Are there different quality's of HDMI cables?

Question

Are some HDMI cables better than others? How can I tell?

Answer 1

Yes there is a difference. Just some here have decided you shouldn't have a choice. And these constantly bash cables.

It is a hotly debated issue. But I recommend that you use the 10% rule.

To give your system the best possible start you should spend NO MORE than 10% of your total system cost on cables. This will give you the best performance with the best return. MORE than that and you risk diminishing returns, little change for the amount invested.

Next as you select cables for your system audition them and make sure you can see a difference and that you think it is worth it. Most cable retailers have a 100% money back guarantee for their product. USE IT!

Also verses buying from blue jeans or mono price (as some plants here would like you to!!) I recommend that you consider making your own with cables and components that are easily available online. (Great bragging rights too)

Don't take my word for it get a tech type and learn how to judge for yourself. But given my experience THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE!

EDiT:

A cable has to earn it way into my system so the cyclical logic of "bargin" cables seems to have me at a loss. I am not touting Monster or any other brand for that matter. I merely am informing the asker in my expert opinion the full truth about interconnects. That it can make a diference.

I would point out that Monsters ( and other interconnect manufactures) bad press is only a result of pushy sales people in big box stores selling a $100 HDMI cable for a $150 DVD player. That does not make sense. But 10% would include power cables a surge protector and interconnects as well as speaker cable, etc.. So <10%( that means less than BTW)  is not out of the question, and in my opinion a good place to start. You will note that I use the 10% rule as the MAX for performance enhancement and ANY MORE IS "usually" NOT WORTH IT.

Again I say make the cable or interconnect earn its way into your system!

Answer 2

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthrea...

Answer 3

Just get a good well made cable that is the right length to do the job.

HDMI is a digital medium, so either the cable will work or it won't.

If you are paying more than $30 for a 6 foot cable, you are wasting your money.

http://www.cablesforless.com/c-620-stand...

Example of a ripoff cable:

http://www.wildwestelectronics.net/monst...

Answer 4

I agree that HDMI are digital signal, whether you spend more on it, the result are still the same. But if the lenght increases, say over 5 m,  then I believe you need a better grade HDMI cable made from better grade metal, because that ON, OFF, 1 and zero digital signal will not be felt on the other end if the cable resistant interfere with the transmission.  

Answer 5

NO!

ALL HDMI certified cables are the same!  They have the same manufacturing requirements and standards....Go with the cheapest cable!!

HDMI Provides both digital video and digital video via a single cable.  The HDMI cables are so cheap online now, they are a NO BRAINER!

Answer 6

Yes, there are different ratings of cables. From the 1st linked page:

"Recently, HDMI Licensing, LLC announced that cables would be tested as Standard or High-Speed cables.

    * Standard (or “category 1”) cables have been tested to perform at speeds of 75Mhz, which is the equivalent of a 1080i signal.

    * High Speed (or “category 2”) cables have been tested to perform at speeds of 340Mhz, which is the highest bandwidth currently available over an HDMI cable and can successfully handle 1080p signals including those at increased color depths and/or increased refresh rates. High-Speed cables are also able to accommodate higher resolution displays, such as WQXGA cinema monitors (resolution of 2560 x 1600)."

Notice this statement does not say that cables tested as "standard" are not capable of "high speed", just that they haven't been tested as such. This sounds kind of like THX ratings where the company has to pay more to get the higher certification, though their product may in fact meet all the requirements of it.

I am unaware of any review or article that found an HDMI cable that was incapable of passing any HD signal. The truth is that sources and monitors capable of generating and receiving the newest 1.3 signals are very scarce (and expensive) so the 340 MHz requirement is pretty much theoretical. The cable will not be passing the higher bandwidth unless you have both. It will be interesting to see a comparison of cables when an affordable 1.3 source and 1.3 monitor come out. My bet is that even the oldest HDMI cables will pass those signals just fine.

From my personal experience I agree 100 percent with Daniel who recommended budget cables. I have multiple 1080p sources going to my tv (PS3, upconverted DVD, HTPC, HD camcorder) via 1st gen Link Depot cables, and have been very happy. (The 2nd link is a newer generation Link Depot cable which is rated for HDMI 1.3 at only $10 for a 6 footer. 1.3 apparently means the same thing as the HDMI "High Speed" rating above (3rd link))

Sorry to disagree with "42" (again), but 10% of your system cost would be an outrageous price to pay. I would say 1% at most. I think it is silly to suggest that people like Daniel and I "don't want you to have the choice". We are not suggesting a ban on Monster Cable. You are just wasting your money paying for their marketing and packaging, not an appreciably better cable. Spend all you want, we don't care.

Answer 7

There isn't much difference at all...the lower priced cables work just as well as the higher priced ones. I used some from this company and they've worked well so far for me.

http://www.inspiretech.com/c-31-hdmi-cab...

Answer 8

Nope, its digital.

Gold plating really doesn't help that much...