Xbox360 HDMI cable?

This topic is locked from further discussion.

Avatar image for cheames748
cheames748

667

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#1 cheames748
Member since 2007 • 667 Posts

Is it really necessary to spend £30 on the official MS HDMI cable for my 360? Or, is it just the same as any other HDMI cable that i could buy for £3?

Also, does the HDMI do the sound and the audio? or would I need to connect the audio with another cable?

thanks in advance guys.

Avatar image for HaibaneRenmei
HaibaneRenmei

273

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#2 HaibaneRenmei
Member since 2003 • 273 Posts
All HDMI cables carry audo and video. There's nothing special about the MS one...you can use any.
Avatar image for lockjaw333
lockjaw333

1743

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#3 lockjaw333
Member since 2003 • 1743 Posts
Yeah, when you're talking a digital signal, the cable quality really isn't important. Just go to amazon.com or something and search for HDMI cables, you can probably find one for $5. Should do the job. And yes, it carries audio and video.
Avatar image for DataDream
DataDream

3195

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

#4 DataDream
Member since 2004 • 3195 Posts

All HDMI cables carry audo and video. There's nothing special about the MS one...you can use any.HaibaneRenmei

What he said. :)

Avatar image for Carashnak
Carashnak

119

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#5 Carashnak
Member since 2007 • 119 Posts
The cable is probably the same as any HDMI cable, just made By/For Microsoft. Because Microsoft tend to over-price accessories, and for the same price you should be able to get a cable of higher quality. I found spending around $90 on a cable does make a real difference on the picture quality.
Avatar image for 2headedhawaiian
2headedhawaiian

1531

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 21

User Lists: 0

#6 2headedhawaiian
Member since 2005 • 1531 Posts

The cable is probably the same as any HDMI cable, just made By/For Microsoft. Because Microsoft tend to over-price accessories, and for the same price you should be able to get a cable of higher quality. I found spending around $90 on a cable does make a real difference on the picture quality.Carashnak

For an all digital format like HDMI, no amount of money you could muster would get you a better cable (component/composite cables are a different story). Either it works, or it doesn't. So save your $88, grab the $2 HDMI cable off of Amazon, and pick yourself up a new game and a case of beer. Now THAT'S $90 well spent.

Avatar image for zodiark1
zodiark1

299

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#7 zodiark1
Member since 2007 • 299 Posts

[QUOTE="Carashnak"]The cable is probably the same as any HDMI cable, just made By/For Microsoft. Because Microsoft tend to over-price accessories, and for the same price you should be able to get a cable of higher quality. I found spending around $90 on a cable does make a real difference on the picture quality.2headedhawaiian

For an all digital format like HDMI, no amount of money you could muster would get you a better cable (component/composite cables are a different story). Either it works, or it doesn't. So save your $88, grab the $2 HDMI cable off of Amazon, and pick yourself up a new game and a case of beer. Now THAT'S $90 well spent.

I like your style my friend,in fact that sounds like fun for anyone.
Avatar image for cheames748
cheames748

667

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#8 cheames748
Member since 2007 • 667 Posts

hey guys thanks a lot for the input, you've all just saved me a lot of money that i aint got to spend!

+1 on the case of beer!

Avatar image for iamdanthaman
iamdanthaman

2498

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#9 iamdanthaman
Member since 2008 • 2498 Posts
actually, there is a difference, but not with the hdmi cable, just that it includes an audio dongle that is necessary if you want optical audio out to a stereo system, I had to get it for that since my stereo doesn't have hdmi passthrough
Avatar image for PoppinFreshMN
PoppinFreshMN

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#10 PoppinFreshMN
Member since 2003 • 25 Posts

Actually, there is a significant difference in HDMI cable quantity. Different cables are rated to handle larger amounts of information than others, and higher quality cables are better. Monster can explain this better:# tandard Definition Progressive Scan video from components, such as high-end DVD players and game consoles, introduced a data rate of .81 Gigabits per second at 60Hz scan rate with 8-bit color depth. Progressive scan video is available via component video connections.

# From Standard Definition to today's High Definition HDTV (High Definition Television) as we know it today introduced higher resolutions of 720p (progressive) or 1080i (interlace). Both are High Definition. With high definition, data rate increased from 0.81 Gbps to 2.23 Gbps, almost three times the amount of data per second.

The single digital connection launches: HDMI 1.0

# From High Definition to "Higher Definition" Going beyond HDTV resolution, new formats such as HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc players now enable the best HD has to offer today: 1080p content. Many manufacturers have their own saying for this, such as "True HD" or "Full HD."

The data rate is double that of HDTV, 4.46 Gbps. Many HDMITM cables can't support this, especially at longer lengths. Enter a new High Definition Multimedia Interface specification of 1.2 and 1.2a, which also introduces support of high-resolution SACD and DVD-Audio (192 kHz/24-bit resolution over eight channels). Certainly, that's an incredible amount of data to travel down the same cable.

# From Higher Definition to "Ultra-High Definition." As technology advances, content and sources will enable picture and sound that goes beyond the best HD has to offer today. Higher frame/refresh rates (120 Hz compared to today's 60 Hz) remove jitter for a smoother, more lifelike picture. Advances in color will reproduce all the colors the eye, exceeding even 10-bit and 12-bit Deep Color, sometimes also referred to in the PC world as 30-bit and 48-bit color (10 or 12 bits each for Red, Green, and Blue.

Large high definition displays with larger pixels make video imperfections all the more obvious. Deterioration of data caused by lesser-quality HDMITM cables can be seen more easily on larger displays. Artifacts, such as color banding and contouring, also become more visible on larger displays. In addition, motion artifacts at the slower refresh rate of 60 Hz are more visible, as are the smooth motion enhancements in faster-refreshing 90 Hz and 120 Hz displays.

Many HDMITM cables being sold do not meet actual HDMITM cable specifications. Often cables are acceptable for 1080i video but not 1080p video, requiring double the amount of throughput. Often picture degradation and artifacts that have been attributed to displays and sources are actually caused by poor cable performance.

Yes, that is taken from Monster's website, but it's true. Pattern tests also show that higher quality cables are able to carry signal with less interference and distortion.