent images and sound without the solid-gold connectors or snazzy plastic casings. I've been using a $20 HDMI cable, $5 coaxial cables and $10 optical cables for a few years now, and no one's complained yet.

Don't take my word for it, though. The experts at Ars Technica would be the first ones to tell you that a $100 Monster-brand HDMI cable delivers a better picture than, say, a $15 off-brand version. Their verdict? "Cabling is something of a racket, and while there probably is a difference between the medium-quality cables and the Monster Cables that cost $100+, I'm guessing none of us have systems that will let us tell enough of a difference to make the price worth it." (Read the full story for more details.)

I couldn't agree more. I recommend you pay no more than about $20 for an HDMI cable, $10-15 for an optical (or Toslink) digital audio cable, $10 for a component-video cable, and $10 or less for regular RCA-type cables. The sales dude may look appalled, but do yourself a favor and save your money.

Related:
Shopping for HDMI cables: who do retailers think they're kidding? [Ars Technica]

Comments on Pricey A/V Cables? Don't Be Fooled

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  • 66 Posted by altitude3750 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    The Monster Cables hold up a lot better than other cables as well

  • 67 Posted by phanofmuzik2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    to the people defending monster cable and such: There have been hundreds of studies showing that as long as a cable is of the proper size (for its length), there is NO AUDIBLE OR VISUAL DIFFERENCE IN THE CABLE. They put monster speaker wire up against lamp cord, and there was no difference, even to testing equiptment. Monster will try to tell you there is a difference, but the scientific community highly disagrees. Monster tells you theyre some miracle cables like bose tells you theyre some miracle speakers (note: bose makes horrid speakers for the price for you people that dont understand the analogy). Theyre not. proof? read some of these articles: http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/the-truth-about-interconnects-and-cables

  • 68 Posted by tehck@swbell.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    I can't believe how many people have fallen for the tripe put out by Monster and their ilk. The most ludicrous assertions involve speaker cables. Good quality cabling is important, but people today are often paying 5 times what they should for patch cords and sometimes 10 times what they should for speaker cables. The first time I heard an otherwise intelligent person describe the advantage of Monster's acoustic winding which purports to correct the "problem" of different audio frequencies traveling at different speeds through speaker wire, I was dumbfounded. If you believe that you can hear the results of this effect occurring at nearly the speed of light over a distance of a few feet, well you deserve to pay a premium price. Me, I'm going to Home Depot for some lamp cord.

  • 69 Posted by royf on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    Thick MONSTER speaker cables mean less power loss to the speaker. A good thing on long speaker runs. Gold contacts mean less corrosion on the connectors. But, does your electronic equipment have gold contacts? Digital cables with poor impedence characteristics or shielding can can cause the corruption of the data stream resulting in retransmission of the data. Not likely normally, but possible if you crush or smash your digital cable. Just as a real Rolex tells better time, I'm certain that expensive wires gives better sound.

  • 70 Posted by tuantran19742002 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    Unless your system is ultra high end then save the money. The difference is like splitting hairs. This applies to high end audio where makers try to sell cables for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. They make cables using silver wire to jack people out of their money. Oxygen free high grain copper is fine for almost any application.

  • 71 Posted by bleeding_out86 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    I admit I ain't a genious on the subject but I agree with the article, I've been at house with systems so expensive I'm shocked they didn't have to take a loan out as well as systems where it was all just generic, non expensive stuff and noticed no difference what so ever. As for scott there, going to a company website and then saying that its facts and everything when I can assure you that chacnes are, they make evrything sound good just as if you were to go to a used car lot. If you want TRUE facts, go to a website that compares MULTIPLE brands of cables with no intention of making one sound better then the other. Not meaning to start a argument or anything, just a opinion.

  • 72 Posted by sweski2005 on Tue Jul 10, 2007 6:33PM EDT Report Abuse

    Cable prices are a joke ! I recently needed a USB cable for one of my digital cameras. I found one, along with a point and shoot digital camera - and some neat software for what the big box store wanted for just a cable. Go figure ! Need some cheap cables, go to the flea market. Every other seller has a grab box full of cables for $1 or less, and some are gold !

  • 73 Posted by trawetsbud on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    What a Crock! High end cables might not make a difference on a Wal-Mart system because it doesn't boast anything near good performance in the first place but on a high end system they can make all the difference. With my system worth over $40,000 the cables do make a difference not to mention the maple plynths with brass heavy feet for my speakers. Likewise, a $600 plasma from Wal-Mart probably won't benefit from a $100 HDMI cable but a $3500 Hitachi will most definitely.

  • 74 Posted by jedi_clone_master on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    The only HDMI cable to go for in the Uk is made by QED and it is part of the Qunex range. It is fairly cheap at £45 and it is excellent. It is a five star What Hi-Fi winner and that is as good as it gets.

  • 75 Posted by wlcolwell@prodigy.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    Robin Baskin (on transfering LPs, etc. to digital media) should have talked with Paterson. They're contradicting each other. The thing is, connectors in any low-powered electronic circuit just need to fit tight and not corrode, oxidize or rust. That's the only advantage to gold contacts. By the way, are the contacts in the receptacle that you plug your cable into gold plated? As for the wire between the connectors... Analog audio cables need reasonably good shielding, low capacitance and to be as short as practical. Capacitance and length, if not minimized, will affect the high frequency end of the audio spectrum. But for the vast majority, you would never be able to hear a difference. Room accoustics, for one, would make an order of magnitude more difference than the cable would. Digital audio starts to behave more like analog video. Coaxial cables should "match" the "Characteristic Impedance" of the ports they plug into (as in 75 ohm video cable, or 50 ohm "2-way radio" antenna cable). Too much "mismatch" causes "reflections" of signals in the cable which can interfere with the real signal. Not usually an issue in a home system. Optical fiber will have no effect on a digital signal (unless your components are thousands of feet apart) but it's a little tricky to "splice".

  • 76 Posted by aztec799 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    I bought a $20 HDMI cable at sam's club and the quality is great...

  • 77 Posted by beachgonzo1971 on Thu Jul 12, 2007 2:24PM EDT Report Abuse

    There is a difference in quality. its like anything else...there is low, mid and High quality gear. it might not have anything to do with the sound quality but the actual construction of the cable itself...is it flexible? can it be installed inside a wall or ceiling if needed? plenum? also, its specified that no one should pay X amount of dollars...but no length is specified..obviously a one ft. cable will be cheaper than 10 foot cable.

  • 78 Posted by moneymaker10041 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    as far as picture quality, you will get the same from monster and cheap brands. The thing is monster cables are wraped and insulated meaning they will not allow interference from you cellphones, microwaves, etc.. to go through it where cheap cables can allow that interference.

  • 79 Posted by joshua_1974 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    The great cable debate is always a good one especially with engineers who want to see it on a scope and cant explain why the sound different. The world of 1080p is here and HDMI is the only thing that will transmit it correctly, you will see in the coming months ads with what they call an EYE. This eye will determine whether the cable will work and what kind of picture quality you will see, if you even see one at all. Also there will be some extensive testing done to all ranges of cables high cost and low. Also be aware that HDMI is DIGITAL RGB (6GHZ bandwidth or 60 million pixels!!! capable) and component video, believe it or not is ANALOG (2 million pixels max)! HDMI has very many factors that influence whether it will work including clock speed, voltage and of coarse if the twisted pair inside the cable that need to be EXACTLY the same length etc. I have seen some high dollar cables pass and fail, also the equipment has to be exact on the output as well. If any of these factors are off even by a small amount... NO PICTURE or SOUND! Dont forget NOT to bend your HDMI cables to much or they wont work either. Better cables do generally enhance the equipment but I my rule of thumb is cables should equal 10% cost of your system.

  • 80 Posted by judithatsea on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    I don't understand all the confusion. HDMI transmets digital signals. It either works and there is zero loss of quality, or it doesn't work and there is nothing. That is the nature of digital data transmission. There are standards that define the signal loss and bandwidth of the cable as a function of cable length. Either the cable meets them or it doesn't. I havn't yet seen any HDMI cable that advertises that they do not meet specification. In practice, for short runs, say 25 feet or less, almost anything will work.

  • 81 Posted by g868@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm one of those guys that "push" you to buy the higher-end (Monster) cables when you're making your home theatre purchase. I don't usually have to "push" real hard either. My best sales "technique" is to take a customer to the rack of cheap cables (especially the HDMI cables) and show them the number of open item packages. Yes, "open item" means RETURNED. What percentage of these returns would we assume happened because the customer got home with their cheap cables and decided "heck I think I'll take another trip to see the guys in the blue shirts to exchange these cables for some more expensive ones because, well, they had really nice smiles and that alone is worth another $50."? Uhhh...NONE! (Okay, maybe this one guy) Cheap cables are exactly that- cheap cables. I don't make a dime of commission where I work, and have no incentive to sell the higher-end cables other than the fact that I want you to have a good experience with your product, and for you to not to have to come back to return the cheap cables because the contacts don't fit well into your components, or the soldering broke while you were manipulating the cables during installation. (I see several of these returns a week) I'm no engineer so I won't debate whether this brand's HDMI or that brand's HDMI will or will not handle the 1's or 0's, but I will say this- If you are paying for digital HD then you need HDMI. Just because your cable company brought you component video cables when they installed your new HD receiver does NOT mean this is the right cable for the job. Then again, if you're happy with your $ .38 component video cable, and your inferior, analog signal...more power to ya! Slap them suckers on your Vizio and have a ball!

  • 82 Posted by carlosacns on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    I've posted before with concerns regarding Mr. Patterson's qualifications for writing these articles. Judging by his opinions on cabling for audio and video, I would say that he doesn't have one iota of knowledge or experience with good quality home theater equipment. Cables most certainly do have an effect on the signal that passes through them and the best of those cables do perform much better than the $20.00 dollar cables Mr. Patterson deems adequate. Like everything else in life there are some less expensive cables that outperform some that cost more but generally speaking that $20.00 dollar HDMI cable is going to be crap. Why is it Sony can charge $6000 dollars for an lcd tv and people will lust after it but charge a couple of hundred dollars for a superior video cable and the Ben Pattersons of the world cry "ripoff".By the way Monster cables are only average in the world of wire.Some people always mention Monster and Bose in the same breath as highend audio and video. They are not I can assure you. I'm sure Mr. Patterson prides himself on keeping his entire system cabling below the $50.00 dollar mark but don't fall for it.Unless you have a cheap off brand television or "home theater in a box", your system will indeed benefit from quality cables. I am always on the lookout for less expensive cables with superior peformance and I don't buy anything just because it's expensive. As a final note Mr. Patterson, I have a porsche in the driveway but i'm sure you think a corolla satisfies all your driving needs....or at least you haven't heard any complaints.

  • 83 Posted by carlosacns on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    I absolutely don't know where to begin. Excuse me while I pick my jaw off the floor. Ones and zeros traveling through wire, 50 to 80 percent markups on cables,Monster cable is highend?! Firstly the markup on cables is usually 100 percent from the dealer to the consumer but did you know clothing is 200 to 400 percent. Why do you think you can get clothing 80 percent off all the time. I don't see any articles about the clothing industry ripoff. I mean your shoes cost about a dollar to make overseas for God's sake! Ones and zero do not travel through wire - in fact there is no such thing! Wires used for digital transmission have their own unique problems just as do cables for analogue transmissions. They all sound different even from each other. And above all please stop using MOnster cable as the paradigm for highend cables. They are an example of average cabling. I guess their marketing has left an impression on most of you. And this is for seveace69 who questions whether or not light cares if it"travels through gold plated ends?". Geez! The gold is there to prevent oxidization not to improve the sound. In fact I say pure copper sounds better left unplated. Please do some homework before posting such crap.

  • 84 Posted by carlosacns on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    I absolutely don't know where to begin. Excuse me while I pick my jaw off the floor. Ones and zeros traveling through wire, 50 to 80 percent markups on cables,Monster cable is highend?! Firstly the markup on cables is usually 100 percent from the dealer to the consumer but did you know clothing is 200 to 400 percent. Why do you think you can get clothing 80 percent off all the time. I don't see any articles about the clothing industry ripoff. I mean your shoes cost about a dollar to make overseas for God's sake! Ones and zero do not travel through wire - in fact there is no such thing! Wires used for digital transmission have their own unique problems just as do cables for analogue transmissions. They all sound different even from each other. And above all please stop using MOnster cable as the paradigm for highend cables. They are an example of average cabling. I guess their marketing has left an impression on most of you. And this is for seveace69 who questions whether or not light cares if it"travels through gold plated ends?". Geez! The gold is there to prevent oxidization not to improve the sound. In fact I say pure copper sounds better left unplated. Please do some homework before posting such crap.

  • 85 Posted by carlosacns on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is for the border bandit. I bet if I reduced your cell phone bill down to 20 percent of what it is now you would be pleased. Oh I forgot to mention it would only work 90 percent of the time.

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