Digital, from the Latin "digit", refers to the active electronic device, performing electronic stimulation. Analog, from the Latin "anus", refers to the passive electronic device - receiving the stimulation. Electronics is about balance, e.g., if your circuit has too many digital devices, it gets overstimulated and climaxes too early.
Bro I wasn't even 100% sure about if HDMI was analog or digital until like 2 days ago and I've built my own computers. Having cables that expensive is such a Big Lie that it's hard to imagine it really is entirely bullshit
I think why it works is because there have been quite a few versions of hdmi over the years with some differing capability while maintaining the same plug. I'm not too much in the know, but very old hdmi standards sometimes didn't carry audio from what I remember. So, there really are some differences and it's even easier to upsell clueless/affluent consumers on imaginary features like a gold plated digital interface.
Just up front: super expensive HDMI cables are BULLSHIT! There's no disputing that. If you bought a $100 dollar 6ft HDMI monster cable you done been grifted.
That said:
There are I think two ratings for HDMI cables. Almost every one on the market today cheap or otherwise is rated "high speed" meaning its ready for 4k....BUT there are still some older cables out there only rated for 1080i. They can probably still handle the extra resolutions but they aren't rated for it, and that leads to the second point.
Digital noise and/or snow is still a thing because "work or don't" in terms of the signal doesn't necessarily refer to the entire image on the screen but rather the pixels. IE: if your HDMI cables is damaged/failing or not properly rated you will still see an image but your tv will generally try to fill in the missing information and the result is usually a bunch of solid pixels on the screen (what color I think depends on the tv). IE, no "distortion" in the analog sense...but some digital information IS being lost.
So if you're seeing an image on the screen and there's no speckles or solid colored pixels anywhere as you watch: congrats, your $5 hdmi cable is working properly and displaying the image just as well as a $1000 one. Distortion isn't a thing. The pixels show or they dont. If the signal looks a bit noisy...you might consider trying another cable. You might even consider one with a bit more insulation....just don't pay that much more for it.
I still think 4K is a scam by tech companies to sell us new TVs when they had basically already reached perfection over a decade ago. 4K still doesn't make sense on a 50-60 inch screen, it's useful when you have a giant ass projection screen I guess but still
My post was long winded enough but 4k itself is generally bullshit for most consumers simply as a resolution goes. In terms of resolution the difference between 4k and 2k (1080p more or lesss) is negligable unless your face is right in front of the screen. That does give it uses in VR headsets but for the average consumer its nothing but a marketing ploy.
Here's the thing though:
50-60 inch TVs today ARE significantly better then the 1080p displays of yesteryear. The black levels, color accuracy, brightness, refresh rates, and features like HDR local dimming are genuinely incredible. I recently upgraded and the difference between my 2010 insignia and my 2020 Hisense is VERY real and worthwhile if you spend a significant portion of your time watching movies.
The problem is that all those features are a bit difficult to sell or explain to the average consumer in a quick simple form. Most people get glassy eyed when you even start tossing out words like LED, QLED, LCD, etc. Its way easier to say "4k!!! Bigger is better!!!!"
IE: its not the size that matters....es how you use eit!!!
I'd like to think of myself as not the biggest idiot in the world and am super-weary of rip-off scams, but know fuckall about electricity, so what you wrote is Greek to me.
Is Monoprice a good place to buy electronics? Is it the new Newegg now that Newegg sucks? Or is it only wholesale? ...And is there actually no difference between the performance of cables/wires when it comes to average consumer needs?
Thanks! Your thinking process while buying stuff definitely rhymes with mine. Impossible to be fully ethical, still need stuff to live life, but fuck Amazon and overpriced shiny shit.
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😂 good one. Ask 100 people in the street the difference between analog and digital and enjoy watching about 90 clueless faces
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Digital, from the Latin "digit", refers to the active electronic device, performing electronic stimulation. Analog, from the Latin "anus", refers to the passive electronic device - receiving the stimulation. Electronics is about balance, e.g., if your circuit has too many digital devices, it gets overstimulated and climaxes too early.
Bro I wasn't even 100% sure about if HDMI was analog or digital until like 2 days ago and I've built my own computers. Having cables that expensive is such a Big Lie that it's hard to imagine it really is entirely bullshit
I think why it works is because there have been quite a few versions of hdmi over the years with some differing capability while maintaining the same plug. I'm not too much in the know, but very old hdmi standards sometimes didn't carry audio from what I remember. So, there really are some differences and it's even easier to upsell clueless/affluent consumers on imaginary features like a gold plated digital interface.
No, even when HDMI was still on like 1.0 I remember seeing a bunch of 40-80 dollar cables in a Best Buy.
This is kind of true and kind of not.
Just up front: super expensive HDMI cables are BULLSHIT! There's no disputing that. If you bought a $100 dollar 6ft HDMI monster cable you done been grifted.
That said:
There are I think two ratings for HDMI cables. Almost every one on the market today cheap or otherwise is rated "high speed" meaning its ready for 4k....BUT there are still some older cables out there only rated for 1080i. They can probably still handle the extra resolutions but they aren't rated for it, and that leads to the second point.
Digital noise and/or snow is still a thing because "work or don't" in terms of the signal doesn't necessarily refer to the entire image on the screen but rather the pixels. IE: if your HDMI cables is damaged/failing or not properly rated you will still see an image but your tv will generally try to fill in the missing information and the result is usually a bunch of solid pixels on the screen (what color I think depends on the tv). IE, no "distortion" in the analog sense...but some digital information IS being lost.
EXample: https://www.cnet.com/news/why-all-hdmi-cables-are-the-same/
So if you're seeing an image on the screen and there's no speckles or solid colored pixels anywhere as you watch: congrats, your $5 hdmi cable is working properly and displaying the image just as well as a $1000 one. Distortion isn't a thing. The pixels show or they dont. If the signal looks a bit noisy...you might consider trying another cable. You might even consider one with a bit more insulation....just don't pay that much more for it.
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I still think 4K is a scam by tech companies to sell us new TVs when they had basically already reached perfection over a decade ago. 4K still doesn't make sense on a 50-60 inch screen, it's useful when you have a giant ass projection screen I guess but still
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Yes....and also no.
My post was long winded enough but 4k itself is generally bullshit for most consumers simply as a resolution goes. In terms of resolution the difference between 4k and 2k (1080p more or lesss) is negligable unless your face is right in front of the screen. That does give it uses in VR headsets but for the average consumer its nothing but a marketing ploy.
Here's the thing though: 50-60 inch TVs today ARE significantly better then the 1080p displays of yesteryear. The black levels, color accuracy, brightness, refresh rates, and features like HDR local dimming are genuinely incredible. I recently upgraded and the difference between my 2010 insignia and my 2020 Hisense is VERY real and worthwhile if you spend a significant portion of your time watching movies.
The problem is that all those features are a bit difficult to sell or explain to the average consumer in a quick simple form. Most people get glassy eyed when you even start tossing out words like LED, QLED, LCD, etc. Its way easier to say "4k!!! Bigger is better!!!!"
IE: its not the size that matters....es how you use eit!!!
I'd like to think of myself as not the biggest idiot in the world and am super-weary of rip-off scams, but know fuckall about electricity, so what you wrote is Greek to me.
Is Monoprice a good place to buy electronics? Is it the new Newegg now that Newegg sucks? Or is it only wholesale? ...And is there actually no difference between the performance of cables/wires when it comes to average consumer needs?
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This is truth. Cheapo RCA cables don't work for S/PDIF. That's literally the only time I've ever had cable issues, though.
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Thanks! Your thinking process while buying stuff definitely rhymes with mine. Impossible to be fully ethical, still need stuff to live life, but fuck Amazon and overpriced shiny shit.
monoprice is actually a manufacturer, not resale. their whole business model is producing cheap things in-house and undercutting the competition.