AmazonBasics 3M Quad-Shielded High Speed HDMI Cable [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]

Rated by Mr. Ian Thomas, Cambridge, UK on 28th February 2010

As I have said in previous Amazon reviews, most HDMI cables available today (particularly on the high street) are criminally overpriced. I have seen some stores charging ridiculous prices for standard own-brand 2M cables, hoping that customers will be persuaded to buy their cables at the same time as a new TV/DVD player. Several friends have fallen for this cheap ploy before realising how much cheaper they can be found online. This AmazonBasics cable is an excellent example of a high quality own-brand cable available for a really good price online. It has all the technical features you would expect (HDMI 1.3b compliance, gold-plated plugs) with no unwanted frills. In fact, the only thing it seems to lack compared to more expensive cables is a decent warranty. Most branded cables come with a limited lifetime warranty, whereas this one just has a standard 1 year warranty, as required by law for all electrical equipment. Realistically though, cables don't 'break' anyway. If treated well, they will last a lifetime if they don't suffer from accidental damage. In terms of quality, the only noticeable difference compared to higher price competitors is a lack of protective braiding around the main PVC cable body, which would serve to protect it from kinks, scrapes and nicks. In addition, all the branding and logos are just cheap stickers! However, this can be excused at such a low price point. Overall, this has to be highly recommended for its excellent value and simplicity. It even comes in packaging that doesn't tear your hands to shreds when you open it (unlike the usual transparent plastic). Bargain!

Rated by Stephen Newton, Manchester, England on 14th February 2010

As you upgrade to high definition, cables are a hidden expense and given how very expensive they can be it's tempting to cut corners. But your system is only as good as the weakest link. Cables do not usually come as standard with Blu-ray players or other devices and while Sky do include an HDMI cable with their HD boxes, quality is poor (no gold plating). Despite being labelled Amazon Basics, the only cheap thing about this product is the packaging and that's a good thing.

Rated by Gabrielle O, London, UK on 14th February 2010

I'm really impressed with this product so far, and would definitely order AmazonBasics items again if the other items are as good as this one. The quality is excellent and much better than our previous HDMI cable. I'm not sure if the fact it is gold plated makes a difference (I guess it must?) but the quality is noticeably better than the old one. As others have said in their reviews, the packaging is brilliant. I have always loathed the hard plastic shell-like casings that most electronic kit comes encased in. It's impossible to get into and I once nearly sent myself to A&E after stabbing my hand by mistake in a frustrated attempt to get a USB key out of its packaging! I'm delighted to see Amazon's new 'frustration-free packaging' and it truly is a great improvement. I'm sure it's also more environmentally friendly as it can be recycled. So, to sum up - a really good quality cable, at a decent prize, and packed in an easy-to-open and environmentally-friendly packaging. Brilliant! I will be buying AmazonBasics items again...

Rated by Tom Cat ©, Earth on 18th March 2010

Lets get the praise out of the way - this is a quality product at a price that severely beats most other competitors (which surely must compromise Amazons sales?) of a similar standard. Aside from the 'Frustration Free Packaging', which is essentially a small card box, there is little else to punch the air about. HDMI cables offer a Digital connection - the signal is either On or Off, unlike Analogue, so Gold Coating connections etc won't make a slight bit of difference to the mythical 'signal'. The only downside as I see it is that because of the sheer strength of the cable, it can be very difficult to 'mould' into shape when behind a TV - particularly in smaller spaces. If your TV has a vertical connection, you may have trouble fitting the cable as its difficult to bend in those tighter spaces, but since it holds it shape particularly well, you could easily make your own coil and just fix a pipe-cleaner around it. Cut long story short, this is a damn fine that beats most competitors with ease for the price. It may not be ideal if you already have a jungle of cables behind your TV, but you wont be paying much less for a considerably worser quality product.

Rated by P. McCauley, UK on 27th February 2010

I have used many HMDI cables in the past, and all have worked excellently. I really cant see where people think a more expensive connection is better than another. This cable is a basics collection, so it's cheaper basically. One of the cheaper parts of it is the plastic around the cable, as more expensive cables use high resistant material now which is stronger and looks better. The length is 3m which is more than adequate for normal use. If you have a more complex setup or longer reach from machines or electronics than I would buy a slightly longer cable (ie 5m)..but otherwise 3m is more than enough Overall a great basic HDMI cable which works perfectly, usless you want something more durable or longer.

Rated by Rob Smith, North Wales coast on 30th January 2010

First thing I must mention is the excellent packing, a simple box which is easy to open, no blister pack or inner packing, a refreshing change. I have a Sony Sony BDPS360 Profile 2.0 Blu-ray Player with BD Live and a Panasonic Blu-ray player Panasonic BD60EB Blu-ray Disc Player, one in the front room and the other is in the bedroom, I use a Monster HDMI cable Monster Advanced Ultra-High Speed 1000 HDMI 1080p+ 2m with the Sony which is plugged in to a Sony 46" Sony Bravia KDL46V5500U 46-inch Widescreen Full HD 1080p LCD TV with Freeview and 3 Year Warranty, the Panasonic uses a basic non brand HDMI cable in to a 42" LG LG 42PQ6000 42-inch Widescreen HD Ready Plasma TV with Freeview - Black. I did not buy the monster cable it came with a load of stock free. I have been in the electrical retail trade for over 20 years and could never get my head around why some cables where so expensive, I understood the importance of selling a profitable add on, higher the price higher the profit, I can see the difference between a well made lead and a basic one, but that doesn`t mean it will produce better pictures or sound, in my opinion. The Amazon HDMI appeared to be of above average quality a good thickness and Gold plated ends (never understood why things have to be gold plated as the thing that they plug in to tends not to be gold and all the components would need to be gold). First I replaced the Monster cable on the Sony, did I see a noticeable difference? No, can't say I did, I could soon convince my self that there was, had a spent the money on the monster. Then I tried It on the LG with the Panasonic which had a basic non brand cable, did I see a difference, again no, not really, may be a little better, but It's easy to convenience yourself of a small difference. Would I spend lots of money on an expensive cable or buy the basic? There are plenty of people who I know would buy the Monster cables or similar everyday of the week and swear that the difference is massive, for me, I would stick to the Amazon, save my money and buy cream cake to eat while watching the film.

Rated by D. G. Wilkie, stornoway ,outer hebrides scotland on 28th March 2010

Bought this cable to connect my new samsung blu-ray disc player to my panasonic lcd television . After ordering, noticed that the handbook stipulated that a high speed [cat2]cable must be used,so thinking that one so cheap may not work ordered another brand of cable twice the price ,but on arrival both cables worked and I could not see any difference.

Rated by Amazon Customer on 15th March 2010

When it comes to HDMI cables, the signal is digital, not analogue so it's either a 1 or a 0, don't be fooled into buying those horrendously overpriced cables on offer from other manufacturers or retailers, they won't do the job any better than this one. The cable itself is really well made, I can't fault it at all, the gold plated connectors and a good end on the cable are really all you're after when it comes to HDMI, and this product ticks both the boxes. However as an added bonus it comes in the frustration free packaging so I didn't have to battle with a pair of scissors and a Stanley knife/possible trip to A&E to get to the thing. All in all, great product, great packaging, great price.

Rated by James C. Maxwell, Narnia, Wardrobe. on 18th February 2010

Clearly, you can pick up HDMI cables for a few pounds cheaper than this. The main reason for buying this is that you know you are going to get a decent cable, because it has the Aaazon name on it. It's not going to make the picture any better or make anything go faster, it's a short length digital cable after all. However, you can be confident it'll work with anything you plug it into with no problem. The cable is well made. It's not worth getting the quad-shielded version unless you live inside a power station or have exposed high-voltage cabling running within six inches of your TV. Which you shouldn't be doing anyway.

Rated by J. Turvey, Midlands, England on 19th March 2010

This is a good cable. It was well packaged and serves to do its job well. I can't say it has an improved effect to my previous cable, but it seems durable and certainly performs to the high quality I was expecting. A good buy and something that is sure to perform well for you.