HDMI confusion: Monoprice vs. Blue Jeans


So I read the Audioholics 50 cable HDMI shootout, and became convinced that HDMI either passes or fails. That is, it either successfully transmits 1080P data (for example) or it does not.

I happened to have a 6 foot Monoprice HDMI cable and a 6 foot Blue Jeams HDMI as well. For the heck of it, I ran both cables from my cable box (1080i), DVD player (480i), and XBox (1080p) just for the sake of comparison.

The thing is, the Blue Jeans cable definitely had bolder colors, and the Monoprice definitely was a bit more muted but slightly more detailed in presenting images. Another possibility, of course, is that I am clinically insane.

So does this mean that there actually *are* differences among HDMI cables, just as there would be among component video cables (I tried several of those before settling on Tara Labs RSC)? Or am I simply a crazy person who saw non-existent differences and the signal passed (as opposed to failed) on both cables and looked identical, and my eyes simply deceived me.

Any assistance on this issue would be greatly appreciated, especially as concerns other HDMI cables you've tried and loved vis-a-vis others (if indeed such distinctions exist in HDMI cables).

Thanks!
thedautch

Showing 2 responses by johnnyb53

I recently upgraded to a 60" Panasonic plasma 600 Hz 1080p. Currently I use Belkin and Philips HDMI cables I got at Sam's Club. What cable would I need to upgrade to to get an appreciable improvement--BJC, Pangea from Audio Advisor, Wireworld, AQ, Kimber, upscale Monster?

I really feel bad for people that waste a ton of money on stuff based on the principles of magic and witchcraft, instead of testable science.

If "testable science" were as absolute as you make it out to be, no "scientific fact" would ever be overturned or modified.

If it's all attributable to the placebo effect, why do our subjective impressions run counter to our expectations so often?