Which HDMI cables do I buy for DirecTV HD/DVR system?
Need help re: HDMI cables for super DirecTV deal - Though I’m an existing DirecTV customer, I was able to get the HD/DVR system for a net $18.00. Now I need the HDMI cables before Saturday when they come to install it. I’ve checked HDMI cables out and they’re anywhere from $50-$200. What’s the story? Any suggestions on what to or what not to get? Monster cables the best? Thanks.
By the way, the cables they are bringing are “standard†cables not HDMI. The deal was basically this: I’m getting a HD/DVR, regularly priced at $299 or $199 and the HD dish free with everything installed at no charge. The first 4 months of HD programming at $9.99/mo. is free. $10/mo off my bill for tweleve months - no reason - just being nice. The delivery charge of $19.99 is being waived, too. $100 + $40 + $120 + $20 is roughly $280 minus $299 is $19.00 give or take.
Answer #1: From personal experience, monster cables are definitely the best, but the difference in quality isn’t worth the extra 100 bucks you’d pay at a retail store.
If you really want a monster cable, get one online. I recently got one from an amazon retailer, 50 bucks, 125 dollar retail value. That was with shipping.
Answer #2: MarkerTek sells a high quality HDMI cable made by canare for 40% less than Monster and it’s just as good.
Answer #3: I paid a crap load for my HDMI cable and $200 would have been a bargain. But I needed a lot of it as I was stretching it across a room and hiding it in the wall. Consider how much you invested in your entire system, how much it means to you and go from there.
Answer #4: Any HDMI cable should provide the same results so Monster cables are a rip off. HD is a digital signal, either it comes in or it doesn’t. Cables used to make a difference with analog signals, but you should see absolutely no difference in HD or digital cable/dish channels.
Answer #5: Crutchfield offers multiple brands and lengths so you can actually buy a decent cable for an affordable price. The retail stores screw you with minimal selection including cable lengths that are twice what you need. Order today and you will have the cords in two days.
Answer #6: Monoprice cables are great. I got them for nothing compared to what Monster costs with great results.
Answer #7: Mine came w/ an HDMI cable. You might want to look up the model that they are bringing and see what the box contains. I was ready to go out and buy the cable after the guy came to install it, but the HDMI cable came w/ the HD/Tivo unit
Answer #8: I’m not sure of the quality of the cable but the D* installer did hook up an HDMI cable, as part of the installation, when I went HD recently.
Answer #9: Monster Cables look so cool…they really do. That said, I only used Monster where others weren’t available. Buy another brand if you can. I also needed 12′ cables and the cost difference is huge.
Answer #10: I hope the receiver works with an HDMI. The receiver I just got from Directv doesn’t and the replacement they sent didn’t either. They said the software upgrade might be coming next month sometime. They were not DVR. I also got the cables from Monoprice. Came in 2 days.
December 12th, 2006 at 4:33 pm
[...] Enter: Hi Tech TV.com. The site is in blog format and encourages community and communication with any questions you may have regarding your new technology. In a recent thread, they discussed the best use of HDMI cables on a new DirecTV HD/DVR TV. One visitor posted a detailed question about preparing for a weekend install and instead of giving just one opinion, 10 different answers are provided, allowing you to really figure out which solution applies to you. [...]