I have ordered a new TV from Currys in their black tag event 55″ QLED Samsung. So I am one very happy bunny.

When buying the salesman tried to sell me some very expensive 4k ready HDMI cables and a 4K ready optical cable for connection to my surround sound system.

I am right in assuming that this was standard sales Bulls**t and not a real thing aren’t I?

Yes you are.

Also, what mentalist would use an optical cable in a HDMI-equipped setup? Bloody weasel.

we sell 4k ready leads. roughly about £1 per meter + vat.
up to 20 meters.

Also, what mentalist would use an optical cable in a HDMI-equipped setup? Bloody weasel.

Maybe the tv doesn’t have the capability to output sound to a soundbar via HDMI? Mine doesn’t so I have to use optical.

They are sort of thing. Some poundland cables may not be up to the job and if you are doing a long run then you need a slightly better quality cable. Other than that pretty much every HDMI lead is “4k ready”

There is a little merit in the claim that not all HDMI cables are the same.

For most average use, most cables will do. But if your trying to drive the display at full 4k, 60hz, yuv444 ( like connecting to a pc) then the data rate down the cable gets very high and some cheaper cables degrade the signal such that it doesnt work right.

When you connect a 4k HDMI decent cable then the data doesn’t get degraded.

I’m not claiming it makes the picture look better, just that it the connection more reliable.

we sell 4k ready leads

Or as they’re more usually known, leads.

You need a certified “High Speed” HDMI cable, which most are aside from the real bottom-feeder end of the market. Anything else is marketing or snake oil.

Our tv runs better with the sound though the optical rather than the arc hdmi

Maybe the tv doesn’t have the capability to output sound to a soundbar via HDMI?

Fair point, but the OP isn’t using a sound bar.

For most average use, most cables will do. But if your trying to drive the display at full 4k, 60hz, yuv444 ( like connecting to a pc) then the data rate down the cable gets very high and some cheaper cables degrade the signal such that it doesnt work right

If it’s a High Speed certified cable, it will work. If it doesn’t work, it’s not legitimately certified.

Fair point, but the OP isn’t using a sound bar.

How do you know? The surround sound system may be a soundbar.

(Unless you are in receipt of more detailed information about the OPs home set-up than I 🙂 )

It’s a Samsung and a newer one so it has Arc.

How do you know?

The TV is internet connected. Pretty easy to track his IP address, then use the TV’s built in webcam. Basic stuff

You will probably want a cable that supports HDMI v2.0b. I find Amazon Basics are good, you may also want some 90° Angle HDMI adapters.

” you may also want some 90° Angle HDMI adapters”

But surely that will turn the picture sideways…

😆

The surround sound system may be a soundbar.

A sound bar isn’t any form of “surround sound system” I recognise.

A sound bar isn’t any form of “surround sound system” I recognise.

Why not? Mine has 2.1 surround sound (it has a wireless sub-woofer that lives behind the sofa).

Granted it’s not 5.1 or 7.1 or whatever, but it is surround sound nonetheless.

What you’ve got there is “stereo” probably with a bit of DSP nonsense, not surround sound.

Pedant – it still fills my room with sound in the same way ‘true’ surround does. 😛

All speakers do that. You’d be hard pressed to find one that only filled half of the room, unless it was really quiet I suppose.

(-:

You’d be hard pressed to find one that only filled half of the room

Not really. Acouspade 😉

I bloody knew when I was writing that, some cleverbollocks would find one that did. (-:

and a 4K ready optical cable for connection to my surround sound system.

Bwahahahahahahaha!

johndoh – Member
Pedant – it still fills my room with sound in the same way ‘true’ surround does.

A single mono speaker can do that, 2.1 means stereo with a subwoofer, which is not surround just stereo with a non-directional bass extension.
For true surround you need at least five speakers with a sub, or seven with one or two subs, then you get discrete sound separation where you hear off-camera noises like doors slamming behind you, or footsteps, which are impossible to achieve with 2.1, for what ought to be perfectly clear reasons.

I bloody knew when I was writing that, some cleverbollocks would find one that did. (-:

😆

which are impossible to achieve with 2.1, for what ought to be perfectly clear reasons.

But, but, it has a button that says “surround” on it!!1!

And now there’s HDMI 2.1!
https://www.engadget.com/2017/11/28/hdmi-2-1-specification-is-now-available-with-10k/

But, but, it has a button that says “surround” on it!!1!

I’ve got a remote that has a button marked SKY, but when I press it I don’t find myself gently floating amidst white fluffy clouds… 😉

You’re clearly not pressing it hard enough.

Which, to be fair, we’ve all been there.

Have you tried taking the back off and rolling the batteries around a bit.

They aren’t wrong though. The cable is 4K ready.