Blog Archives - Page 2 of 2

What is an HDMI Cable?

We may earn an affiliate commission when you purchase through links on our site. Thanks for your support!

What is an HDMI Cable Used For?

‘What is an HDMI cable’ might at first glance seem like an overly simplistic question but if you do a little research, it soon becomes obvious that that the innocuous HDMI cable has a lot of complex technology behind it. At its most basic, an HDMI cable is the cable that is used to connect a high definition video output such as a DVR to a high definition input device such as a television. The reason one would want to do this is to obtain the best possible picture and sound. A traditional coaxial cable will do the job of course but using an HDMI cable is much better.

What Does HDMI mean?

High Definition Multimedia Interface describes it exactly. It is an interface between a digital display device (TV, computer monitor, projector) and audio/video devices such as cable and satellite set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, audio video receivers and DVD players. HDMI will support a variety of video standards including standard, enhanced and high definition as well as digital audio (multi-channel). This means it will transmit and support ATSC HDTV standards as well as 192kHz, 8-channel and Dolby Digital and DTS. HDMI 1.3 cables also support Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio while allowing room for future developments.

Brief History of HDMI

HDMI technology was first available in late 2002 by way of HDMI version 1. Since then, several upgraded specifications have been released, being HDMI 1.1, 1.2, 1.2a, 1.3, 1.3a, 1.3b, 1.3b1, 1.3c, 1.4, 2.0 and the most recent – HDMI 2.1 which was released in November 2017. The good thing is that these versions are backward compatible with previous versions.

Improvements

HDMI 1.3 brought many significant improvements to HDMI technology such as high speed, Deep Color, mini connections to camcorders, lip sync, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio™. HDMI 1.4 saw the introduction of HDMI Ethernet, Audio Return Channel (surround sound), 3D video formats, 4K support equivalent to commercial movie quality, Content Type, Additional Color Spaces to accommodate advanced computer graphics, an HDMI Micro Connector and Automotive Connection System to accommodate developments unique to the automotive industry.

HDMI 2.0

With the significant developments of HDMI 1.3 and 1.4, consumers could be forgiven for wondering how it could be possible to take on even more enhancements but this is exactly what has been delivered. The backward-compatible functionality becomes ever more important too. The main feature of HDMI 2.0 is in the area of bandwidth in that it has been increased all the way up to 18Gbps as a response to consumer demand for increased audio and video experiences. You can expect 4K@50/60, (2160p), up to 1536kHz audio frequency, wide angle theatrical support, 32 audio channels, dual video streams and multi-stream audio. These last two features are set to create an unparalleled gaming environment.

HDMI 2.1

HDMI 2.1 takes the home entertainment experience up a notch with features that make movies and games look and sound better. One standout feature is its support for higher resolutions and refresh rates, including 4K at 120Hz and even 8K at 60Hz. This means you can enjoy ultra-clear images with incredible detail and super-smooth motion, ideal for high-speed gaming or action-packed movie scenes.

It also introduces eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel), which allows your TV to send audio to a sound system without losing any quality, making sure you get the most immersive sound experience. Plus, with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), your games will run more smoothly, with less lag and stuttering. So, whether you’re exploring new worlds in your favorite RPG or enjoying the latest blockbuster, HDMI 2.1 ensures your visuals are sharp, your motions are fluid, and your audio is as rich and detailed as can be.

Cable Lengths

HDMI only specifies the performance requirements of a cable, not the length of the cable so manufacturers of HDMI cables are able to provide cables in a range of lengths designed to suit the many and varied needs of consumers. These can range from as little as 3 feet through to 75 feet or more. This allows users to customize their home theater and gaming requirements to suit a variety of set up options. It is to be expected that technological developments will bring about changes in cable lengths.

Benefits of HDMI Cables

HDMI cable reviews will provide insight as to the various benefits of the many different HDMI cables currently available in the marketplace but the main benefit consumers can expect to find is in relation to audio and visual quality. With the technology that is currently being deployed in output devices such as HDTVs, a traditional coaxial cable can seem a little outdated when compared to the digital audio and visual experience that can be achieved by using an HDMI cable. They are convenient too, with only one cable being required rather than a myriad of cables cluttering the back area of your TV.

In answer to the original question of ‘what is an HDMI cable?’ we can add in something else now that we know a little bit more about them. If you are a gamer or rely heavily on home theater equipment for the majority of you in-house entertainment, you can see that an HDMI cable is something that can make the difference between an ‘OK coaxial experience’ or a digital audio and video extravaganza. Check out some HDMI reviews and find an HDMI cable that will suit you best.

Which HDMI Cable Should I Buy?

We may earn an affiliate commission when you purchase through links on our site. Thanks for your support!

Are all HDMI Cables the Same?

This is a question that manufacturers of expensive HDMI cables don’t want you to ask. Not because they don’t know the answer, but rather, because you might decide not to buy their cable. There is a tremendous amount of hype around HDMI cables so much in fact, that the nuts and bolts of what it actually does becomes lost in the sales pitch. Because most of us don’t really understand the process of audio and visual signal transmission, it’s easy to create very technically sounding explanations that look impressive on paper. Suddenly, an excellent HDMI cable is on the market and if we want our HD devices to work properly, we must have it.

“Why all HDMI cables are the same” will take you to a good explanation about how HDMI cables work and why regardless of cost, they all do the same job. The expensive cables do not work any better than the less expensive HDMI cables when it comes to relaying data. The author of the article, Geoffrey Morrison outlines precisely why this is so, in language which is easy to understand. It’s worth a read if you are interested in saving money, as well as making an informed buying decision.

There’s Big Money in Cables

Never have truer words been spoken. It’s a bit like Amazon losing money on selling Kindle Readers because they know they will recoup the loss and then some, by selling the content for the Kindle. Like shaving razors which are no use without razor blades, so too are HDMI devices without cables. With more and more HDMI devices coming to the marketplace, the demand for cables is only growing. So many reputable and disreputable companies market the advantages of their cables, perhaps without really understanding that the workings of an HDMI cable are the same. It will relay audio and visual data – or it won’t.

Geoffrey Morrison says, “In order for one HDMI cable to have “better picture quality” than another, it would imply that the final result between the source and display could somehow be different. It’s not possible. It’s either everything that was sent, or full of very visible errors (sparkles). The image cannot have more noise, or less resolution, worse color, or any other picture quality difference. The pixels can’t change. They can either be there or not.”

Audio

When audio is transmitted over a HDMI cable, there is more error correction occurring than in the video signal. However, error correction is built into Dolby’s codecs. The data going to the DAC of your receiver is the same as what’s on the disc, bit-for-bit. Expensive or cheap, the cable has no relevance when it comes to the signal transmission of DTS or Dolby. Cable manufacturers often claim their cables are “Made for 240 Hz” however, this is not true. The conversion to 120 or 240 Hz is done inside the TV and the cable has nothing to do with that. (Information courtesy of Geoffrey Morrison).

Conclusion

The only real criterion to apply when choosing an HDMI cable is if it will actually work. Cheap or expensive, gold plated or not. You can of course apply your own aesthetic preferences to a particular cable, but that won’t affect its ability to do the job. Are all HDMI cables the same? The following links will take you on a journey of discovery into the world of HDMI cables and how they work, which might also help you to choose the right HDMI cable for your needs.

HDMI.org/learningcenter
howstuffworks.com/hdmi
wikipedia.org/HDMI
wikipedia.org/Transition_Minimized_Differential_Signaling

HDMI 2.0 – Everything You Wanted to Know

We may earn an affiliate commission when you purchase through links on our site. Thanks for your support!

HDMI technology has been with us since December 2002 when HDMI 1.0 came into being. After many enhancements to the specification, HDMI 2.0 was finally released in September 2013 and its introduction marks a significant change in HDMI technology. The good news is that HDMI 2.0 is backwards compatible with HDMI 1.x specifications, however it should be noted that the HDMI 2.0 specification is now regarded as the standard and if you need new cables, you might want to opt for HDMI 2.0, particularly if you own the latest models of a variety of hardware such as TV, PC, DVD and BluRay players.

What is HDMI 2.0?

It is technology that is used to link up hardware such as an HDTV, BluRay player, or computer for example, to a digital content source, by way of a cable – an HDMI cable. It provides the user with the means to enjoy high-quality digital audio and video. As previously mentioned, HDMI 1.0 was the first specification that was released, followed over the next eleven years by a series of upgrades, namely HDMI 1.1, 1.2, 1.2a, 1.3, 1.3a, 1.3b, 1.3b1, 1.3c, 1.4, 1.4a, 1.4a and finally in late 2013, HDMI 2.0. It takes HDMI 1 technology to a new level, essentially in terms of the amount of bandwidth it can support, as well as providing for present and future developments that will be undertaken by manufacturers of consumer hardware (HDTVs, etc.).

The HDMI 2.0 Specification

Release Date
HDMI 2.0 was released into the marketplace in early September 2013 and considering it was eleven years since the advent of HDMI 1.0, the HDMI 2.0 specification can be expected to be the industry standard for some time to come.

Transmission Minimized Differential Signaling
This is the technology that is used to ensure that high-speed data is transmitted at high speed and in large volumes. It is now part of HDMI 2.0 so that the consumer audio and visual experience is of the highest quality possible. It features a specific coding algorithm that acts to reduce interference from copper cables and long cables. It also ensures that cheap cables also provide quality audio and video transmission of data. The increased TMDS is 2.4 Gbits per second, up to 6 Gbits from 3.4 Gbits per second on each channel. The total TMDS supported across all channels is 18 Gbits per second

Resolution = HDMI 2.0 is able to support up to 4K resolution at a maximum of 60 frames per second. This equates to 2160p and provides improved clarity by up to four times the hitherto standard 1080p resolution for video.
Audio Channels - Up to 32 are supported, resulting in what has been described as an immersive audio experience.
Audio Standards – HR-AAC and DRA are supported
kHz Audio - The range has been extended to support a maximum of 1536 kHz
Audio Streams - HDMI 2.0 has a multiple-user audio feature whereby up to four users can simultaneously stream their own audio.
Video Streams - Two video streams are supported for simultaneous viewing by separate users who are sharing the same screen. This is an excellent feature however a large screen is advised so that both viewers are able to experience a reasonably sized picture.
Video Aspect Ratio - This comes in at a ratio of 21:9 so that the user is able to experience a wide-angle, theatre-type view.
Audio and Video Synchronisation - Audio and video streams are able to be synchronized and lip syncing is also supported
CEC Extensions - These enable the user to control all electronic hardware from one point of control, making the operation and management of devices easy and convenient.
Color Space - Rec 2020 is supported
Chroma Subsampling is supported
3D – capability is improved with support for 25 frames per second included

These are the features that make up the HDMI 2.0 specification and it is worth noting that if you already have category 2 cables, they are high speed enabled and will carry the increased bandwidth of HDMI 2.0. That is not to say that that you will never need to purchase new cables though if you want to enjoy all the benefits of the HDMI 2.0 specification.

New Kid on the Block - HDMI 2.1a

HDMI 2.1 is the latest version of the HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) specification, which is used to transmit audio and video signals between devices. HDMI 2.1a specifically supports a number of new features, including higher resolution and refresh rates, dynamic HDR, and eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel). With HDMI 2.1a, it is possible to transmit 4K and 8K video at rates of up to 120Hz, which can result in a more immersive and smoother viewing experience. Additionally, eARC allows for the transmission of high-quality audio formats, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, over a single HDMI cable.

Conclusion

HDMI 2.0 is here to stay and all major manufacturers of electronic hardware as well as major movie-producing studios use HDMI technology. Increasingly, the technology is geared to support ever greater bandwidth as well as higher quality audio and video so it makes sense to replace cables when necessary with those that support the HDMI 2.0 specification. While category 2 cables can handle the additional bandwidth, at some point most users will want to take full advantage of the latest industry-standard in HDMI technology.

If you would like to find out more, please check out the references below for detailed information about the development of HDMI technology.

References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transition_Minimized_Differential_Signaling

Choosing the Best HDMI Cable

We may earn an affiliate commission when you purchase through links on our site. Thanks for your support!

The Best HDMI Cable for your Home Theater

Buying HDMI cables is not rocket science; it is a simple task to find the best HDMI cable for your home theater. You need to know a few simple things; most importantly, the price usually has no bearing on how well the cable will function. Still, there is a significant range of prices for HDMI cables. You will find extremely economical cables for less than $10.00 and super costly cables for $50, $100, or even more.

You may think there must be a large distinction in the quality of video and audio the cables produce. But this assumption is wrong. Because HDMI cables pass digital signals, per definition, every HDMI cable will provide either an ideal signal or no signal at all. It will either work or it won’t.

Don’t buy the least expensive HDMI cable

If all HDMI cables are equal, should you buy the least expensive HDMI cable? No. Do not purchase the super cheap cables because:

The build quality of cheap HDMI Cables is substandard; the connectors, twists in cables, electromagnetic interference protection, wiring, etc. are of the lowest quality.
Poor quality control by the cable manufacturer; too commonly inexpensive cables do not work at all.
Higher possibility of not meeting the standards set by the HDMI organization and not being an official HDMI adopter.

Forget about looking for a particular HDMI version, choose a HDMI High Speed cable

For some reason people still think that HDMI versions such as HDMI 1.3 and HDMI 1.4a, etc. are appropriate criteria for purchasing HDMI cables. In fact, the HDMI versions really only apply to the manufacturers of the cables. Consumers want to look for the following criteria when selecting cables:

HDMI Standard – 1080i and 720p
HDMI Standard with Ethernet – 1080i and 720p plus Ethernet
HDMI High Speed – 1080p, 3D and 4k
HDMI High Speed with Ethernet – 1080p, 3D, 4K plus Ethernet

The following are the features of HDMI cables that matter to consumers:

If you are connecting a 3D BluRay player to a 3D HDTV, then you should choose a HDMI High Speed HDMI Cable.
If you want to use the new 4K high resolution standard, then be sure the cable supports 4K video and it is a HDMI High Speed version.
If you are connecting a standard DVD player to a HDTV with a resolution less than 1080p, then a HDMI standard cable will work just fine.

A High Speed HDMI cable is the very best HDMI cable you can purchase and will work with all the latest technology.

Buy authentic HDMI products:

The vast bulk of HDMI products are certified by the HDMI Licensing Company and tested for finest performance. To make sure that you are purchasing an accredited and 100 % certified item we recommend:

Look for the official HDMI Logo and the HDMI High Speed Logo.

Purchase from trusted sellers, like Amazon.

Choose the best cable length:

This may seem very basic, but in fact selecting the correct cable television length is essential. As explained earlier HDMI cables either send the digital data or send no signal at all. In contrast to other type of television cables (e.g. coax cables), HDMI cables work with a cable technology that limits the maximum cable length to 35 feet.

Note: There is no explicit length cable length of HDMI cables. The HDMI Company makes it clear that HDMI signals can be transferred over a distance of 300 ft with the right technique.

Practically, most cables provide a basic twisted-copper architecture which due to its signal attenuation restricts the functional length to 35 feet, more or less. This length generally relies on the HDMI cable’s quality as well as its ability to conduct signals.

For you as a customer there two things to bear in mind:

Longer HDMI cables are generally more susceptible to electrical interference.
Longer HDMI cables need much better protection, better quality and are hence more expensive.
If you want to use a cable longer than 35ft a signal booster should be used

To summarize: The Best HDMI cable is a High speed cable.

You now have the information you need to select the best HDMI cable for your needs.

Keep the following tips in mind when selecting a cable:

Cables either transmit the digital signals or they don’t
Buy reasonably priced cables, ($1.00 per foot)
Select a cable designated High Speed for the best features and compatibility with the latest technology
Look for the official HDMI logos or statements
Choose the shortest cable for your application