HDMI and optical audio cable questions

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Does quality of HDMI cables make a difference in HD picture quality?
Is picture quality worse if you have to use long HDMI cables (30+ feet).
What's the difference in 1.3a, 1.4, awg, high speed, etc.?
http://www.pchcables.com/hdmatohdmamc.html?page=0&sf=&sd=a#sortblock

Is it neccesary to buy the expensive opticial/digital audio cables (monster for example)? Or am I fine with:
http://www.pchcables.com/optotoopto.html
Is it OK to use 30+ foot long audio cables? Dumb question, but will there be any delay in sound?

I'm asking because I'm mounting my TV above my fireplace and am trying to figure out where to put all the components. I'm considering putting them on the opposite wall of our living room so they are hidden better... but to do that I'd have to use long cables.

THANKS!

 

[bodyman5001]

www.avsforum.com

I have read different things about this, but do recall hearing that long runs are better served by nicer cables. I have never had any problems with cheaper cables under six feet but I don't know much about them.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

No. Monster cables are a scam.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38731070/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

http://www.amazon.com/Link-Depot-HD...5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1292803089&sr=1-5 pretty decent reviews. I use the Amazon HDMI ones. $6.99 versus $40 at Best Buy? Are you fucking kidding me?

 

[eyeDK]

This should give you the info you need http://hometheater.about.com/od/hometheatervideobasics/qt/hdmifacts.htm. The basic idea is that HDMI 1.4 supports 3D. You should not notice a picture difference between HDMI 1.3 and 1.4. If your TV and reciever support 3D go HDMI 1.4 other wise it does not matter. I believe amazon.com sells an HDMI 1.4 cable for 8 dollars.

 

[Colonel Ronan]

*Waits patiently for Bob (Kid Cudi's brother)*

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Thanks guys!
Bob Dobalina... where are ya?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

So if I get a 1.5 HDMI cable my TV will be 4D?

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Another question.
If I mount the TV above my fireplace, the bottom of the TV will be about 4.5' - 5.5' feet from the floor. Is that too high? It would only be 5.5' if we choose build a bigger (hollow) mantle to hide our components in.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Another question.
If I mount the TV above my fireplace, the bottom of the TV will be about 4.5' - 5.5' feet from the floor. Is that too high? It would only be 5.5' if we choose build a bigger (hollow) mantle to hide our components in.

Do you still use your fireplace for fires?

 

[illmatic99]

Another question.
If I mount the TV above my fireplace, the bottom of the TV will be about 4.5' - 5.5' feet from the floor. Is that too high? It would only be 5.5' if we choose build a bigger (hollow) mantle to hide our components in.

Depends on how big your TV is and how far you sit from it while watching.

 

[BlazersBlood]

Digital cables are either on or off. If you get a picture, it's as good as it's gonna get.

Monoprice is the best place to get cables: http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Yes, we use the fireplace, but not very often. It's a gas fireplace that doesnt put off much heat and the fan blows the heat away from the mantle so the TV etc. wont get hot. Our couch will be about 15 feet away from the 60'' TV.

 

[illmatic99]

Then basic trig says you'll be looking up at an angle between 10-20 degrees (depending on how high your eye level is while sitting). I don't really know what the optimal angle is, but craning your neck at 20 degrees doesn't sound too comfortable. Might not be too bad with your big TV, though.

Just take the tan inverse of the ratio of [(5.5 - your eye level height) divided by 15] to get the angle of elevation.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

My wife and I decided to make 2 large planter boxes to put on each side of the fireplace and we'll hide the components in those. So the TV will be about 4.5' from the floor and our couch is 13 feet from the TV.

 

[Bob Dobalina]

I do not subscriber to the quality cable theory. It *may* have made some difference with analog signals, but not with digital. I pretty much get all of my cables (and some other stuff) from monoprice.com. Great site, great service, fast shipping, and awesome prices.

I just learned a lesson with a long run (45 foot). I found out that my new *expensive* receiver didn’t like my 45 foot cables, which had worked without issue previously with my (monoprice) hdmi switcher/splitter. I ended up using a six foot out from the receiver to the splitter, then 45 feet from that to my tv and projector. So I had to put an unnecessary piece in the chain, no biggie. From what I understand, you should use a thicker (i.e. lower awg) cable for the long runs (15feet plus). My 45 foot is a 24awg. I’d suggest dropping down to 22awg for any long runs.

Sounds like the 1.3 and 1.4 question was answered. Basically it’s 3D. There’s a couple of other smaller differences as well.

Again for the digital audio cables, I’d suggest monoprice offerings. You should be able to purchase long Optical or Digital coax. Depending on the inputs on the back of your receiver, I’d go with digital coax for a long run (I assume under the house or in ceiling). I say this because optical can be more fragile. However long runs of digital coax will be a more rigid cable as they tend to use RG6 (the “cable” cable if you know what I mean). There shouldn’t be any delay in audio. I’ve run 30 foot audio without issue.

Speaking of inputs, which receiver do you have? Also you have a budget for this project? If you can manage it *could* be worth upgrading your receiver so that you can just run all hdmi with no need for any optical or coax. This is assuming your source components (dvd, bluray, game systems, cable box, etc) are all hdmi equipped.

Another question.
If I mount the TV above my fireplace, the bottom of the TV will be about 4.5' - 5.5' feet from the floor. Is that too high? It would only be 5.5' if we choose build a bigger (hollow) mantle to hide our components in.

Ideal viewing angle suggestion is that the center of the screen be at eye level from the seating position. So 4.5 to 5.5 will be fairly high. However, if you sit far enough back it might not be too bad. My personal preference is lower rather than higher, so I’d try to stay closer to 4.5 if possible.

Last but not least. Let me help you out. I’m offering my services at a severely discounted rate for the holidays. lol. Free.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Thanks Bob!
I am hoping to buy a new all in one home theater setup... but nothing fancy. Probably something like this:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+...stem/1112693.p?id=1218221576011&skuId=1112693

I'm a little confused, I'd run an HDMI from cable box to TV and another HDMI from cable box to receiver? I think my Comcast cable box only has 1 HDMI output.

Ya, I wish we could mount the TV lower but 4.5'' is as low as I can go to put it above the fireplace (the best spot for it given our family room layout - I want to be able to see it from the kitchen. )

 

[Bob Dobalina]

Thanks Bob!
I am hoping to buy a new all in one home theater setup... but nothing fancy. Probably something like this:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+...stem/1112693.p?id=1218221576011&skuId=1112693

I'm a little confused, I'd run an HDMI from cable box to TV and another HDMI from cable box to receiver? I think my Comcast cable box only has 1 HDMI output.

Ya, I wish we could mount the TV lower but 4.5'' is as low as I can go to put it above the fireplace (the best spot for it given our family room layout - I want to be able to see it from the kitchen. )

I think I was a bit unclear in my previous post. With your components in one place and tv in another, the advantage of an HDMI receiver would be that you only need to run one cable from the components to the tv (HDMI). Everything else is in the same local so no long cable runs, etc. To reiterate, it would be hdmi from the cable box, to the receiver (probably 6 feet or less i assume), then long hdmi to the tv. Anything plugged into the receiver could then display over the HDMI cable going to the tv*.

* Most newer receivers have HDMI upconversion, meaning if you have a source device which only has say, component video outputs, the receiver would be able to accept the component video, then send that to the tv over hdmi.

All in one systems are great for simplicity, but can quickly present problems. For example, the one you linked only has two hdmi inputs and zero component video inputs. So, if you have a Wii (which I believe does NOT do hdmi), you couldn't connect it to this system (video). You'd have to go straight to the tv for video, then send sound to the home theater system (it has one opitcal input).

Like I said, they are very good for simplicity, but not very flexible. For the price I see on BB for that system, you could put together a more flexible setup. Just don't be scared. Let me just find you an example...

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Cool! I didnt know that about HDMI and receivers. The cable box, blue ray, Wii, and receiver would only be inches apart and the TV would be a max of 10 feet away from all the components. The only components we'd have hooked up to the TV are blue ray, cable box, and Wii.

You are correct, Wii doesnt do HDMI. We had our Wii hooked up with component video to the old TV and audio sent to our old receiver via the regular red and white RCA type cables.

 

[Bob Dobalina]

...Here's a quick something I threw together:

Yamaha receiver – RX-V367 – 229 plus 60 gift card
Sony Bluray player – BDP-5370 – 129
Polk 5.1 speaker setup – 199

So 229+129+199-60 = 497.

We could do even better with a bit of time. Also note that there are several local places that would most likely match all these deals, if internet purchase is not your thing.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

I'm not big on buying stuff like this online but I will if it saves me significant $$$.
The speakers you linked are sold out.
But, I may have to use my Best Buy credit card on a few items.

Is this any good?
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+...iver/9775774.p?id=1218171550446&skuId=9775774

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+...9925.p?id=1218165051047&skuId=9739925&st=sony bdps570&cp=1&lp=1

 

[Bob Dobalina]

I'm not big on buying stuff like this online but I will if it saves me significant $$$.
The speakers you linked are sold out.
But, I may have to use my Best Buy credit card on a few items.

Is this any good?
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+...iver/9775774.p?id=1218171550446&skuId=9775774

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+...9925.p?id=1218165051047&skuId=9739925&st=sony bdps570&cp=1&lp=1

That receiver looks fine. The bluray player looks like it's received solid reviews.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Thanks Bob! You're the best, regardless of what HCP says about ya!

 

[Denny Crane]

Thanks Bob! You're the best, regardless of what HCP says about ya!

HCP's wife says you're the best.

 

[Bob Dobalina]

HCP's wife says you're the best.

 

[Colonel Ronan]

What a fucking legend.