Cable gauge: don't get gouged on HDMI

I mentioned in an earlier post that learning to solder is an invaluable tool. It still holds true, but when it comes to digital cables, like HDMI, I wouldn't even know where to begin.

A trip to best buy or futureshop for such a cable will set you back $50 or more for 4 feet. They market the cables so that consumers will believe there are many different tiers of quality, thickness, or durability, and that you should buy the best cable you can afford to go with your new HDTV (see: Monster cable). They claim that the heavier, higher quality cables can carry more data than the lesser ones, and you need the good ones for your blu-ray player.

I say, BULL!

A digital signal is a digital signal. It transmits 1's and 0's, and the volume of the data transmitted is finite. It either gets there or it doesn't. Over short distances, it's not going to make a lick of difference if your cable is gold-plated, diamond-encrusted or multi-coloured. Over very long distances (50 feet or more), you might need a heavier cable or a booster, but if you did, you would see the digital losses in the picture. Distortions, sparkly pixels, or no picture at all.

With analog signals, say from your stereo to your speakers, it's a different story. The voltage is connected directly to the magnets that are generating the sound. Slight distortion and signal interference is audible. Overly thin speaker wire can suck the life from your sound.

I conducted a casual experiment on my HDTV. I played a blu-ray DVD first with a $55 dollar cable from futureshop, and then with a $16 cable from active surplus. Back, forth, back, forth. No difference that I could see.

Isn't this ground for a class action suit? Consumers are being manipulated and gouged. Think of all the poor nerds playing Rock Band with their plastic guitars and overpriced cables! If they all threw in a fiver, we could get our millions back.

My advice, check www.monoprice.com.  They've got the best price on cables of all shapes and sizes, and they ship to Canada with no hassle.

Adam