Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat HDMI cables

I have a number of devices connected to my TV via an HD621.

Two of them - an Oppo Blu-ray player and an Apple TV streamer work just fine, each with a similar good quality HDMI interconnect. However, the Panasonic DMR-HWT250 PVR to HD621 to Panasonic TX-P50VT plasma TV has always been a bit unstable with slightly substandard sound and vision, no matter what HDMI was “successfully” used. But at least they worked, albeit with a very basic unbranded cable.

Recently tried to swap the basic freebie HDMI cable between recorder and the HD621 with something better, with the result that they just would not retain the handshake lock for very long. A better cable did improve the quality of the S&V, but always fell over after a few hours or days. Reverting back to original cable now results in initial handshake instability (complete with substandard S&V), but settles down after a while.

Is there anyone on the forum who has a similar PVR to HD621 to TV setup, who has successfully found a good quality HDMI that works, giving improved S&V, that they would recommend I try?

Thanks

I had quite repeatable & consistent HDMI problems for a couple of years, which I believe was due to HDCP handshaking between devices.

As in my signature, I had SKY HD+ as the most often used input, with an Oppo BDP-103EU occasionally pressed into action.
Problems would occur quite often when I switched between my Plasma & Projector and back again, or when I switched from any other source to any other, e.g. Amazon Fire Stick 4k / Roku 4K / NVidia Shield 4K / Intel NUC.
Everything I have is connected through my Lumagen Radiance, then to my UHD722, then to my 861v8.

I sought advice from Rick @ AudioImages, Gordon @ Convergent AV (UK) and Jim Peterson @ Lumagen (USA).

They also assumed that the mix of 'old' HDMI / HDCP devices in combination with each other, plus some new 4K devices, was causing handshake issues with ~15 year old ~15m long HDMI cables.

They recommended that I try Ruipro Hybrid HDMI cables, which I did, which provided an immediate improvement.
A further improvement was made by changing the HDMI / HDCP settings within my Radiance Pro.
Further stability / connectivity improvements have been provided by upgrading my SKY HD+ box to a SKY Q box - which I would also attribute to more up-to-date HDMI / HDCP hardware & software.

However, occasionally, but now - thankfully - rarely, I still have a handshake problems which require me to power-down / reboot the whole system.

The Ruipro cables were however clearly immediately effective, and despite their price, I highly recommend them.

Thanks Rolski,

Interesting suggestion.

Do you consider the fibre portion of the cable, that I presume is used for audio, presented a reasonable improvement vs copper?

Reasonable improvement in what sense?

It definitely improves 'communications' (e.g. HDCP handshakes etc) and it transfers a digital signal optically, with no losses - so my system is more reliable / stable - if that's what you mean?

Hi Bill,

I'm sure there was some (similar) discussion regarding the Chord Epic (and Shawline) HDMI AOC cables recently. However, I'm a bit reluctant to suggest these, as the cost of the cable is likely to exceed the cost of the PVR.

A couple of comments:

1. Do you 'need' to go via the HD621 or are things any better if you connect the PVR directly to the TV (and use a digital output, set to stereo, to feed your controller)?

2. Just had a look and the Ruipro cable mentioned, seems to have the audio on the copper connections rather than via optical.


Brian

Hi there,

Re Rolski’s query on “improvement”, I mean SQ. Handshake stability is, I should think, a basic requirement.

Re Brian’s comment, I missed the discussion on the Chord HDMIs, Will look out for it (assuming it’s not the one I took part in a wee while ago). Sorry - my interest in SQ is not confined the the pvr interconnect. Also with perfecting an HDMI interconnection between an Oppo BRP and my 808 which is used solely for 2 channel audio. The dreaded itch.

Re the TV set up, one makes one’s choices. I could have fed all HDMI’s into back of the telly, and used the optical feed into the 218 (which I do anyway). But I opted for the operational convenience, and hopefully improved SQ, of routing them all through a HD621.

Had more or less given up on improving the SQ from the pvr, but had one more fiddle with the cables!!!

The “problem” is, my music set up upstairs is now so good, that it reveals how poor the tv SQ is.

So now I am here, how can I perhaps make my telly sound better? Or perhaps the music? Another itch.

Or maybe free-to-air sound is just crap, and we have to put up with it?

I use a 518 on the output of my TV which then feeds into my 218 pre amp. I add 12 dB gain and use shape C.
My TV, PVR, Blu-ray etc. sound fine.

@WilliamS

HDMI uses packet-based communications: the data will not be changed along the chain of transmission.

Additionally, converting a voltage-encoded signal to optical & back again will remove any of the imaginary 'electrical noise or interference' that people like to believe they hear.

Hi

Had similar problems which eventually was down to the HDMI connection on the Panasonic? Resolved by using a glue gun to stop any movement at the connection!

Regards 🤸‍♀️