AmazonBasics

"Nom De Plume" (unlistedusername) 02/20/2020 at 15:34 • Filed to: Bots, thousands of views in first 10 hours, SEO at work

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In the odd circumstance of needing some cords that can’t be pulled out the large pile every household owns. Like any sensible person the idea of visiting an electronics store to buy massively marked up excessively packaged junk has not even been a consideration. My usual fallback, a trip to the thrift shop, failed to unearth a suitable quality HDMI cable free of scorch marks or sliced wires.

Normally I wouldn’t even consider Amazon or their unpromising self branded line of mass produced goods. Before dismissing this idea I’d like to see if anyone has experience I might learn from if my biases are put aside.

This is what I’m currently looking at.

Michael > Nom De Plume 02/20/2020 at 15:49

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I’ve bought a bunch of USB C and HDMI cables from AmazonBasics, haven’t had any trouble with them so far over the last few years

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Nom De Plume 02/20/2020 at 15:49

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I bought an Amazon basics iPhone charger for my work phone. Seems like it was fine. I don't think they would put they own name on stuff that was far too shitty

VincentMalamute-Kim > Nom De Plume 02/20/2020 at 15:50

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I got the same thing but the 15 foot version a few weeks ago for a ceiling mounted projector. It works. Not much more to say.

i86hotdogs > Nom De Plume 02/20/2020 at 15:51

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I’ve always been told by tech enthusiasts and ones in the tech industry that the difference in HMDI cables are minuscule unless you are running the latest greatest highest quality equipment. For the average consumer like myself that just needs a decent picture, that is more than acceptable.

MonkeePuzzle > Nom De Plume 02/20/2020 at 15:53

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for cables that dont move much, like an HDMI which is plugged in then left alone at the back of the TV, I’ve had no hassle going cheaper.

but for cables I constantly manipulate, like a phone charger or other USB applications, I’ve found it’s worth the money going for a name brand that will have a better designed end that doesnt fail as easily.

so yes, amazon cheapo is fine for most applications. 

user314 > Nom De Plume 02/20/2020 at 15:55

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I’ve used their HDMI and USB cables without complaint or issue. FWIW, their batteries are as good as name brand too. 

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Nom De Plume 02/20/2020 at 15:56

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Never had any issues at all with Amazon Basics products. We use a bunch of their display cables on our test benches at work and they are high quality for the price and work well. I also use Amazon Basics for all my phone chargers.

TrickJos > Nom De Plume 02/20/2020 at 15:56

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I often buy Amazon basics products and I’ve been happy so far. Their iPhone cables have been quite good.

TorqueToYield > i86hotdogs 02/20/2020 at 15:56

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With the newest 4K + surround sound stuff I was using an old HDMI cable and it just couldn’t handle the bandwidth - I was getting dropped signals and stuttering. Switching to a modern high-speed shielded cable fixed it.

Sounds crazy but modern HDMI cables actually are a bit different than ones from 10 years ago.

Picture quality wont change, everything is digital after all, but if you’re getting dropped signals or no signal or stuttering then it’s time to upgrade your cables.

TorqueToYield > Nom De Plume 02/20/2020 at 15:57

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Amazon Basics stuff is pretty good quality for the money. There are other brands on Amazon for cables that are better for the money IMHO but they’re no name China brands and will have little support where as Amazon is Amazon.

I went with these HDMI cables and they work fine. I like the color coding since I have a million things hooked to my TV and receiver.

https://www.amazon.com/High-Speed-Corrosion-Resistant-Connectors-Ethernet/dp/B071XTGHFT/

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Nom De Plume 02/20/2020 at 15:57

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I’ve use some Amazon basics usb-c cables.  They’re fine, and the price was right.

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > Nom De Plume 02/20/2020 at 15:58

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I’ve ordered a lot of AmazonBasics HDMI cables (at different times, months/years apart) and they’ve all had different connectors and cable diameters. They all work but the last two were so hilariously thick I couldn’t coil them into a loop less than 2' in diameter.

razorbeamteam > Nom De Plume 02/20/2020 at 16:00

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I have Amazon Basics cables for my TV. I haven’t thought about them since I bought them.

I am not technical but the way I understand it is they either work or they don’t. These work.

Nom De Plume > RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire 02/20/2020 at 16:05

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B ad construction or materials are my biggest concern. By rights a cable shouldn’t go bad. The more use it gets the better it should function.

I’m quite sure thicker means cheaper and there are almost certainly lawyer advis ed reasons that won’t apply to your average usage behind it.  Not better isolation or anything actually desirable.

Ash78, voting early and often > Nom De Plume 02/20/2020 at 16:07

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Just remember AmazonBasics as a brand is just a mish-mash of random third-party stuff. I doubt Amazon is really doing much vetting here, especially for disposable and/or really cheap items. Batteries are the worst offender because they change source every time you order them.

HDMI cables, though, I’ve been really happy with.

Nom De Plume > i86hotdogs 02/20/2020 at 16:08

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If the cable is made to standards I don’t believe are met so commonly anymore. My two concerns are very poor internal construction/wiring/manufacturing changes oops and such cheap materials being used it breaks for no reason.

Nom De Plume > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/20/2020 at 16:11

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Running manufacturing changes and the like are a constant concern.  As RiceRocketeer confirmed happen due to volume coming from multiple factories.  This is valuable information that they at least maintain some product quality in such varied product lines.

Nom De Plume > VincentMalamute-Kim 02/20/2020 at 16:13

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Which is just it. BD player is mere inches from TV ’s HDMI input.  6' is a lot of wire coiled around itself or hanging loose across multiple other cables to make a mess.

Nom De Plume > TorqueToYield 02/20/2020 at 16:18

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What comes in the box with your average device with HDMI is as no name as can be.  Asia can make some very good stuff and either tackily brand it in large or be anonymous to disgustingly cheap looking.  I spent a good while sorting through all these other options knowing full well it could be great or increase the chance of equipment damage to unfavorable levels.  With cable in hand it is reasonably easy to inspect the pinout and other factors.  I don’t need someone to tell me photos on Amazon are as worthless as many of the product descriptions.

jminer > Nom De Plume 02/20/2020 at 16:21

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If you don’t need it tomorrow buy it from Monoprice. They have a giant selection of lengths and specifications and are cheap as hell.

The Amazon basics ones are fine too, just prefer ordering them from Monoprice where I can get a 6" thin HDMI cable for $3.  It just takes a week to get it.

Nom De Plume > jminer 02/20/2020 at 16:24

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There is a gift card that needs to be used. Monoprice is also following the corporate trend of gaining brand alliance and slowly removing quality.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Nom De Plume 02/20/2020 at 16:29

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Perhaps look at what Monoprice has available. I had a bunch of short runs to do from a switch box to various devices and bought some 1ft cables that did the trick. MP isn’t the bargain place they once were, but sometimes they have what you need at a fair price. On Amazon Basics? I’ve used a bunch of their stuff, mostly secondhand, and have had  no complaints.

facw > Nom De Plume 02/20/2020 at 16:29

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Amazon Basics stuff is fine. I’ve only ever had issue with one Amazon Basic’s product (a backpack) and Amazon just refunded it for me. No reason to avoid it IMO.

Disclosure: My brother works for Amazon (but not Amazon Basics) and is a big fan of pretty much everything Amazon Basics.

Nom De Plume > facw 02/20/2020 at 16:37

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Free returns and new product within a day or two is a draw over just some randomly branded cable.

I laughed when AmazonFresh was the only entity with the normal black vinyl 3' cable in stock.  Maybe the shipping container got misdirected and they just said we’ll deal with it and you can keep the by now spoiled foodstuffs at your distribution center.

i86hotdogs > TorqueToYield 02/20/2020 at 16:38

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Absolutely, I may not have been clear when saying the basic HDMI is adequate enough for a simple set up like mine. I don’t run anything in 4K and only uti lize a simple sound bar.

UserNotFound > Nom De Plume 02/20/2020 at 16:42

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I really like the color scheme of their batteries.

Danny Korecki > Nom De Plume 02/20/2020 at 17:03

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I am going to teach you something I was taught long ago.

All HDMI cords are created by the same few companies . There is no difference from an AmazonBasics one (I have like 3-4) or a no-name brand one in Best Buy for $50-100.

Nom De Plume > i86hotdogs 02/20/2020 at 17:15

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HDMI is playing catch up to DisplayPort. Instead of redesigning something fit to handle 4K/8K/? they are making some questionable short term changes that require needlessly complicated internals. 4 K @60hz is much better through DP with more bandwith etc available.

You know going into buying a new cable it’s going to be suspect and have some possibly good features added to sell the above. One being much better power surge rating. The other is potentially better shielding because the new arrangement is pushing it on sensitivity to frequency it needs to maintain.  $50 cable should have this sorted out.  $5 one is akin to a powerball ticket you’d be lucky to get a $2 value for the $5 spent.

I didn’t want to type a long involved opening post describing all of this that everyone would have to read.

i86hotdogs > Nom De Plume 02/20/2020 at 17:23

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I learned something today

Nom De Plume > Danny Korecki 02/20/2020 at 17:29

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I’m going to teach you something that changed since then. I would honestly buy a few from different brands that looked promising and forgo the exceedingly safe but cheap option under question. For less money.

This (lack of a proper ) redesign is not popular and the HDMI connector is not overly well regarded by some rarefied circles. The quality improvements in consumer electronics are microscopically incremental compared to what a little less economic restraint by the few same companies that own everything would easily allow for. Which should explain why I’m not rushing out to buy a new higher definition TV and somewhat grousing over the need for a thirty cent cable ringing up at five dollars and change.

facw > Nom De Plume 02/20/2020 at 22:28

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Well Amazon Go does have a small cable section, and while I think they aren’t directly related it could be the same idea, delivery convenience items(that people need now ) quickly, even if they aren’t food.

Nom De Plume > facw 02/20/2020 at 23:09

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Something tells me they aren’t letting a single bit of cross marketing potential go unattempted. All purchases lead back to all other goods available on the open market. Groceries are the current battleground.

I got a laugh out of thinking about some guy hopping out of a refrigerated truck to hand deliver my HDMI cable wrapped in butcher paper. Or in more typical fashion for them, a large empty tomato or cucumber box stuffed with air packaging.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Nom De Plume 02/21/2020 at 00:12

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Ive purchased their iphone cables and have had mixed results. its hard to beat the price. I’d be wiling to pay a bit more for the real thing, but its hard when the real thing is 3-4 times what amazon basics was charging

liam > Nom De Plume 02/21/2020 at 12:10

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All my HDMI cables are AmazonBasics, no complaints.