Ah ha, like me your a follower of AVF. Its a really difficult subject but there are a sseries of videos put out by AVF who do make an argument for "better" cables if not ridiculous priced ones.


Also, with respect, I do think your comment about "videophile" could be misunderstood. I like to take my HiFi TV seriously (or as series as budget and wife acceptablity factor will allow). As such I do a lot of research into what I'm buying to make sure I get the best all round performance for my money irrespective of brand etc. Styling does has some impact as at the end of the day most is largely on display.
Anyway I do think a large proportion of the population do not trouble themselves with some of the complex intricacies of performance and this is perfectly reasonable (even sensible the torment I've caused myself trying to optimise systems). As such they will be concerned with form, function and price and could not give a hoot about ISF calibration, black levels, contrasts ratios and the like. And at the end of the day thats quite right.
They may have good experiences with a brand, like their products and prices and hey presto.
As for the original post there are subtle differences between plasma and LCD (both pro and cons) and it does depend on usage patters, locations, ambient lighting etc. For routine users they largely will not concern themselves with absolute perfect performance and are happy with it. I think thats where us hobbyists can come over wrongly when simple advice is asked for.

Happy viewing everyone!

PS Australian TV is crap irrespective of the display you have!

As an electrical person I know that a bad connection - whether it be at 400kV or a few mV - will cause resistance, losses, errors etc. This would apply to an HDMI connection. A really crap HDMI cable (could be cheap) with poor connections could cause issues.

Aye!

Good deal ... it's only 1s and 0s innit?

Can't say I've noticed the difference, the cricket is on free-to-air and that makes up for most of the drop in quality for me ... but I'm easily pleased ... I tend to download most of my viewing anyway ...

Yes, a follower of AVF. It's a great forum for the enthusiast and anyone that wants to learn about AV equipment.

To quote the guy in the video re. HDMI cables "running digital content, once it's above the threshold of being good enough for the interface to function, the likelihood of the interface or the picture looking a little bit different is null. They're going to look pretty much identical."

So essentially what he is saying is that with a $5 or $200 HDMI cable, if it works the picture will be identical irrespective of the quality of the cable. (That's if it works)

Yes, you're probably right about that. To me though videophile just describes a video enthusiast.

Me too. Spent far too much money over the years and i've already got my next set up planed. Sometimes it would be easier not to bother about it but once you have got the bug...

Spot on.

Yes. I suppose we can come over in a patronising way.

Ditto to that!

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2010/03...ky_3d_tv_deal/

That's a kick in the teeth for Sky's push for 3D TV.

My Panasonic has a silver streak along the bottom - but I am not reaching for my razor.

Fashions change - my 2004 16:9 CRT was silver.

A neighbour has a 4:3 1990s Grey TV - remember them!!

I bought a silver TV about 6 years ago when it was all the fashion. After a couple of years it just looked tacky and the silver border around the screen annoyed me. But yeah, definitely not something the slit the wrists over. Wouldn't buy another one though.

Still got a 4:3 somewhere!

Until a few months ago our main TV was ancient (and the remote was buggered) and the 2nd TV was black and white (it wasn't made that way ...).

Having something that has a handy volume control is novel change ...

In 2000, (technical aside) I rejected the purchase of a smaller 16:9 for a 4:3 29" Sony Triniton on special. On the basis that a 16:9 TV wouldn't show 2:35 films without black bars anyhow.

One of my *****wit moments.

I was buying widescreen movies on VHS back in the early 1990s long before the masses got into it with DVD - I used to have conversations with unbelievers who didn't like black bars akin to the manner in which the know it all in the pub has....

A mate called me "Wide Screen Badge" for a while.

Hehehe ... technology eh? It's all going 3D anyway so ya boo sucks to the current enormoscreen devotees

Reminds me, I must get a new monitor for the PC ... my super-ancient 18" CRT (free!) died and I'm stuggling along with an inherited 17" CRT that makes more buzzing noises than a can of mossies.

And to think I am meant to be 'into' technology ...

I remember when I was about 17 years old, in the late 80's, my dad bought a JVC S-VHS TV and video recorder. The picture was excellent. I ended up claiming it and I still had the TV up until about 2002 when it packed in. Super VHS never really took off but the TV was one of the best TV's I have ever had and even in the late 90's it still had a superior picture to most of the new TV's on the market at the time. I've still got the S-VHS video recorder stuck in the shed. Don't know if it still works or not.

My mate had a laserdisc player, but he was inherently weird.

Aha! Laserdisc, I remember them. Dragons Lair...