Just bought a 52" XBR9 :-) What cables to use?

Ok, I don't buy into the whole Monster 1000000SuperHD $1500 cable BS. However, I've been reading about the different HDMI cable specs that are out on hdmi.org and I think there may be some level of HDMI cable out there that may be too poorly designed for this TV.

So, I think I need at least a HDMI 1.3 rated cable to mate with this awesome TV... but I was hoping someone smarter than me could verify that. And also suggest the cheapest 15 foot cable that they're aware of. Even a cost effective brand. I've used Acoustic Research before, and I've used Monster. But Monster is just WAY overpriced and overdesigned...

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Go to www.monoprice.com and check out the $6.00 HDMI cables there. I own a few of them and they are excellent cables. I buy them 3 at a time so the shipping cost is spread over the cost of 3 cables instead of one. If you are new to HD I would probably buy 4 at once and eventually you will need them.

The best cables you can get without paying too much are at Monoprice.com! Make sure you get the HDMI 1.3a Category 2 Certified, there just as good as Monster Cable!

http://www.monoprice.com/home/

Go to www.monoprice.com and check out the $6.00 HDMI cables there. I own a few of them and they are excellent cables. I buy them 3 at a time so the shipping cost is spread over the cost of 3 cables instead of one. If you are new to HD I would probably buy 4 at once and eventually you will need them.

You beat me by one minute! :p

If you are new to HD I would probably buy 4 at once and eventually you will need them.

It never hurts to have extras around.

You beat me by one minute! :p

But you added the type of HDMI cable to look for so it is all good. Gotta love teamwork. :thumbsup:

Wow! Awesome! I can't believe I have never been to that site before!

Just to confirm, is this (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024004&p_id=4036&seq=1&format=2)the cable you're talking about? I need 15ft...

Thanks!

PS - this thing (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=105&cp_id=10425&cs_id=1042505&p_id=4006&seq=1&format=2)is the f'n coolest. Too bad it's mucho buckos

Go to monoprice and check out the $6.00 HDMI cables there. I own a few of them and they are excellent cables. I buy them 3 at a time so the shipping cost is spread over the cost of 3 cables instead of one. If you are new to HD I would probably buy 4 at once and eventually you will need them.

Thanks for the info. I'm in the process of buying the Sony XBR9 from BB and they did the same with pushing the Monster 1000xx as the choice HDMI cable to have. I went to monoprice and they have the 1.3 HDMI (6 ft) on sell ($1.92). I bought 3 and with shipping I'm paying less than $12.00. :busy::yippee::banana: You are the man.

Thanks for the info. I'm in the process of buying the Sony XBR9 from BB and they did the same with pushing the Monster 1000xx as the choice HDMI cable to have. I went to monoprice and they have the 1.3 HDMI (6 ft) on sell ($1.92). I bought 3 and with shipping I'm paying less than $12.00. :busy::yippee::banana: You are the man.

Can you post a link to the cable you selected? There were SOOO many on that site that I want to make sure I'm picking the right one.

Thanks!

Can you post a link to the cable you selected? There were SOOO many on that site that I want to make sure I'm picking the right one.

Thanks!

Basically ouside the lengths, they are pretty much the same. You will see things like 1.3b certified, 24awg, CL2 rated and net jacket.

The Awg rating is the thickness of the cable. The thicker, usually means more shielding. less resistance and stuff like that for longer runs. The lower the number the thicker the cable. 28awg is the thinest the sell I think. This is fine for shorter run HDMI cable of 12 ft. or less. They also will be the most flexable, that will matter more for short cables of 3-5 ft. Many of the thinner 28awg cables may have ferrite beads on each end to assist in shileding.

CL2 rated is simply rated for in wall installation. If you plan to run them in the wall or under the floor/carpet, you should look for that.

1.3b is the version the cable was tested/certified for including all prequals like 1.3a 1.2 ect.. It doesn't mean much really and does not mean a 1.3a is outdated or won't work. Nothing going on yet for 1.3b anyway and won't for a while. You would also need a TV, AV receiver BD player or whatever to be 1.3b as well to take advantage. Basically they wil support the higher bandwidth whenever that will be required down the road.

Some come with a Net jacket covering. This is just a nylon jinda mesh coving the cable. It is just for a bit better protection and looks. No performance value at all, just cosmedic.

Wow! Awesome! I can't believe I have never been to that site before!

Just to confirm, is this (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024004&p_id=4036&seq=1&format=2)the cable you're talking about? I need 15ft...

Thanks!

This is the the cable you want that you linked above.

Thanks for the info. I'm in the process of buying the Sony XBR9 from BB and they did the same with pushing the Monster 1000xx as the choice HDMI cable to have. I went to monoprice and they have the 1.3 HDMI (6 ft) on sell ($1.92). I bought 3 and with shipping I'm paying less than $12.00. :busy::yippee::banana: You are the man.

It doesn't surprise me one bit that they tried to sell you those over priced Monster 1000 series HDMI cables. The typical method Best Buy salesman use to get you to buy those ultra expensive Monster Cables go's something like this, "if you are going to spend $3000.00 dollars on an HDTV why not spend $100-$200 dollars for a good quality HDMI cable." That seems to be the most typical excuse to reel you in for the sale, criminals!

Wow! Awesome! I can't believe I have never been to that site before!

Just to confirm, is this (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024004&p_id=4036&seq=1&format=2)the cable you're talking about? I need 15ft...

Thanks!

What ever length you need, buy it a few feet longer. It's easier to hide extra cable than to move your components closer.

It doesn't surprise me one bit that they tried to sell you those over priced Monster 1000 series HDMI cables. The typical method Best Buy salesman use to get you to buy those ultra expensive Monster Cables go's something like this, "if you are going to spend $3000.00 dollars on an HDTV why not spend $100-$200 dollars for a good quality HDMI cable." That seems to be the most typical excuse to reel you in for the sale, criminals!

Say "Techlord" I see in your profile you have the Sammy LN52B750, I was just in BB today and it is priced at $1799. This price has change the purchase plan for the Sony 52XBR9 (2199.00) But you also have a caption about you "should have bought the Panasonic Plasma" Are you not happy with the Sammy? Just wonder, because I think both the Sony & Sammy have nice spec.. Just wonder your views about your purchase. And yes, I heard the pitch for the Monster 1000 again today. You are right on the money with their spill. :eek:

The BB guy also walked me over to the MONSTER BRAND power conditioners and said something about protecting your investment. What a bunch of bullshit !!

Say "Techlord" I see in your profile you have the Sammy LN52B750, I was just in BB today and it is priced at $1799. This price has change the purchase plan for the Sony 52XBR9 (2199.00) But you also have a caption about you "should have bought the Panasonic Plasma" Are you not happy with the Sammy? Just wonder, because I think both the Sony & Sammy have nice spec.. Just wonder your views about your purchase. And yes, I heard the pitch for the Monster 1000 again today. You are right on the money with their spill. :eek:

I will go on record saying that the Samsung B750 Series LCD is the hottest looking conventional LCD display I have seen and in my opinion gives a more accurate picture quality than Sammy's LED TVs! With that said plasmas really do outperform LED or LCD in low lit environments and my room is made for plasma since it doesn't have much light at all.

After seeing a Panny V10 in proper lighting and calibrated it just dropped my jaw line! LCDs do look better in the ultra bright showrooms which is why they sell, but when in home lighting that's moderately to lightly lit plasma takes the crown away from LCD! The blacks are inky black, my LCD doesn't come close in black levels watching Stargate Universe.

When I'm looking at all the stars in SGU the light generated by the stars bleeds through my LCD screen and lights up that area of the picture, plasmas stay inky black across the screen when viewing the stars, no bleed through between the stars just blackness like it should be. I feel like I did purchased the best LCD display available and still very much enjoy it, I just feel I could have made a better decision choosing the Panny V10.

I just wish I had found this forum before my purchase as I didn't give any thought to possibly buying a plasma. Maybe other members can learn from my mistake, perhaps that's why I'm still here many months after my purchase. :D

I just wish I had found this forum before my purchase as I didn't give any thought to possibly buying a plasma. Maybe other members can learn from my mistake, perhaps that's why I'm still here many months after my purchase. :D

Thanks "Techlord" for your honesty. I did consider a plasma (Sammy PN50860) and (Panny 50G10) and did look at the V10 too. After reading this forum about plasma breakin period & other requirements for them to shine, I just decide to go with what I know. I have a two year old Sammy 4665F (60 hz) and wanted 120 - 240 hz model. I think I will take a second look tonight at the plasmas. Thanks again. :eyecrazy

Thanks "Techlord" for your honesty. I did consider a plasma (Sammy PN50860) and (Panny 50G10) and did look at the V10 too. After reading this forum about plasma breakin period & other requirements for them to shine, I just decide to go with what I know. I have a two year old Sammy 4665F (60 hz) and wanted 120 - 240 hz model. I think I will take a second look tonight at the plasmas. Thanks again. :eyecrazy

You are welcome Twill! :D

I will go on record saying that the Samsung B750 Series LCD is the hottest looking conventional LCD display I have seen and in my opinion gives a more accurate picture quality than Sammy's LED TVs! With that said plasmas really do outperform LED or LCD in low lit environments and my room is made for plasma since it doesn't have much light at all.

After seeing a Panny V10 in proper lighting and calibrated it just dropped my jaw line! LCDs do look better in the ultra bright showrooms which is why they sell, but when in home lighting that's moderately to lightly lit plasma takes the crown away from LCD! The blacks are inky black, my LCD doesn't come close in black levels watching Stargate Universe.

When I'm looking at all the stars in SGU the light generated by the stars bleeds through my LCD screen and lights up that area of the picture, plasmas stay inky black across the screen when viewing the stars, no bleed through between the stars just blackness like it should be. I feel like I did purchased the best LCD display available and still very much enjoy it, I just feel I could have made a better decision choosing the Panny V10.

I just wish I had found this forum before my purchase as I didn't give any thought to possibly buying a plasma. Maybe other members can learn from my mistake, perhaps that's why I'm still here many months after my purchase. :D

I bought 2 LCDs before I bought my plasma. I feel the same way only from first hand experience in my home do I know this even more now.

And we are all glad you have stuck around. You are an excellent contributor here. :bowdown: :hithere:

Thanks "Techlord" for your honesty. I did consider a plasma (Sammy PN50860) and (Panny 50G10) and did look at the V10 too. After reading this forum about plasma breakin period & other requirements for them to shine, I just decide to go with what I know. I have a two year old Sammy 4665F (60 hz) and wanted 120 - 240 hz model. I think I will take a second look tonight at the plasmas. Thanks again. :eyecrazy

The break in is not really hard or a pain to do. I think you are making too much of it IMO, as you simply have to keep contrast at 50% for the first 100-200 hours and avoid too much black bar material during that time. It really isn't so hard because if you set the screen format to JUST mode while on a SD channel and then change it to FULL screen mode on a HD channel the display will remember the screen format for each type of material. ;)

I bought 2 LCDs before I bought my plasma. I feel the same way only from first hand experience in my home do I know this even more now.

And we are all glad you have stuck around. You are an excellent contributor here. :bowdown: :hithere:

Thank you for those kind words PFC5, I've always enjoyed helping people in any way I could! :D

I am the same way about helping people. That is why I spend so much time here too. ;)

The break in is not really hard or a pain to do. ;)

Thanks PFC5 :) I did relook at the Panny V10 last night and I was very impressed. Still leaning toward the Sammy 52B750 :o. But, Saturday I'm going to bring in two of my fav BD to have BestB hopefully do a showdown between them and leave the store with a winner. (BB is less than 10 min from the house). I will have a new HDTV come Sunday. Thanks TECHLORD & PFC5 for your input.

Thanks PFC5 :) I did relook at the Panny V10 last night and I was very impressed. Still leaning toward the Sammy 52B750 :o. But, Saturday I'm going to bring in two of my fav BD to have BestB hopefully do a showdown between them and leave the store with a winner. (BB is less than 10 min from the house). I will have a new HDTV come Sunday. Thanks TECHLORD & PFC5 for your input.

Either one you choose in my opinion you are going to be getting the best of either technology! If you get the Samsung LCD I can give you suggestions for the setting if you like, I've had many hours experimenting with this display.

Either one you choose in my opinion you are going to be getting the best of either technology! If you get the Samsung LCD I can give you suggestions for the setting if you like, I've had many hours experimenting with this display.

But knowing what you know now with using the 52B750 in your home with home lighting you would have chosen the V10 right?

Hopefully the OP understands what you now know that the in store comparisons in the ultra bright stores will not show some of the flaws even your excellent LCD model has in dimmer lighting which includes poorer black levels (especially with space scenes, shadows, etc, and the viewing angle is much worse at home than what you can se in the store with that ultra bright lighting.

I know when I was looking for my bedroom display I already saw the flaws with these things on the 32" LCD we had and when I bought the 47" LCD I have now in there I looked hard but I didn't see these issues much in the ultra bright stores but see it at home. That is why I went plasma for my latest display in the main HT room.

my friend got some rosewill ones from newegg that are 1.3 for $17.98 after shipping.