digitalfreaknyc

Had some paypal money that I'd like to spend on a DVI-HDMI cable on ebay. Anyone have any suggestions on which cable and/or sellers are reliable?

dick_grayson

If I were you (which I am), I'd just buy one through monoprice.com

They have paypal as a payment option. Make sure you go with the 24AWG line.

Here's the link with the various lengths available.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/se...&keyword=24AWG

jas722

I would actually suggest looking at monoprice.com. I just ordered some cables from them, they have exellent quality for the price.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/su...d=10231&style=

Prepper

This is not an exchange/swap/sales forum. -X

oldone

I agree with all dick_grayson and jas722 on monoprice.com. Just bought a 3ft DVI-HDMI 24AWG with a net jacket for under $18 from them two weeks ago. If you need a longer cord and don't mind a lower guage wiring they have a HDMI DVI 28AWG 6ft for $6.44 and shipping is $3.85 (which should be $4.05 as the USPS Priority rate went up the other week).

Spiky

You should stay away from the 28AWG unless you are using a short cable. 3' ought to be ok, I probably wouldn't go above 12'. Actually, I personally would just always get the 24AWG, the small price difference at monoprice is worth it.

digitalfreaknyc

I just need a 12 foot cable.

RavenTwo

Thanks to the responders of this post I needed an HDMI to DVI cable and got it fairly cheap at monoprice. 24 AWG, 6ft for about $23 delivered. Thnaks again.

bdshort

I dont know if it's been mentioned already, but I would go with monoprice.

Seriously, that's where I bought my DVI-HDMI cable I used to hook my PC to my HDTV.

Brian

Sdallnct

Those are some cheap prices! I'm thinking about running a S-video to my PJ (the only thing I didn't run when I installed). A 25ft one is only $5.15!

Mr. Cinema

Anyone used just a HDMI cable from monoprice.com? I bought a HDMI from Best Buy for $50. But if these are good quality, I'll get one there instead. MUCH cheaper.

Also, has anyone ever encountered a popping sound using HDMI? Last week, I got a Sony upconvert dvd player and tested it out with the HDMI. Every time I started a movie, it made a pop sound. I took it back because I didn't detect any picture quality difference, but I'm not sure if it was the player or the HDMI cable that caused the sound noise.

Spiky

I have a 25' 24AWG HDMI cable from monoprice. Works great, no sparklies. $34 + shipping. Don't use audio through it.

Mr. Cinema

The HDMI I got from Best Buy is made by Acoustic Research. It was either this brand or paying $125 for Monster.

Is this brand any good?

Also, if I just use component, is my HDTV converting it to 480p? The Sony I have uses a 1080i display. HDMI provides 1080i, correct?

BSTNFAN

Acoustic Research is OK, but still overpriced, just not as much as Monster. The HDMI cable will output whatever is put into it including 480i/p, 720p and 1080i, but so will component cables. Most upconverting DVD players will not put 720p/1080i over component, but that is for copyright purposes. HD cable boxes will put 720p/1080i over component just fine.

Spiky

Just watch for sparklies, tiny dots of white in the picture that don't belong. This is the artifact that poor HDMI cables cause. If you don't have sparklies, you should be just fine. If you have a 6' cable, probably any undamaged HDMI cable will work. Once you need a longer one you need to be a bit more careful with the shopping.

Mr. Cinema

I'm back and forth on this issue.

Will HDMI provide a better 1080i display than Component? I'm just wondering if it's worth the extra $7 a month to have the DVR with HDMI compared to saving that money and just using the regular HD box with Component. I'm not even getting the DVR to record shows, it's just that is the only box Time Warner has with the HDMI connection.

I'm thinking I don't need that because I didn't notice a difference with the HDMI I was using with the Sony upconverting player I tried out a couple of weeks ago. But that wasn't producing a true 1080i signal like the cable broadcasts will provide. Plus, returning that $50 HDMI cable would allow me to get another 360 game instead.

Spiky

No, not worth the difference for HDMI since there probably won't be one. But it would be for the DVR, IMO.

Mr. Cinema

I may now get the DVR and HDMI just to try it out. I would only need a 6' cable. What is wrong with using the hdmi for audio as well?

Also, were you saying the DVR would benefit from HDMI, moreso than component?

DJ_Longfellow

Thanks for the monoprice.com site. I just ordered TWO optical cables for $10 (I got 12' just in case)

Mr. Cinema

I ordered the 6' 24AWG HDMI last night and it shipped this morning already.

What's the best optical to get? I have a monster coaxial that I'm going to use with my DVR. It was hooked up to my dvd player, but I'm gonna use the optical for that.

how about this: Toslink to Toslink M/M OD:5.0mm, Assembly Type, Metallic Body - 6ft

only $5.25

I just need 6'. I'm guessing the shorter the cable you need, the better?

Spiky

The nice thing about most cable companies is that you aren't signing anything long term. Try it for a month, send it back with no penalty most likely.

I was saying the HDMI probably won't be much of an improvement compared to component. But the DVR would be a definite improvement over no DVR.

Spiky

Optical is optical. If it works, you are good. If it doesn't work, it must have severe physical damage. Monoprice should be good, or Parts Express.

Mr. Cinema

Thanks. The cable guy is coming Saturday with the DVR.

DJ_Longfellow

I realized I needed a few more cables....dang. I just placed my second order with Monoprice. I did not have a DVI-I cable (I had the other kind). Oh well. I got 12' cables basically since 6' ma have been cutting it close

Mr. Cinema

I have gone back and forth about DVR. I was all set to have this hooked up tomorrow. However, I googled the brand I was getting, a "Scientific Atlantic 8300". Every place that mentioned this box basically said it was a complete piece of garbage. Stating it was very buggy, etc. People also had big problems with the HDMI connection in that unit.

That's enough for me to cancel my delivery tomorrow. I'll just wait until they get a better box. I have a regular HD box from Pioneer, who is a brand I trust. Why don't they use a name brand DVR like they do their other boxes? Before getting this HD box, I had a regular digital box and it was also Pioneer.