Sunday, June 12, 2011

How & Why the Quality of an HDMI Cable Makes a Difference

The Cables Bandwidth
  • For HD-TV's that can only get 1080i or less resolution you can get by with a cable that is rated @ 2.25 Gbps (gigabytes per second).
  • For HD-TV's that are rated for 1080p a category 2 or "HIGH SPEED" cable must meet or exceed 10.2 Gbps in order to receive true 1080p resolution.
Connectors & Pins
  • The pins within the connectors of an HDMI cable are either nickel or gold plated. Gold transfers electronic signals the best and will not tarnish.
Inner Cable Materials
Other than the connectors of an HDMI cable the inner materials also makes the difference between a standard cable and a quality cable.
  • Some cable makers will use 24-gauge wire instead of using 28-gauge wire. This makes for a strong cable which can handle longer runs.
  • Shielding within the cable helps protect the signal from outside interference, so the better shielding the less signal interference.
Workmanship
  • Properly made cables make the difference
  • Cheap, poorly manufactured cables may not securely fit into sockets on your TV and equipment properly, which can lead to broken connectors on your equipment.
  • Look for a guarantee on the packaging on the package. Companies who are proud of their work often times guarantee it.
My Suggestion
  • Beware of HDMI cables that claim to be "HIGH SPEED" and don't give you the speed rating.
  • Don't buy the $1.00 cables on the Internet. They are garbage.
  • If you value true HD, find what is best for your system and go with it. Taking shortcuts can lead to a poor Home Audio/Video experience.
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