Are you in need of some HDMI Digital Video cables? Here’s how NOT to get ripped off.
It is a hobby of mine to walk into Best Buy and pretend I have no idea what I am talking about, just to see what kind of BS some sales associate conjures up. One scenario that never ceases to amaze me is the HDMI cord sales pitch. That lovely cord that keeps our HD world happy and sharp, has been at the mercy of fancy marketing and preying on the ignorant since its introduction at big box stores everywhere.
Essentially, it begins with a sales associate offering to explain the benefits of a $60 cable vs. a $12 cable. He proceeds to tell me that the $60 cord has better performance and faster speeds. And most of it sounds good, the 24k gold plating, the composition of the wiring, and so on and so forth… This kind of rhetoric can be quite convincing. It all sounds logical. Buzz words like “24k gold” naturally carry that “wow factor.”
Despite the fancy language all HDMI cords are created equal.
Without going into the gritty details (but you can find them HERE via CNET) HDMI cords all send the same digital transmission called Transition Minimized Differential Signaling, or TMDS. That’s essentially a fancy way of saying 1′s and 0′s alternating. When those packaged 1′s and 0′s make it to the other end, that’s that. There is no in-between, HDMI cords either work, or they don’t. That’s why when a company promises faster speeds or better performance, it’s BS.
So the next time you find yourself needing to buy a HDMI cord, we suggest you save yourself the trouble and simply shop online. Monoprice.com and Newegg.com are great places to find cheap cables that will deliver you great picture quality at the reasonable price it should be.
P.S. Now you can laugh with me when you see something like THIS.
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