New HDMI cable issue (?)

[jsduke]

Hi all,

I purchased 2 of the Monoprice cat 2 1.3 HDMI (2 meter) cables.
My 'cheapo' directv install HDMI cable produces a sharper/brighter more contrasted and seemingly more detailed picture on my SXRD set. :(

????

Please advise.

Thanks,
Jeff.

[Ratman]

Doesn't sound right to me. Shouldn't be any difference in Picture Quality. It's digital...

If you perceive a better picture quality.... stick with the "cheapo" HDMI cable.

[jsduke]

I thought digital was digital, no picture or fully displayed picture.

Are these cables optimized for 1.3 cat 2 and aren't quite as good for outputing from the Directv HR20 dvr which I'm guessing is 1.1?

Is it likely that the tv needs to be adjusted/calibrated differently for different
cables?

All I did was swap the connection (cable) from the dvr to the tv.

Thanks again,
Jeff.

[Ratman]

A cable that is spec'ed for 1.3 should carry a 1.1 signal without issue.

Your set should not have to be "calibrated" differently due to a cable. Especially one that carries a digital signal.

I (we) can't see the differences that you perceive, so it's hard to say what you may be experiencing. But... in theory, it may be a perception issue more than a "quality/calibration" issue.

Again... why not just use the cable that "looks" best to you?
(not intended to sound condescending... just stating what I've read over the years.)

[57U]

I can't explain it if you're on the exact same input, however, if you switched inputs (HDMI1 to HDMI2 for example), most TVs remember the picture mode and or settings for each input and they can be vastly different. For example, one input could be on "vivid" while another would be on "movie" or "standard", or "custom".

I believe that SXRDs remember the custom mode settings for each input for example so even though both inputs are on "custom" one could have a contrast of 100 while another is at 70, etc.

See: http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=1440

[jsduke]

At first I thought it was just my expectation level being so high with the better (1.3 cat 2) cable.

Then I thought the tv was burning in (new set) and I would have to adjust the settings. All I did when the tv was delivered was to switch to 'standard' and enable energy saving mode*.

I watched with the 1.3 cable for about 1 week.

After I reconnected the old 'cheapo' DirecTv cable, all the impact of the picture was back: brighter whites, more depth, and cleaner and more vivid detail. All this with the same original adjustments in place*.

Unless this cable is somehow optimized for the HR20 dvr, I'm stumped. :sightv:

Jeff.

[lcaillo]

jsduke,

It is almost certainly your imagination or that you changed something when comparing the two.

[jsduke]

Nothing was changed. Will swap one more time.

[Knicks4973]

No one mentioned that maybe the new cables were bad. I doubt it, but it is possible. How were the new cables shipped? I would also take a look and see if the new cables have any dirt or dust on the connectors. Before downplaying what a person saw we should take into account that, just like tv's, no 2 cables are the same. Maybe you received a bad batch? If you're not happy with the cables, return them or ask for an exchange.