| Topic Review |
johndoe1999
Sony Devotee
Joined: May 07, 2004
Posts: 52
From:
 |  Posted: 2005-06-18 19:14
I have the 42" 950XBR plasma and I just recently upgraded to Comcast digital cable with DVR(model DCT-6412). It does not come with a DVI cable which I must purchase myself separately. So for now, I'm just using the YPbPr outputs. When I go to the HD channels, they still look very sharp.
Anyways, I was looking to upgrade to DVI cables and the prices range from $10 dirt cheap ebay cables to $100+ monster cables. How much of a difference does it make for DVI cable quality. I mean, the $100 ones are probably better than $10 ones.. but is it that much better? I was deciding between the monster DVI400 and the M500DVI cables. Anybody have any comments of recommendations before I make a bad decision? Thanks!!
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Maggiefan
Sony Fanatic
Joined: Dec 07, 2003
Posts: 365
From: Lansing, MI
 | Posted: 2005-06-19 01:13
I believe you can find an Acoustic Research brand for around $50 at Best Buy. Good quality and fairly resonable price.
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Larry
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Maxxwire
Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 22584
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
 | Posted: 2005-06-19 15:19
Another high quality DVI cable that you might consider is the Kimber Kable DV-24. It sells for only $86-
http://www.kimber.com/Products/DigitalCables/DVI/DVI.aspx
__Maxx
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A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
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johndoe1999
Sony Devotee
Joined: May 07, 2004
Posts: 52
From:
| Posted: 2005-06-20 00:07
thanks.. i'l check those out..
also.. my HD DVR cable box has both DVI and HDMI outputs, but my 42XBR950 only has DVI inputs. Would it make a difference in quality whether I used a 'HDMI -> DVI'(like the Monster m1000dv) or 'DVI -> DVI cable'?
I was also wondering, my DVR box has a dual-link DVI port. I'm not sure what my Sony 42XBR950 is. Would it hurt to use a dual-link DVI cable if they both dont handle dual-link?
[ This message was edited by: johndoe1999 on 2005-06-20 00:41 ]
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jehill
Sony Senior Advisor
Joined: Mar 13, 2003
Posts: 11822
From: Sewell, NJ
 | Posted: 2005-06-20 15:03
I downloaded the DCT6412 User Guide and all I see is a DVI output, a component video output and an IEEE1394 output. I can't find a reference to a dual-link DVI port. Since your TV has a DVI input, I would connect a cable from the DVI output on your DCT6412 to the DVI input on your TV. Even if you do have an HDMI output, I would still use the DVI output. Don't use an adapter cable if you don't have to.
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-John
Sony A/V System: KDL-55XBR8, BDP-S550 and AVD-LA2500PKG consisting of AVD-C70ES Super Audio CD/DVD Receiver, 4 SS-LA500ED surround speakers, 1 SS-LAC505ED center channel speaker and 1 SA-WD200 Active Subwoofer
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Maxxwire
Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 22584
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
| Posted: 2005-06-20 15:06
After reading this review on Transparent's DVI cables I found it very interesting how much the length of the transmission and the cable's build quality matter to the ability of the cable to deliver a high quality picture-
http://www.avrev.com/news/0704/28.dvi.html
__Maxx
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A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
[IMG]http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr44/Maxxwire_Photos/AQ/Shasta.png[/IMG]
[url=http://www.agoraquest.com/viewtopic.php?topic=34516&forum=32&start=0&select_page_number=1]Explore The New Sony MaxxPix[/url]
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johndoe1999
Sony Devotee
Joined: May 07, 2004
Posts: 52
From:
| Posted: 2005-06-20 15:50
i also could not find refernce to it being dual link. I'm just going off what somebody said at avsforums.
But to my understanding, even if both box and tv are single link, using a dual link cable would not harm anything? Would that be accurate? Thanks for the info jehill.. thats what i plan to do.. just get a 2 meter DVI to DVI cable. just which brand to buy now... ... ...
Thanks for the article Max...
[ This message was edited by: johndoe1999 on 2005-06-20 15:54 ]
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Maxxwire
Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 22584
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
| Posted: 2005-06-20 19:20
If you are only going 2 meters with the DVI cable it sounds like you won't need the DVI cable with the highest build quality which is made to transfer Digital Video signals up to 30'.
I just got back from a local shop that has a 10 meter length of Transparent Premium DVI cable which retails for $1,900. This is definately not the cable for you as it is way over designed for your 2 meter application.
I wouldn't recommend Mon$ter Cable because their markup is prohibitive.
What I would recommend is tossing out the most and least expensive of the DVI cable offerings and go with something like the Kimber Kable DVI cable. They've been making some of the best bang for the buck Digital cables for years and I would expect that those many years of experience has translated over into their DVI cables as well.
__Maxx
-----------------
A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
[IMG]http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr44/Maxxwire_Photos/AQ/Shasta.png[/IMG]
[url=http://www.agoraquest.com/viewtopic.php?topic=34516&forum=32&start=0&select_page_number=1]Explore The New Sony MaxxPix[/url]
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Maggiefan
Sony Fanatic
Joined: Dec 07, 2003
Posts: 365
From: Lansing, MI
| Posted: 2005-06-20 22:42
Also keep in mind that you want a DVI-D cable, not DVI-I. D is what the Motorola 6412 takes and most likely your TV too. That is the digital only version of the two. The pin configuration is slightly different.  This in NOT the right one, notice the four pin holes around the small slot on the right, the DVI-D cable will not have those, just the slot alone, that's the one you want.
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Larry
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Oliver_Kuo
Sony Buff
Joined: Jun 24, 2005
Posts: 14
From:
| Posted: 2005-06-25 20:10
HDMI is basically a DVI cable that also transmits audio. Video quality wise there should be no difference between the two, its just so you can have one less connection.
In my experience, there is little to no image quality improvement going from component to dvi. But I've only tried on my Toshiba 51HX83 rptv. My sony kdf42we655 only has a HDMI input and no DVI, and I don't have any HDMI components, so I've never tried. But I doubt there be a noticeable improvement in video quality.
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WCS1
Sony Devotee
Joined: Jun 29, 2005
Posts: 75
From: USA
| Posted: 2005-06-30 14:28
A good bang for buck I think is NXG a 1 meter did-d can be had on ebay for under $20 shippied. I run this cable and it is a real nice cable it is thick and gold plated. Its running from my samsung dtv ts160 to my 55" LCOS set. Huge improvemnt in picture quality compared to the stock gable.
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johndoe1999
Sony Devotee
Joined: May 07, 2004
Posts: 52
From:
| Posted: 2005-07-12 16:11
update
I just got my DVI cable yesterday. I ended up getting the 2 meter Monster DVI400. I hooked it up and did a comparison. I left the component cabled on VIDEO5 and hooked up the DVI cable to VIDEO6. I switched it back and forth but I didnt notice much of a difference. Maybe a little differernce when I was watching HD Discovery. There was a scene of the ocean and waves and it seems on the DVI cable, the water was more crisp and clear. Or maybe it was all in my head and I wanted it to be better. But in general, when watching regular HD content, flipping back and forth was pretty simliar.
The best test would be to have 2 of my plasmas side by side with one using component and other other using DVI.
BTW, thanks for everybodies help!
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johndoe1999
Sony Devotee
Joined: May 07, 2004
Posts: 52
From:
| Posted: 2005-07-12 20:55
one thing i noticed was on the back of my comcast HD box and tv, the connector looks like this
The DVI400 monster cable i purchased, both ends look like this.
I noticed its missing some pins in the middle.
The bluejean DVI cables however do have the missing pins.
Did I buy the wrong cables? What are the middle pins for? Thanks
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