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| Registered: March 13, 2007 |  Posts: 103 |
| | Posted: | | | | I remember awhile back someone posted a good site to buy HDMI cables. I searched the forum and I could not find it. So if someone could post the site I would appreciate it.
Another question. What are your thoughts on banana plugs? Are they worth it... do they actually improve sound quality? I am going to redo my all my speaker wiring so I was debating on those plugs. Also what gauge speaker wire should I use. I was thinking of 16 gauge. If i want to run my wire inside my walls do I need to use "special" speaker wire?
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| Registered: March 13, 2007 | Reputation:  | | Posts: 1,911 |
| | Posted: | | | | | | | | Signature banned: Reason out of date... |
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| Registered: March 13, 2007 | Reputation:  | | Posts: 3,321 |
| | Posted: | | | | I've been happy with Monoprice. They have a very good reputation. I also know Blue Jeans Cable is very popular, but I've never used them. | | | Get the CSVExport and Database Query plug-ins here.
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| Registered: March 24, 2007 |  Posts: 240 |
| | Posted: | | | | For in wall cables, yes you need special fire rated cable. You can buy it at Monoprice. It's not very flexible so you should use normal cable outside of the wall.
I don't think Banana plugs sound better, they are just easier to plug / unplug then binding posts. | | | | Tom. |
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| Registered: March 21, 2007 | | Posts: 171 |
| | Posted: | | | | Banana plugs don't improve sound. But they do make things easier once used. Monoprice, as others have said is the way to go. I have had nothing but good experiences with them. Whatever occurs, don't believe the hype that companies such as Best Buy spew. The only thing these big box stores want, is for the consumer to spend more, and more. They are not interested in aiding the consumer with good advice, or they wouldn't promote Monster cables to the exclusion of much, much less costly alternatives. Down with Monster cables.  | | | | Graham |
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 | Dan W | | Registered: May 9, 2002 |
| Registered: March 13, 2007 | | Posts: 980 |
| | Posted: | | | | I have never "heard" a better connection than bare wire. The thing that is important is to make sure you have as much "solid" contact as possible because electrons travel mainly along the surface of the conductor; not the interior of the wire/connector.
There are advantages and disadvantages of each type of connector but, in the end, they all work the same way. The biggest factor is that not all equipment will allow all of the various connector types. Check your amplifiers and speakers to decide which yours are set up for.
I prefer bare wire (my gear is set up for this) but if you decide to go this route, make sure you twist all of the strands tightly so as to disallow any stray strands which may cause a short circuit. A short could damage your gear. This is why so many prefer using connectors. Any connector, properly installed, solves this "stray strand" problem.
If a particular connector offers a better and tighter connection with your gear then use it. As I said, a tight, clean connection is what is important. A loose connection will cause heat and distortion. "Tight" is tantamount.
So, the best answer is; the connector that offers the best and tightest connection with your gear is the one you should use.
P.S. Monoprice HDMI cables are fine and cost far less than the competition. The "Monster" spiel is BS. I prefer to get the ones with the silver coating but you may have to wait for them because they sell quickly. | | | | Dan | | | | Last edited: by Dan W |
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| Registered: March 24, 2007 | | Posts: 240 |
| | Posted: | | | | Quoting Dan W: Quote:
I have never "heard" a better connection than bare wire. The thing that is important is to make sure you have as much "solid" contact as possible because electrons travel mainly along the surface of the conductor; not the interior of the wire/connector. Skin effect is only significant at very high frequency (despite what it says on the back of Monster Cable packaging) and has next to zero effect at audo frequency. The only thing I would avoid are the spring clip connectors, if you are running wire in the wall use binding post or banana plug connections. | | | | Tom. |
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| Registered: March 13, 2007 | | Posts: 103 |
| | Posted: | | | | Thanks for all the great input. I checked out Monoprice.com and they have some great products at even greater prices. I knew big box stores screwed you on cables and connectors but after seeing monoprice.com they are more than just screwing you and they're not even using lube while doing it.  |
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| Registered: March 13, 2007 | | Reputation: | | Posts: 5,491 |
| | Posted: | | | | Whats the Deal with HDMI wire and their Over-inflated retail prices ?? I can walk thru a retail electronics store and see besides Monster Wire ( which is heavily over priced) .., Even mediocre 'no name' companies have their HDMI cables at 6 ft for $30 to 60 bucks EACH !! .. I bought two on eBay thu a reputable commercial dealer on eBay and got two 6 footers 'gold ' tipped for $13.00 !! plus $7.00 shipped...  .. Not only do I get a great picture and sound,, but when I flip thru the cable channels the image on the screen does not go from 'normal to full' within a fraction of a second (of which I have seen with some DVI wire,) on the same type of TV and cable service.. but my anamorphic image is rock steady and doesn't fail or pixelate or freeze.. It is a constant image...  I'd hate to imagine would I would get with a set of $80 wires ?? ... Can't imagine anything different.  | | | In the 60's, People took Acid to make the world Weird. Now the World is weird and People take Prozac to make it Normal.
Terry | | | | Last edited: by widescreenforever |
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| Registered: March 24, 2007 | | Posts: 240 |
| | Posted: | | | | The big box stores often make more on the cables then they make on the item you went in to buy. They might make $5-10 on an HP inkjet printer but that $18-$25 printer cable cost them $4. I've seen Future Shop try and sell people a Monster Cable set with a $69 DVD player...
A 6' cat5 cable at Best buy in a bubble pack that requires power tools to open for $17.95 or a cat5e cable in a plastic bag for $5 at the local clone shop... gee hard choice. | | | | Tom. |
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| Registered: March 13, 2007 | | Reputation: | | Posts: 3,321 |
| | Posted: | | | | The other area where the stores rake in HUGE profit is extended warrantees. Lots of people buy them, but very few ever use them. Except for my TV, I always skip the extended warrantees. With all the thousands I've saved over the years, I can easily replace a broken item here and there. | | | Get the CSVExport and Database Query plug-ins here.
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