Let's start with my allegation about Monster, which isn't mine alone, because Lee helpfully pointed out the gist of it in the opening of his presentation:

I say, since everything is digital, and since HDMI is a spec, the cheap cable will get the data from point A to point B as well as any other cable. Additionally I say that if there are subtle (i.e. videophile-grade) differences in cables, the average consumer isn't going to spot them on the TV.

Am I wrong? Monster says yes, but in Lee's elaborate answer I felt both his POV and mine were justified.

Here are Monster's truths:

Bandwidth is King.
The requirements of 1080p and beyond is what separates from the high-end cable from the knock-offs. This is the same as Ethernet cable, in the sense that a cable certified for HDMI 1.3a "Highspeed" will guarantee greater throughput. The newest spec, 1.3a means just over 10Gbps of bandwidth. Standard 480p requires less than 1Gbps, the current 8-bit 1080p requires 4.46 Gbps, but the next gen 1080p formats will require nearly 15Gbps, more than the highest certified HDMI cable can support. (See chart if you can, if not I'll try to get a better one up later.)

Not all cables are the same.
During Lee's slideshow, he demonstrated via X-Ray slides that pricier cables (OK, Monster's) have a smaller chance of wear and tear damage at the point where the cable meets the connector. t's a concept that's easy for any musician to understand—remember all of those shorting-out patch cords?

Even if it has an HDMI-style connector, it may not be certified HDMI.
You have to look for the HDMI logo, says Steve Venuti of HDMI Licensing. There are tons of knock-offs, especially the bundled or online cables, since you can't look at the packaging when you buy. Really high-end cables will certify other things, such as HDMI 1.3a and even "Highspeed."

Just because digital information is made up of ones and zeros it can still degrade, especially over distances.
I get this now, because it's not about the digital info just getting there, like packet data. It's video, so it's about the digital info getting there at the right time to make sense. It's also audio, and over distances, there's a greater chance that audio and video will get out of sync. The following pictures show a test that they run that measures data throughput. In the interest of brevity, I'll just say that the more those lines crowd the center, the greater the risk of having crappy video.

This is what it looks like when a low-grade 10-meter cable tries to handle 720p:

This is what it looks like when a Monster 10-meter cable tries to handle 1080p:

Differences in cable are easily spotted by untrained eyes.
A PS3 feeding 1080p signal to a Samsung 1080p LCD TV starts to jitter and throw digital noise lines across the screen if the cable can't hack the bandwidth. We tested the two cables above on a PS3 showing a Blu-ray of Chicken Little and it was totally noticeable, there were lines and jitters, none of this videophile matter-of-opinion stuff that I had anticipated. It was totally obvious, and something that Monster says people often blame on their TV, not their cable.

Future proofing and heavy-duty cable are crucial for in-wall installation.
This probably made the most sense of all. Given the fact that in-wall cable is longer than others, you'd need something that can handle the bandwidth. (In fact, when it gets to 50 feet, you don't have many choices in the cable world for that reason—Monster says it's soon headed for 100 feet of HDMI.) Couple that with staples, kinks and other weirdness that might happen with in-wall installation, and the fact that when you upgrade your TV, you don't want to have to re-do your drywall, and Monster has a good point.

Lest you think I be drinkin' Lee's Kool-Aid, here are my caveats to Monster's truths:

• If you are going from any source to a 720p or 1080i TV set, you should really be in the clear using a full-on crappy ass cable.

• As long as you're not doing installing the wiring in your wall, start with the crappy cable. If it sucks and you only paid $20 for it, go back and spend more on something certified.

• In the demo, Monster even proved that good components can offset crappy cables: that PS3 and that Samsung 1080p were able to work around much of the problems, all the more reason why, in a non-custom non-in-wall installation, you should try out the lower grade stuff first.

So listen, you've heard it from me: there are differences in cable, but there are also differences in technical requirements. We don't all need $120 cables for our components. As to the question of why Monster won't offer a lower-priced product in recognition of these differences in technical requirements, Lee told me to "stay tuned."

OK people, let's hear it. Go ahead and vent. – Wilson Rothman

Company site [Monster Cable]
Info site [HDMIInfo.org]

The Game FX system isn't just for 3D gaming, but it also supports "dual view" gaming: with the right dongle, you will be able to connect two game systems. If you and your friend are wearing the special glasses (sold separately or as part of a future bundle), you will be able to see your side of the game fully on the screen at 60Hz, and your friend will be able to see his or her version of the same game on the full screen, also at 60Hz.

The DLPs are much lighter weight than last year's model, in spite of performance improvements and decreased footprint. The 73-incher shown in profile below didn't just slim down from 17.5 inches to 15.3 inches, but it dropped from 190lbs to 92lbs. I asked what came out, and no one could tell me. My guess is lead, you know, for ballast. They're also fairly green compared to other TV technologies, consuming 275 watts or less.

Mitsubishi laser-assisted DLP is on schedule for year end, designed for better brightness, but also improved color and overall performance. The DLPs in the current line are 6-color wheel with a single light source. Mitsubishi is not building LED-projected DLPs, like Samsung's current DLP lineup. The world will get its first glimpse at CES 2008.

Below, you'll see the new interface, featuring NetCommand for painless (if not exactly quick) programming of the Mitsubishi remote to handle you components. Also, check out the side inputs of the Diamond-class LCDs. For more info on all the new TVs, take a look at our original post. – Wilson Rothman

Mitsubishi Thin Frame TVs [Gizmodo]

Follow the jump for a breakout of all the models and another sweet picture; all pricing is in something called "suggested value price." More on that and on the TVs themselves later today, when I visit the showroom.

The entry-level 733 Series 1080p DLP HDTVs are characterized by a 6-Color Light Engine, three rear HDMI 1.3 inputs a front HD component input.
•57-inch WD-57733 ($2499)
•65-inch WD-65733 ($2999)
•73-inch WD-73733 ($4699)

The step-up 734 Series (shown above) has everything a 733 does, plus enhanced contrast through the DeepField Imager for dynamic adjustment within an image; a front HDMI input; and NetCommand for on-screen control and setup of other home theater gear.
•57-inch WD-57734 ($2799)
•65-inch WD-65734 ($3299)
•73-inch WD-73734 ($5099)

The primo DLPs are in the Diamond series, naturally. Everything above is included here, plus some serious tweaker bonuses: Smooth120Hz for more fluid and smoother moving images free from motion blur; TV Guide On Screen 9.0; Game FX - 3D game capability; IEEE1394; and an RS232C input.
•57-inch WD-57833 ($3399)
•65-inch WD-65833 ($3999)
•73-inch WD-73833 ($5899)

When it comes to the new LCD flat-panels, Mitsubishi skips 720p altogether and starts off at 1080p, with the 133 Series 1080p LCD flat panel HDTVs, which include a "high contrast" picture and three rear HDMI 1.3 Inputs.
•40-inch LT-40133 ($2699)
•46-inch LT-46133 ($3399)
•52-inch LT-52133 ($4499)

A lone soldier in the 134 series, a 40-incher, has all of the above features plus NetCommand and a side HDMI 1.3 input.
•40-inch 134 Series LT-40134 ($2899)

The 144 Series naturally assumes you are going to pass on the 40-incher; starting at 46 inches, it includes the 133's features plus a side component input and Smooth120Hz (true 120Hz 1080p performance).
•46-inch LT-46144 ($3899)
•52-inch LT-52144 ($5099)

The king of the hill, the Diamond class, also comes in 46- and 52-inch models (shown above). It has everything that the starter 133 line has, plus Smooth120Hz, a CableCard slot, TV Guide Daily, NetCommand and a side HDMI input.
•Diamond LT-46244 ($4499)
•Diamond LT-52244 ($5699)

Stay tuned for more model shots, our own photos, and some of our more-emotional reactions when we check them out later today. – Wilson Rothman

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Introduces Nine 1080P DLP HDTVs [Mitsubishi]
Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Debuts Eight Thin Frame LCDs [Mitsubishi]

The NR905 also has HD radio reception out of the box, Ethernet for Internet radio, and PC streaming, as well as a USB port for thumbdrives, and HDDs, presumably holding MP3s. Room acoustic compensation, alters frequency and delay for up to eight listening spots in a room. No word on wattage, but the 905's "high-current power supply with a massive toroidal transformer" and Ultra2 THX certification are probably good enough.

The 7.1 receiver is The $2099 TX-NR905 and $1699 NR875 receivers have cheaper siblings, too. Budget models landing to fight Yamaha's day-old RX-V861 are the 805, and 705, priced at $1099 and $899 has four HDMI 1.3a ports, supporting lip-sync, and a wider color gamut (as long as your source and TV support it). They'll all have that remote control over HDMI protocol, in this case called RIHD (Remote Interactive over HDMI). Interestingly, they've gone to declare the tech'll work with Toshiba's CE-Link Regza TVs, and Panasonic's EZ-Sync TVs. That's good news the systems aren't totally proprietary.

We agree with John "Sheriff" Falcone's take that the next set of receivers worth looking at are the next crop of Denons. As for Onkyo, more impressions from Louis Ramirez, later today.–Brian Lam

Onkyo Home Page [Onkyo]

Onkyo Announces New Features to be Available on High-End THX Certified A/V Receivers

New features include HDMI 1.3a, Reon-HQV™ HD video scaling, HD radio, Ethernet and USB connections, Neural-THX Surround™

Onkyo TX-SR805 THX Ultra2 receciver. Click any photo for high resolution JPEG images.

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (4/24/07) — Onkyo has announced four new THX Certified receiver models to be introduced beginning this spring, incorporating a range of high-end features and core performance improvements designed to deliver the highest levels of performance available. These new THX Certified Onkyo A/V receivers will feature HDMI 1.3a compatibility, including internal decoding for DTS-HD, Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus. Each will also feature a sophisticated set of internal video processing capabilities, with two of the models boasting the first inclusion of Reon-VX HQV processing in an A/V receiver. Three of the new models, the TX-SR805, the TX-SR875, and the TX-NR905, each feature THX Ultra2 certification, while the TX-SR705 is THX Select2 Certified.

From early design concepts to product rollout, THX and Onkyo worked together to ensure every detail of the receivers were mapped to the THX performance standards. And THX engineers spent countless hours testing and analyzing the receivers for sound quality, usability and interoperability. Each certified receiver includes a number of proprietary THX technologies, designed to compensate for the acoustical errors that occur when movies, music and games are translated from the professional studio to the home environment.

All four receivers are both XM and Sirius satellite radio ready, and will feature a comprehensive range of audio and video connections, including HDMI 1.3a switching for three (TX-SR705 and TX-SR805) or four (TX-SR875 and TX-NR905) HDMI sources. The TX-NR905 will also feature a second HDMI output for even greater flexibility. Each receiver is capable of accommodating single-cable pure-digital audio and video transfer from HDMI sources, including 1080p and Deep-Color™ capability. Additionally, each model will include the company's RIHD (Remote Interactive over HDMI) communication protocol. This feature allows future integration of many system control functions between compatible components via the HDMI connection, and will also feature compatibility with Toshiba's CE-Link™ enabled 2007 Regza LCD TV line and Panasonic's EZ-Sync™ TV line, as well as similar protocols from other manufacturers to be announced later in the year.

Two of the new models, the Onkyo TX-SR875 and TX-NR905, will be the first A/V receiver models to include Silicon Optix's acclaimed Reon-VX HQV™ video processing. This sophisticated IC chip-based technology provides the receivers with current state-of-the-art video scaling and deinterlacing capabilities, including upscaling of all video sources to 1080p for output over the HDMI connection. Additionally, all video sources will also be upconverted to HD output via the units' component video outputs to accommodate video displays lacking an HDMI input.

The TX-SR805, TX-SR875 and TX-NR905 receivers will all feature a new dual push-pull amplifier configuration, coupled with a three-stage inverted Darlington circuit and top-of-the-line Burr-Brown DACs for outstanding efficiency and high current with very low distortion. Two of the receivers' seven channels can also be reconfigured for bi-amplification with compatible speaker systems. On the TX-SR875 and TX-NR905, these two channels can also be reconfigured for bridged operation with the front L/R channels for high power output.

Onkyo's new receivers will be the first models available to feature Neural-THX Surround™ decoding for broadcasts and gaming. This new surround sound technology allows for broadcast content to be transmitted in a two-channel format, and later decoded for up to 7.1 discrete audio channels, as well as enabling 7.1-channel audio support for many modern video gaming consoles.

For simplified setup, all of these models incorporate Audyssey Multi-EQ room acoustics correction, the most powerful built-in solution available for countering room distortion in dedicated home theaters. This technology uses an included microphone to detect and configure speakers in the room, and then adjusts each channel's level, delay, and crossover settings to best suit the room's acoustics. By incorporating measurements at up to eight points in the listening room, Audyssey Multi-EQ provides both frequency response and time domain corrections throughout the entire listening area, rather than just at a single position.

Additional features on the TX-NR905 include a high-current power supply with a massive toroidal transformer, built-in HD radio reception and a powerful set of networking capabilities for integrated home media systems. The receiver will include an Ethernet port for support of Internet radio and streaming multimedia, as well as additional control and multimedia functions to be announced later in theyear. There is also an included USB port to allow for the addition of USB-based portable audio players, and for the use of USB-based memory devices.

The Onkyo TX-SR805 will be shipping in May at a suggested retail price of $1099. The TX-SR875 will be available in June at a suggested retail price of $1699. The THX Select2 Certified TX-SR705 will be available in July at a suggested retail price of $899. The TX-NR905 will be available in August at a suggested retail price of $2099.

And what good is an HD optical drive if you can't output it to your HDTV, which the G40 will let you do via its HDMI 1.3 output. As for gamers, the Media Center laptop will pack a 512MB GeForce 8600 GT card. It's expected to hit Europe and the U.S. this June for just under $3K. – Louis Ramirez

Next-gen Qosmio Comes with GeForce 8 Video, HD DVD-R [Electronista]

Their other high-end model (the AVR-3808CI) will only have Ethernet connectivity. (Both will be out in July). September will bring the AVR-1508 and the AVR-1708, both of which will have HDMI 1.3, but no internal Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD processing. Pricing has yet to be announced, though by the looks of it, you should be in good shape with whichever model you choose. – Louis Ramirez

Denon Next-gen A/V Receiver Specs Leaked? [Crave]

Denon's HDMI 1.3 Receivers Scheduled for Mid-year Intro [Home Theater Blog]

John says not really. The difference between current HDMI and 1.3 will be real, but also very hard to detect for the average home theater couch potato. Especially considering that the only HDMI device out that supports version 1.3 is the Playstation 3. That's right. Not until sometime in 2007 will you see HDMI 1.3 compliant TVs, receivers, etc.

So go ahead and buy whatever you were going to buy with HDMI connections. Milli Vanilli agrees. –Brian Lam

John Answers HDMI 1.3 Questions [CNet]

Enabling that Deep Color capability is an increased data transfer rate from the current 4.95Gbps to 10.2Gbps. Another improvement is called "lip sync support," which automatically synchronizes video and audio tracks. The new spec also rolls out a smaller version of the HDMI connector that can be used with digital cameras, camcorders and mobile devices.

Along with that announcement, Sony added that it would implement the HDMI 1.3 technology into its upcoming PlayStation 3 gaming console. Could this finalization of the spec have something to do with the latest delay of Sony's Blu-ray disc player? – Charlie White

HDMI 1.3 upgrade finalised, published [Reg Hardware]

"The color bit depth [of today's displays] is typically 24-bits RGB - that gets you 16 million colors, and the human eye can distinguish that. That leads to scaling and onscreen effects which you can pick up. Either 36-bit or 48-bit RGB is beyond the ability of the human eye to distinguish."

HDMI Upgraded to Support Deep Color [ExtremeTech]