How to Choose the Best Cables to Get the Most from my Plasma?

[Mattones]

Hey everyone, I have a Prima 42 Widescreen HDTV and a cogeco cable box. When I bought my Plasma the guy offered me some wires for the TV, I figured he wanted me to buy more so I didn't bother. Then tonight I was reading up on Plasma's and I came across that you should get special cables so you could get A better picture on it.

Any idea's on what i may want to buy??

Thanks.

[yakkers]

monoprice.com

not the best, but you cant notice the difference and cables are more than 1000% cheaper

[Oversized Rooster]

monoprice.com

not the best, but you cant notice the difference and cables are more than 1000% cheaper

Fully agree.

[Mattones]

Like what kind of cables would I need?

[CH40Z_008]

HDMI cable ;)

[Spare-Flair]

Sigh, the whole thing with cables is a scam.

HDMI is digital. DIGITAL. By definition of being a digital signal, cable quality doesn't matter whatsoever. The integrity of the signal has nothing to do with the quality of the cable. It either goes through or it doesn't.

[cwb27]

Don't get sucked into "shielded" TOS Link cables ether. They're fibre optic, no matter how much EMI you throw at it, it won't be effected.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure at one time Monster had shielded TOS link cables, what a joke!

[Desolatax]

Sigh, the whole thing with cables is a scam.

HDMI is digital. DIGITAL. By definition of being a digital signal, cable quality doesn't matter whatsoever. The integrity of the signal has nothing to do with the quality of the cable. It either goes through or it doesn't.

With really cheap cables, you can get crosstalk and lots of interference which can cause bits to flip, sometimes causing a "snow." Also depends on the distance and the environment. Data is very sensitive. Ask any cable installer about how important minimizing cross talk is for data runs.

Monoprice is a good place to get cables for cheap that are good too.
Don't get sucked into "shielded" TOS Link cables ether. They're fibre optic, no matter how much EMI you throw at it, it won't be effected.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure at one time Monster had shielded TOS link cables, what a joke!

I think that you have to have some form of shielding, to shield against light leakage and such, not sure on that one though.

[ynotme]

If you have HD source (eg. cable, satellite, pc via dvi), then get HDMI
If not, component cable should be sufficient

[bembol]

MonsterCable is overpriced but the Quality is there. I've tried it and do see the improvements (especially on Analogs) but it's definitely not in my budget to spend $200+


Matones,

Don't just rely on the Cable (HDMI, Component). You need to Calibrate you HDTV as well.

[tommyamaral]

Got to agree monoprice is my choice,never had a problem and fast shipping.

[brunes]

Once again monoprice.com

If you are like 99.99% of HDTV owners and just running a HDMI/DVI cable from your receiver to the television directly above / beside it (3 foot cable), gauge of the cable is totally irrelevant as the run is not long enough to get any kind of cross-talk interference.

Just get the cheapest HDMI cable from Monoprice.com with ferrite cores. I think they had one for $3.00 plus shipping the other week.

If you need a 6 foot or longer cable you might should step up to the next AWG just to be safe. But regardless get it from Nonoprice.

[cwb27]

I think that you have to have some form of shielding, to shield against light leakage and such, not sure on that one though.

All you need is a proper protective coating that is completely opaque , ANY type of foil or braided metal covering is totally useless, UNLESS it's being used to enhance the cable's robustness.

[Desolatax]

All you need is a proper protective coating that is completely opaque , ANY type of foil or braided metal covering is totally useless, UNLESS it's being used to enhance the cable's robustness.
The only place I could see a shield actually being used would be either a hybrid cable (because there would also be copper) or for an exterior appliance, such as running the cable under ground or along a house/building, but that would be purely to increase the strength and amount of tension it can take. But in any residential appliance running it from 3-10ft, you don't need any shielding.

[curls00]

Monoprice.com for the win!

Bought 2 HDMI 6' cables and a 6' Component cable and a 6' digital audio coax cable. Total, shipped, was under $20 CAD. And, the quality is awesome!!

Monster are the masters of marketing. Monoprice.com are the masters of bringing you high quality for inexpensive prices.

[tescosamoa]

monoprice is good.

If you need something quick. Princessauto. They have hdmi for 20 to 30 dollars.

[Happy13178]

Monster cables are decent quality, horribly overpriced. If you can find a good price for them on ebay or something, go nuts. Otherwise, Monoprice will give you some decent cables for your cash.

[Riflem@n]

How monster cable is still in business beats me...

[Mattones]

Alright so what cable would I need to hook up to my Plasma? Would it hook up to my dvd player or my Digital cable box?