Torrent's SureConnect HDMI cables stay put with magnets, blink with madness
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Apr 15th 2009 4:42AM
posted Apr 15th 2009 4:42AM
Torrent's higher spec'd SureConnect Advanced and Elite cables also feature the totally over-the-top "VeriFYI" (ugh) indicator lights to confirm the end-to-end connection. VeriFYI blinks to confirm the HDMI cable you just inserted is in fact inserted -- something you should be able to confirm with the same pair of eyes looking at the jack. Insert the other side of the cable and VeriFYI will glow steady for one minute after testing the end-to-end connection. It then repeats this semi-useful (assuming your cables are easily visible) test each time you power up your system. While MagLoc sounds promising, it appears that the cables have yet to reach retail channels. We'll let you know as soon as that changes.
[Via The Inquirer and HDMI.org]
A Dutch consumer program tested all kind of HDMI cables with an oscilloscope, from the cheapest to the gold plated ones. They all turned out to give through the exact same signal. So don't bother to spend these 100 bucks on a special edition cable unless you sleep with it.
Discuss that to Monster.
The only thing about this cable that claims to bring higher picture quality is the Mylar shielding, which as stated below is a lie.
The exciting thing about this cable (something exciting about a cable, i know!) is that it will stay in with magnets.
If you want to argue with someone about picture quality, argue with Monster, not these guys.
It still amazes me how so called Home Cinema Magazines still review digital cables and claim that they make a difference! With digital, the bytes either get to the end or they do not. If they do not then it will be very obvious, if they do get to the other end then the data will be assembled the same no matter what cable is used! It is not like analogue where the waveform can be distorted by the materials and interference.
However it does not seem to be stopping Monster from telling people the opposite and it certainly is not stopping the general public from handing over their hard earned cash for something that makes no difference at all........
As for the above product, I habe no problems at all with my cheap hdmi cables falling out and I certainly do not need a light to tell me that it is plugged in!
@COOLBLUE - because Monster cable and the like pay big bucks to advertise in those magazines
My buddy owned a high-end hometheater company and only once did they HAVE to use Monster cables - an installation in a bar where the cable run was close to all the neon lighting and by the motors for the decending/revolving lights.......not your typical 6' run in a persons house where monoprice cables work
HDMI for dummies?
If there ever was an HDMI cable that I'd pay more money for it would be one that did not pop out of it's socket.
I like it when people do things with no compromise. Of course it gives products nobody can buy, but that's just how everything should be thought and done.
Whats up with the image as you move your mouse over it?
Its fixed now...
I'm down with the blinky-lights bit. I'm even down with the gold-plating. But mylar by itself does not block any interference. And using nitrogen as a dielectric is all well and good, except that it probably diffused out before you've even taken it to the checkout counter.
Sure am glad that it's made with 'non-toxic substances', though. I have a habit of chewing on my HDMI cables.
Using the godlike speed of HDMI 1.3a to its full advantage, you attach two devices at the same time. This makes non-magnetized sockets useless. This is the Torrent's, SureConnect HDMI cable.
So ummmm... why is this tagged as "breaking"? a new hdmi cable? c'mon engadget...
Surely they're being ironic?
This is crap. More gimmicks to try to get you to buy the cable. Why do you need a indicator light to tell you if the damn thing is plugged in? Chances are, if you aren't getting a signal, it ISN'T plugged in. Plus the next thing I need is another LED glowing in my room. And the magnetic coupler?... sure a magnetic coupler is great on my MacBook because it gets moved around, but setting up a rack system or mounting a TV is a once-and-done kinda thing. My HDMI cables aren't jumping out of their sockets, and they aren't held in by a sooper dooper magnetic coupler.
don't have any problem with my cheapo ones coming out. Or the one some moron at costco left in his 50 plasma screen box because he didn't bother to look inside when he removed his tv. Likely cause he couldn't fit it in his car. Also forgot the remote and manual. By the way anyone need a spare Vizo remote? I'll give you a deal. Just kidding. (only cause it's in one of like 20 boxes i'm not going through)
More snake-oil please!
Unless you're wrapping your cables in big coils or running them next to your microwave I don't think interference is going to be a problem.
you connect it once, and you forget about it forever? Why would it be coming out? I have a tv hooked up with hdmi, and they sure as hell are not jumping out of their sockets... WTF is this?
Next in the news: "battery-powered sawing machine, because you never know when you feel like sawing"
A light that confirms the cable is not faulty (I assume they won't light up if the cable is damaged somehow) is not such a bad idea that most of you seem to think.
Yes, I know cables don't break that often, but when they do, it can be a pain to find out that the cable is broken.
except that this is a video cable. when it breaks, the picture breaks. all you have to do to check it is turn your TV on.
VeriFYI...I wish I could meet the person that thought that up.
LEDs on the connector! Great idea!!!! WTF! I FUCKING HATE LEDS!
Anyone else NEVER have the issue of hdmi cables falling out of their sockets? it must just be me but hdmi cables almost seem like a pain in the ass to get in and out of the sockets, especially on the ones that run vertically. Putting them in is halfway difficult
Madness? THIS IS SPARTA!!!
"tried to stuff your receiver into too tight a rack"
I'm sorry, but that just sounds dirty!
The guys who designed the HDMI standard / connector should've made it so there was a locking mechanism, even if it was optional.
Since you can get DVI / HDMI adaptors, DVI must use most, if not all of the same signals as HDMI, its just a different connector.
I prefer DVI as it uses thumb screws on each side of the connector to secure the heavy cable. The HDMI connector looks weak, and on cables might easily bend/break.
Sorry, meant to say: The HDMI connector looks weak, and on CHEAP cables it might easily bend/break.
sup dawg, we herd you liek torrents, so we put a torrented x264 rip in your torrent HDMI cable so you can use torrents while you use torrents
You've got to hand it to them, torrent make cables sound damned fancy; "Nitrogen Injected Gas Dielectric For Maximum Signal Strength".
That sounds good and all, but don't the device itself have to have the magLok receiving end. It's not going to hold anything up by magnets if there's nothing to attract it....Another monster cable wannabe. No thanks, go back to the drawing board guys, you think equipment manufacturer will put that on? What about existing equipment. Useless.
Nitrogen Injected gas dielectric. I get that way after i eat broccoli.
"Of course, anyone who's familiar with the magnetic "locks" on some laptop power cords can assure you that the technology is nowhere near as strong as mechanical fasteners."
That's *exactly* how it's supposed to be - so you don't damage the cable or pull the laptop off the table if you snag or trip on the cable.
Detaching the cable accidentally doesn't matter as the laptop will keep running on battery until you reattach the cable.
Another cable. No comment.. wait, no...dammit.
I was pretty sure that there actually is a locking mechanism in the spec for HDMI, but it's an optional feature that cables aren't required to have.
Also, I think that the magnetic connectors on laptops being weaker than physical connections is exactly the reason they exist. They opperate like the breakaway connectors on gas pumps. I don't really understand what the point of having a super strong magnet on you cable is. I know one thing for sure- I'm not buying one of these cables to plug into the back of my htpc!
The friction connectors on HDMI cables are surely stronger than small magnets that surround them, and the LED is pretty pointless. The Macbook connectors are shallow and actually disconnect if you yank on them. If the magnets weren't there, the plug would just fall out. With HDMI, the plug is square. If you tried to knock it out of its socket by yanking on it, it would damage either the plug or the jack. Stupid idea overall.