HDMI cables... do they need the gold plating?

Question

I want to buy a HDMI cable for my PS3 but not sure if I have to get the ones that are gold plated.

I dont know if the gold plating has any affect on them producing a good transfer rate.

All I know is that the gold limits the corrosion, but like really whats the chance of it corroding, my AV cords are working fine and have been for years.

Is it all just a marketing gimmick???????

Answer 1

I agree with the post right above mine.  Very nice post.  I will say that do not buy your HDMI cables in stores like Best Buy or Circuit City.  Their markup is incredible and do not buy Monster brand at all (most overpriced cables sold to the mass market).

An HDMI cable is BB or CC will cost you between 50.00-150.00 (with Monster being the highest)  Wal-Mart sells em for 20.00 but internet companies like Monoprice.com, Partsexpress.com or Bluejeancables.com sells a six foot HDMI for 4.00 and it works just as good as the Monster brand.

Remember the HDMI cable is just transmitting 1's and 0's and no amount of marketing mumbo jumbo will change that.  The cable will either work or it won't, but I have compared Monster brand vs a 4.00 internet brand and there was no difference whatsoever between the two at all.

Save your money.

Answer 2

It is.  Technically gold is a better conductor than regular metals...but you really won't see much of a difference in using regular cables.

Answer 3

Gold is not a good conductor at all. Silver and copper are much better. What Gold is preferable for is durability. You will note that most cables say gold plated. Copper and silver will oxidize (think of the patina on a copper roof ) this looks nice but for a conductor it is not a good idea. Gold doesn't oxidize even under acidic conditions (why it is a good material for human skin which is very acidic and oily).

So it isn't a better conductor but a more durable one and is preferable to a standard cheap cable over time. New to new cables you won't see a big difference but give it just a few months and you could.

But remember only 10% of your total system cost should be cables (unless you have a odd situation)

Answer 4

I dont know but most good HDMI cables will be gold plated. All the ones that I have purchased were all gold plated and the picture is beatiful. I wouldnt really know the difference between gold and silver because i never had silver but just get a gold plated.

Answer 5

You should buy a good HDMI cable, The length is a problem, over 2m lengths you need to buy a known HDMI cables. Some Gold Plated are cheap imports made to look good but there not. As I have a PS3 and Settop Box, I use good cables but they're not gold plated. They both work fine.

Answer 6

Yes gold plated HDMI cables are indeed better. Don't spend too much on them tho! They're all pretty much the same.

These guys have great cables at VERY good prices.

http://www.inspiretech.com/c-31-hdmi-cab...

Answer 7

Make sure you are buying HDMI 1.3 cables.......

If they look cheap, chances are they are cheap.

Monster is a rip off.......

Answer 8

I agree with the other answerers. (Except for the comment about not spending more than 10% of your system cost on cables. I'd say less than 1%. Much less...)

Do a little googling and you will find that many double blind tests have been done between the basic cables and retarded expensive ones, and no one can reliably tell the difference, i.e. marketing gimmick.

For example, I have the PS3 (and other HD sources) hooked up to a 1080i tv with Link Depot cables (in lengths all the way up to the 15 footer for only $17 in the link below) and it works great.

HDMI 1.3 is not really applicable to cables. The one in the link I show is listed as 1.3, but I have the earlier non-1.3 rated and they are terrific. Theoretically the 1.3 spec supports a higher bandwidth than the earlier versions, but in practice most any decent cable will support it. Plus, you have to have both a 1.3 source (which the PS3 is) and a 1.3 display or the point is moot. Very few people have 1.3 monitors yet.