Do more expensive HDMI cables really offer better quality?

Question

or are there different kinds?

Answer 1

This is a question that will eternally start debates. And guess what there is really no definitive answer. It really depends on how you are using your HDMI cable.

The longer the cable gets the harder it is to maintain the signal and the more you need to put into the cable to make it work consistently.



The more data you shove down the cable also makes a difference.

A standard DVD player sends data at 0.81 gigabits per second (Gbps) a PS3 at 6.68Gbps and a large screen 1080p 12 bit color 120Hz can consumer 10.2Gbps.



So if you run a standard DVD player to a TV with a 2.0meter (6 foot) cable you can use just about anything, but if you are going to use a gaming console 15 feet away from the display a cheap cable will probably not cut it.



From a technical point of view you can see the test results of good and bad cables very easily. Check out this blog post as it tries to explain this as simply as possible.

http://hdmisystems.wordpress.com/2009/07/06/hdmi-cable-quality-an-eye-for-an-eye/

The question is will you be able to see or hear this difference in your set up.



There are different kinds of cables.

If you want to know more about the HDMI interface and HDMI cables you can download the free 21 page ebook "HDMI Demystified" at the following link.

http://www.hdmisystems.com/



At the end of the day it is probably better to avoid the extremes unless you have wads of spare cash or none. Buy from a reputable source that has a certified cable with a money back guarantee.

Answer 2

I had a cheap £5 HDMI cable connecting my laptop to my 32 inch tv. I asked lots of people the same question you are asking. I got a lot of different opinions. In the end I bought a mid price one, paid about £35. The picture was a bit better, but i'm glad I didn't buy one of the really pricey ones. I just had a look at Argos they have HDMI cables from £5 up to £130. They have one specifically for the ps3 costs £17. Don't know if you would notice much difference in picture quality, but it would probably last longer than several £5 ones.

Answer 3

This question has been a debate for long time, at least since HDMI cables released



Problem is, high quality HDMI..or actually branded one, cost you 10-15x than generic HDMI



And the fact is, branded HDMI cables performs identically for common purpose..



Now what you call it? scam? consumer deception?



Of course branded HDMI cables not bad, they use good materials and that actually not worth hundred of dollars..I mean, come on, they are TOO MUCH about their cables



So yeah..i support CNET editors above..keep using generic HDMI, try use ones with ferrite cores cause it can reduce electronic interference



And also dont use HDMI cables which is too cheap or too thin, they obviously below standard and will affect transfer quality. Use standard ones



Branded HDMI cables will be useful if u need long connection..example if u use projector, than u would need lengthy HDMI, and it would ruin your life if u dont use good cables

Answer 4

the answer is NO. the only different are appearence of the cables. thats it.



Let's cut to the chase:



CNET strongly recommends cheap HDMI cables widely available from online retailers instead of the expensive counterparts sold in your local electronics store.



Here's why:



Expensive cables aren't worth it

If you walk into your typical electronics store to buy an HDMI cable, you're likely to see prices upward of $50 with promises of better performance and faster speeds. Do you really need to spend that much money on a single HDMI cable?



Absolutely not--those cables are a rip-off. You should never pay more than $10 for a standard six-foot HDMI cable. And despite what salesmen and manufacturers might tell you, there's no meaningful difference between the $10 cable and the $50 cable. Unless you see something obvious, such as dropouts or a flashing screen, the digital information transmitted by both cables is exactly the same--no cable can make the picture any better or any worse. We've used cables from many different companies in the past--such as Belkin, Accell, Monoprice, Monster, and SimplayHD--and have not run into any consistent issues with any brand of cable. With working cables and solid connections, we've seen no dropouts and "sparklies"--just consistent, dependable, high-quality audio and video. It's that simple.



The editors at CNET are so confident that cheap HDMI cables offer identical performance, we've been using inexpensive Monoprice HDMI cables in the CNET Home Theater Lab for more than a year with no issues. That's saying a lot, especially when you consider that our video experts are constantly swapping in new products and changing configurations, which means our cables take much more abuse than they would in a normal home theater. We're also accustomed to making long cable runs, and many of our cables from Monoprice are 15 feet long. We also use even longer 20-foot cables from a generic maker with no appreciable loss in video quality. If cheap HDMI cables are good enough for the eagle-eyed video professionals at CNET, we're betting they're good enough for your home theater.



And don't get hung about other cables that offer a lifetime guarantee, protecting you in case your cables are technologically obsolete in the future. If in a few years there are consumer video products that output higher-than-1080p video signals (an admittedly unlikely scenario), you can always buy another cheap $10 cable online that can handle more data. And you've still saved yourself $30 over that $50 cable in the store.



Cheap HDMI cables sound great! Where can I get them?

The best way to score a cheap HDMI cable is to order over the Internet. Here are a few of our favorite resellers, all of which offer solid return policies in case you do get a bum cable.



Monoprice.com sells all other kinds of quality AV cables at very reasonable prices. As we mentioned before, we use Monoprice cables in CNET Labs, and several CNET editors use Monoprice in their personal home theaters as well.



Amazon is especially convenient if you're already buying electronics from them and just want to "add to cart" an HDMI cable. We've done hands-on testing with a $2.10 HDMI cable from DVI Gear and haven't had any issues. Return policies vary by reseller, however, so do your research first.



Newegg.com, another online retailer with whom CNET editors have had good experiences, has several HDMI cables for less than $10.