What exactly is an HDMI Cable? If you’ve made a purchase for an HDTV, you’ve probably heard of this cable. The HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface. This audio/video cable connects an HDTV to a component such as a cable box, satellite TV, a Blu-ray Disc player, or a video game console such as the Xbox, or PlayStation 3. It can also connect a Personal Computer to a monitor or other component. HDMI is basically an interface cable that allows for a digital connection between a device such as an HDTV, for example, and the component or the source, such as a Blu-Ray Disc Player. As with many products, the HDMI comes in various specifications and price ranges. The variables that will differ are the length of the cable, the Version, and the materials made in the construction of the cable.
An HDMI cable can come in a variety of lengths and sizes. The cable length can run from .5m or 1.5 ft in length all the way to 20 m or 66 ft. The longer the cable, the greater chance that the digital quality will decrease if a less expensive, lower grade cable is purchased, this is due to signal attenuation, which is the gradual loss of intensity through a flux (in this case the cable). To ensure the best video and sound quality at any length, the cable that is made of superior materials will provide the purest video and audio possible.
Have you seen a product description of ATC Certified v1.3? What does this stand for in terms of quality? It means that the cable is certified to pass high definition content, in this case, up to 1080p. The Version 1.3 was released in June of 2006. Version 1.3 comes in two Categories. You’ll see “Standard” and “High Speed” on the label. Standard is also known as a Category 1-certified cable and is tested and passed at 74.5 MHz. A Category 2-certified cable is tested and passed at 340 MHz. A higher bandwidth will allow for more capabilities of what can be transmitted over the HDMI cable. Other releases occurred thereafter including the 1.3a, 1.3b, and 1.3c. These all allowed for Deep Color support for digital video and the support of DolbyTrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio streams. This all may sound a little technical, but the previous versions of 1.0 to 1.2 were not made for the superior quality components such as the Blu-Ray Disc players and the higher resolution monitors for the PC. Better producing components require a higher version of cable specifications.
Materials used in the making of the cable also relate to the price of the cable, but more importantly to the quality of the end result in terms of video and audio clarity. The more superior the construction, the higher level of uninterrupted, low interference, pure quality signal. It’s the old adage that you get what you pay for and if you’re going to invest in the latest HDTV, it only makes sense to ensure that the cable structure and quality is equaled.
If you are looking at price and want a clear picture and audio, the lower priced cables will provide a clear picture and a clear sound, but higher priced cables often support resolutions of 720p and 1080i as well an 8 channel digital audio. A higher priced cable will do the same thing as the first one, but they are made of a true shielded twisted pair and gold plated connectors. These affect the purity of sound and video that come from the components. The higher priced cable will provide an excellent video and audio with any component especially a high resolution monitor and/or a Blu-Ray movie experience equal to theater quality picture and sound. They are made of superior materials such as 24 gold plated connectors, high-purity 24 AWG conductors and silver plating on oxygen-free copper conductors. All superior materials used to provide maximum signal transfer and clarity. Once again, the quality of the materials in the cable is what sets these cables apart.
In summary, most HDMI cables that are available these days will provide the connection that you need to have a digital source such as the HDTV connected to a component, such as the PS3. However, you will get a more pure sound and video when you review how the cable is structured based on the quality of the materials used to make the cable and the connectors. A lower priced HDMI cable will do the job, in most cases. The higher priced HDMI cable will no doubt have a better grade of materials, and will provide the better picture and sound with any component connected regardless of the requirements of that component.
If you are looking for HDMI Cables, feel free to browse the selection we have available through our store partners.
