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HDMI confusion: Monoprice vs. Blue Jeans

So I read the Audioholics 50 cable HDMI shootout, and became convinced that HDMI either passes or fails. That is, it either successfully transmits 1080P data (for example) or it does not.

I happened to have a 6 foot Monoprice HDMI cable and a 6 foot Blue Jeams HDMI as well. For the heck of it, I ran both cables from my cable box (1080i), DVD player (480i), and XBox (1080p) just for the sake of comparison.

The thing is, the Blue Jeans cable definitely had bolder colors, and the Monoprice definitely was a bit more muted but slightly more detailed in presenting images. Another possibility, of course, is that I am clinically insane.

So does this mean that there actually *are* differences among HDMI cables, just as there would be among component video cables (I tried several of those before settling on Tara Labs RSC)? Or am I simply a crazy person who saw non-existent differences and the signal passed (as opposed to failed) on both cables and looked identical, and my eyes simply deceived me.

Any assistance on this issue would be greatly appreciated, especially as concerns other HDMI cables you've tried and loved vis-a-vis others (if indeed such distinctions exist in HDMI cables).

Thanks!
thedautch
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
I found monoprice to be much better than stock cable. I bough the Wireworld Silver [used] it is visably better as is the Van den Hul I got for my wife's TV. But not in the proportion of cost to performance. Anybody who is still using stock needs to go to the monoprice or other good cable. The more expensive ones CAN be better but the law of diminishing returns sets in.
m297904
93 posts
 
If you choose Monoprice, be sure to choose the Professional or Premium version. The most significant difference is the gauge of the wire used - 22 or 24 vs 26 or 28ga.
For short lengths, the gauge may not be a factor for signal loss but the chances of getting a quality soldered internal connection is much higher with the heavier gauge.

I've opened up enough cables to know that a quality soldered connection is NOT a given - even for high-priced boutique cables.
The quality of the connection has a HUGE influence on the quality of the signal. More so than the wire itself especially for short runs.
Durability of the cable itself is another factor to consider - 28ga is not a good choice for something that may be flexed a lot.
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
Technically if each cable meets the 1.3 standard there should be no difference. Most cables, Monoprice and all others are sold on the basis they meet the standard. Having said that, each cable may not be meeting the standard due to manufacturing defect differences from cable to cable. So, a cable that does not meet the standard will always do poorly when compared to one that does. Once you prove the actual cables you have meet standard's, nothing short of a double blind test would be the way to prove which is 'superior'.
hifisoundguy
630 posts
 
The better the TV is the more your see the differences in these really good and much higher priced HDMI cables. We have one of the best TVs that has ever come on the market..The Pioneer krp-500m Plasma and they were the last TVs that Pioneer made and are even better than the Pioneer Elite models! If you don't have a really good TV then NO, your not going to see a big difference in the picture with these much higher priced and better made HDMI cables....
nasaman's avatar
nasaman
459 posts
 
TheDautch, for a fair comparasion, suggested to test all the Hdmi's from the same source.
Anyways, I assum you have read my rating from other thread: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?fcabl&1247882008&openfrom&1&4#1

- Nordost Silver Screen: 8 (very bright, clean and details. Low noise). Highly recommend for High-end users.

- AQ hdmi-3:............ 8 (very deep, beautiful, and accurate colors. Great details & very low noise). Highly recommend for hi-end users.

- AQ hdmi-1:............ 7.5 (colorful, details, and low noise) Recommend for Hi-end users.

- Supra Cable v1.3:..... 7 (bright, clean, & details. Low noise & decent price). Good for Hi-end users.

- BlueJeanCable:........ 5 (decent colors, somewhat noisy & lack of sharpness. Great price.) Decent for Hi-end users.

- Monster-1000:......... 4.5 (its video quality is, somewhat, equally to BJC)I wouldn't buy it.

- MonoPrice:............ 2 (very dark, nasty, & inaccurate colors. Lots of video noise; it's a VCR's picture quality) Not recommend for Hi-end users.
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