I'm very disappointed. I hope monoprice helps me out on this. Not sure how far I'm gonna get since I've had the switch for over a year.

After checking AVS forums, this seems to be a common issue. I would hate to have to put out money for a new one.

I've heard of a few problems with inexpensive HDMI switches. I've also had a lot of folks demand better HDMI cables after discovering the budget cable they have was having issues. Sending them home with an Audioquest has provided an effective cure every time so far.

I'm not going to go into detail about why the Audioquest cables worked and the cheaper ones didn't. There's lots of people in this world who believe digital is digital regardless and in this situation will get made claiming "This is bull****. I wanna cable that works for $3.00".
In my experience, not all digital cables are the same (far from it) and most cables costing more than $100 each are poor value for money (unless the wire run is rather long or the equipment is particularly esoteric).

It's all a case of suck it and see. Most of my customers say "I don't wanna be farting around with this, gimme (at least) a midrange HDMI cable." Which cost about $85.00. Not all of them need to spend that much, but I always suggest it for anyone using an HD box or a BRD/HD-DVD player.

It's the ones who go to Radioshack or the net for their sub-$30.oo HDMI cables that I often hear from again on the matter. it's less of an issue with upsampling HDMI DVD players like Oppo etc.

I'm pretty sure it's the switch and not the cable. If I hook the PS3 up directly to my receiver or TV, it works just fine. If I run it through the switch, nothing. They say port 5 of the switch is the only one that will work with this particular switch, but it doesn't work for me.

because I am just out of warranty, I'm fvcked. Stuck with it. Oh well.

But since every cable will drop bits once in a while. So if all digital protocols worked in a way where its either all perfect or none at all, then nothing would work.

At the receiving end there are always some attempt at data recovery (either ask for send again or etc) or ignore.

So if a cheap digital cable (HDMI or Cat5) is dropping too many bits, the signal on the other then will range in quality but still work. Thus it can behave like analogue signal.

Cabling is my biggest headach right now... I believe you just need to buy "good enough" cables, and there is no need for top of the line rip offs like Monster with bullet proof covers. The problem is finding the "good enough" cables can be a trial and error process. I always make sure I buy at places I can take the stuff back.

<center><img src="http://www.highendcable.co.uk/Images/A2/Nordost/OdinInterconnects.jpg"></center><p>Which goes against the grain of many an argument by electricians (for example) that digital is indeed digital.

I'd be reluctant to classify Monster Cables as top of the line. They do make some pricey products, but not a touch on some of the cable manufacturers out there.<ul><li><a href="http://www.highendcable.co.uk/Nordost%20ODIN%20interconnect.htm">Clink</a></li></ul>

Unless we are talking about really harsh environments, and really really badly made cables.

I'd like to know from you is could you claim to hear/see the difference in quality between mid-hi range HDMI cables?

Only the budget models.

Where I've noticed the difference most is on optical and coaxial cables in 2 channel systems.