Cheap HDMI cables

HDMI cables are usually a rip-off, with a 1 metre cable costing anything from $60 up. And well into the hundreds if you get sucked into buying some of the more exotic versions. Just because the customer may have spent thousands on their TV and AV equipment, the cable manufacturers are blatantly profiteering on the price of the cables.

Now, I have a degree in electronic engineering, and I can't stand seeing people getting ripped off because they don't know the technical details of how something works. After a bit of research into HDMI cables, I reckon the bottom line is this - for shorter HDMI cable length (under about 5 metres) you gain NOTHING by using an expensive HDMI cable. Not even a little bit! It is a DIGITAL interface, so even the cheapest cable, as long as it works, works at 100% quality. The most expensive and exotic cable in the world cannot possibly give the slightest improvement. I know there are people who would debate this, but I won't get into that debate as it has been done enough times before. Evereyone makes their own choice.

(For longer cable runs, the cable quality becomes more important, so you do want to make sure you are getting a good one, or buy from somewhere that allows returns if you try a cheaper one).

But for the normal 2 metre or so connection that most people use, GO CHEAP. You are not risking much, and have $$$ to gain. As well as sending the ripoff merchants a message.

Which brings me to my point. I just ordered TWO six foot HDMI to HDMI cables from svideo.com in the US. International postage was free, and the total cost was $22 US dollars. An internet search also told me that entering the promotion code "svideo" into the appropriate box gives an extra 10% off. It worked, so it only cost me $19.80 US. That's about $26 Australian, or $13 per 2 metre cable! That's about what they SHOULD cost, not $100. I haven't received them yet as I just ordered them yesterday, but I have read nothing but good reviews of svideo.com and their HDMI cables. I'll try to remember to post a followup when I get them.

This is my first post here. I joined up just to tell people this as I feel strongly about it. The cable scumbags should not allowed to keep ripping people off. When you get your cheap cables and they work perfectly, tell people, including the sales staff that try to peddle ripoff cables.