PS3 to come without HDMI cables

PS3 News | Because the console doesn't cost enough already.

The official PlayStation 3 site for North America has revealed that consumers forking out for a PlayStation 3 will have to pay extra if they want an HDMI cable - even if it is the top-end PS3 model they've bought. A FAQ on the site informs readers that, "[A] HDMI cable [is] not included. Additional equipment may be required to use the HDMI connector". The omission of the cable is a tad unusual, especially considering Sony's keenness to point out the lack of a HDMI connection on both Microsoft's Xbox 360 or Nintendo's Wii.

HDMI, or 'High-Definition Multimedia Interface' to give it its full name, is capable of transmitting a high-definition, uncompressed digital audio-video stream between your console and TV, and is widely considered to offer the best quality of picture and audio for devices of this type. Now, presuming the same policy extends to other regions besides North America (and history suggests it will), it looks as though you'll have to pay a little more to enjoy that quality.

Related Content

Xbox 360 to get HDMI?
11 Jul, 2006 New pic suggests PS3-esque upgrade for MS console.

Budget PS3 will be upgradeable
20 May, 2006 Sony announces adapter for memory sticks, SD cards and compact flash cards.

E3 2006: Harrison defends lack of features on budget PS3
11 May, 2006 "There's no difference in what the machine does."

Page12 Next

34 Comments

Infested Jibbs

5 years ago

Oh well they're only cables.

How much can cables cost?A tenner for sure, no more then that.

/avg joe's train of thought

Sin Ogaris

5 years ago

Isn't it great how strongly Microsoft and Sony are supporting High Definition?

mqphu1

5 years ago

This is not a problem since most HDTV with HDMI input comes with the cable.
Most HD receivers also include the cable as a standard anyway.

Cerebral

5 years ago

Depends in you'll need a proprietary HDMI cable (unlikely). Neither our TV nor our HD reciever came with one, though we did buy one spereately at the time.

Spanca

5 years ago

Cerebral wrote

Depends in you'll need a proprietary HDMI cable (unlikely). Neither our TV nor our HD reciever came with one, though we did buy one spereately at the time.

This is Sony we're talking about, they'll leap at the chance to sell you another accessory!

mqphu1

5 years ago

If you look at the back of the PS3. It shows the standard HDMI cable port

Spanca

5 years ago

If you look at the back of the PS3 from a year ago it showed 2 of them, as well as a lot of other ports that are no longer there.

Cerebral

5 years ago

Call me naive, but why the **** would you need two? I'm thinking output to two HDTVs, but the 'impractical alarm' is going off in my head.

Spanca

5 years ago

Well last year Sony was telling us how the PS3 was better than the 360 as it could output via dual HDMI, so much better in fact that they decided to drop the idea when they thought about actually building it.

ugh the boot

5 years ago

I don't see the problem when users are still going to be able to display 480p, 720p and 1080i signals via component (not too sure about 1080p).

Also not all telly's supports hdmi (like mine which only has component)....so i'd hate to buy the Premium console and get only the hdmi cable with it (it's not really smart giving both as they will be wasting money....component cables and hdmi cables are hardly cheap items).

I really don't see the problem...unless i've overlooked some important detail. Atleast the Ps3 has HDMI support unlike the Xbox 360 which is only supporting it for an add on (hd-dvd drive).

GooberMan

5 years ago

My TV has a DVI input, so with a converter I may actually find the HDMI output useful one day. I have my computer hooked up to the DVI input, and currently am only using one of my component inputs, so chances are until I buy a TV that supports 1080p I'll just stick with component cables.

I guess it's just like RF adapters being a stand-alone component these days. HDMI isn't standard yet, so ship with what's standard instead of covering all bases.

Jellyfish

5 years ago

mqphu1 wrote

This is not a problem since most HDTV with HDMI input comes with the cable.
Most HD receivers also include the cable as a standard anyway.

Mine didn't come with any and my TV is a Sony, and the HDMI cables I've seen are $200-300.

slapshakle

5 years ago

nikack wrote

the HDMI cables I've seen are $200-300.

Thats insane. Oh well, my tv only has DVI and component. If my tv had HDMI support I would be pissed.

Jellyfish

5 years ago

slapshakle wrote

nikack wrote

the HDMI cables I've seen are $200-300.

Thats insane. Oh well, my tv only has DVI and component. If my tv had HDMI support I would be pissed.

Oh and those are the 1 metre ones. You can get them cheaper off Ebay though.

mqphu1

5 years ago

nikack,
My HDTV is a SONY BRAVIA, it comes with a HDMI cable!.
The Sony HD receivers are also come with the cables.

Premium HDMI cables are only $45/$55 for 0.5M/1M, respectively.

cycosippius

5 years ago

Spanca wrote

I remember this quite well, well put mate

Dave_L

5 years ago

Haha, yeah i was gonna say the same, well said Spence.
If it does have a standard HDMI-to-HDMI connection, then at least that's something (as you can go out and buy whatever ones you want as opposed to a Sony PS3 branded one).
But my HDTV didn't come with any leads (and why should it?) and i don't know of anyone else that's got HDMI leads free with their TV in the UK (although, i only know a couple of people with HDTV's at this stage!).
I did get one with my upscaling DVD player though, so i can't imagine they're too much - under £20 for a standard one i reckon.

Bloody stupid that Sony have chosen not to include a set though - what's the point in having a high-end console option?

Sol_Bad

5 years ago

Spanca wrote

And if you would have taken notice of any of the advertised pictures from E3 2005 you would have noticed writting down the bottom that said "specs are subject to change" or something similar.

The Brett

5 years ago

I don't know how anyone could be pissed off at this without being a hypocrite.

People get annoyed at Sony for including "unnecessary" technology that jacks the price up, and, with Sony already selling the console at a loss, they decide to make HDMI cables an option (as many people would have no use for them) to bring down the price of the base pack.

Jellyfish

5 years ago

The Brett wrote

People get annoyed at Sony for including "unnecessary" technology that jacks the price up, and, with Sony already selling the console at a loss, they decide to make HDMI cables an option (as many people would have no use for them) to bring down the price of the base pack.

But the base pack doesn't have a HDMI port...

Dave_L

5 years ago

Sol_Bad wrote

Spanca wrote

And if you would have taken notice of any of the advertised pictures from E3 2005 you would have noticed writting down the bottom that said "specs are subject to change" or something similar.

I didn't see 'the stuff we're bragging about as a selling point is subject to change' though?

Seriously - it's a key selling point (HDMI). You can't watch or play in HD without them (i'm assuming they're not gonna give us nice component cables, just composite crap like all consoles bar the 360 have come with). Costs are high (too high for me to justify for once!), but that's why there's a base pack that doesn't even have HDMI. The one that does, should most certainly come with cables.

dc0079

5 years ago

"Additional equipment may be required to use the HDMI connector" This is the real catch. It said maybe, I read that as a will be. If it really is just maybe, shows how far from production PS3 is.

realitybites

5 years ago

Well every item save $$. Margins will be pretty tight on the PS3.

I agree though many people will be using component or HDMI/DVI convertors. Therefore not much point having one although its a nice curtesy to have everything day one.

Hate to say it its probably a sensible move at this time. Maybe 3 years down the track there will be one.