Introduction – HDMI Cable Confusion

Are you paying too much for HDMI cables? With version numbers, speeds, 1080p, 3D and ethernet to consider, it is easy to get confused and buy a cable which you do not need. This article aims to explain the differences and make your choice easy.

Version Numbers and HDMI Cables

HDMI as a standard is evolving very quickly. More and more features are being made available to the 19 pin HDMI connector alongside the ever-expanding list of version numbers.

Unfortunately, the introduction of new features and version numbers intended to identify the capability of the equipment has clouded the selection of appropriate cables, to such an extent that consumers are now looking for v1.3 cables or v1.4 cables.

HDMI cables are not sold with version numbers attached and the article which follows should reveal why.

The Problem with Version Numbers

HDMI standards and equipment features are constantly changing, as are version numbers.

Version numbers such as 1.2, 1.3, 1.3b and 1.4 are specifications relating to features that may or may not be present in a piece of equipment such as an HDMI equipped TV.  The version number gives manufacturers a menu of options that are available as a result of implementation of a particular specification. The version number indicates a list of capabilities, such as deep colour, or lossless audio, but not all the features may be appropriate for all types of equipment. Deep colour, for instance, is not an appropriate feature for an HDMI equipped audio amplifier, so the manufacturer is not compelled to implement all the features listed within a particular specification in any one piece of equipment.

More importantly for this discussion, the features that are available are totally independent of the cable chosen. The cable plays no part in the functionality of the TV.

It is the misconception that the cable and the version numbers are somehow linked that HDMI Licensing, LLC (the body responsible for licensing the HDMI specification) is keen to eradicate.

Simplifying Cable Choice

In an effort to reduce the confusion, HDMI licensing LLC has introduced a set of standards against which every HDMI cable type must be tested. The result of this simplification is that, for consumers using audio-visual equipment in the home, there are just two categories of cable and these are designated as High Speed and Standard Speed. In addition, an Ethernet link may be built into the cable, effectively creating two sub-categories - High Speed with Ethernet and Standard Speed with Ethernet.

Note that the High Speed and Standard Speed standards quite deliberately make no reference to version numbers or features. Standard Speed simply indicates that a particular type of HDMI cable is capable of transmitting data at speeds of up to 75MHz, equivalent to 720p or 1080i. High Speed increases the speed to 340MHz which accommodates 1080p and higher.

All available features can be accessed by any HDMI cable designated as Standard Speed or High Speed.

So why is there still confusion?

Equipment conforming to HDMI version 1.4 may have features such as 3D, an audio return channel, and 4K (with resolutions up to 2160p). Version 1.4 also introduced an Ethernet channel, requiring a specific cable.

The Ethernet channel is only used in communication with other devices which have similarly equipped HDMI connectors and with the internet. None of the other features specified in version 1.4 require this channel, so 3D, audio return, 4k resolution and any other features that were introduced by this version are entirely independent of the Ethernet channel.

Therefore any High Speed HDMI cable, with or without an Ethernet channel, can be used with equipment featuring 3D, 4k, audio return etc.

It is perhaps not surprising that unless this fact is widely communicated, consumers will assume that they require a cable with Ethernet to be able to view 3D.

How much to pay

Within each category, consumers have a vast choice of HDMI cables varying from a few pounds to a few hundred pounds for a similar length of cable. All cable types offered for sale have been tested to the High or Standard speed and should therefore work satisfactorily, regardless of price.

The usual rules apply, though. A very cheap cable will have cheaper components and may be manufactured will less stringent quality control, so the chances of it working at all are reduced and reliability may well suffer in the long term. A very expensive cable should be made from very high quality materials and to a very high specification backed up by extensive quality control during manufacture. It will have very good shielding to prevent interference and it will be much less prone to deterioration over time.

All other cables fall between these extremes. In all cases, if the cable works, the picture quality will be the same. HDMI is a digital signal. The picture (and sound) will either be present or not. The quality of a digital picture cannot deteriorate in the same way as an analogue signal where the picture gets gradually worse until it becomes unwatchable.

In the digital world the picture is transmitted along the HDMI cable as a series of bits of data which are either on or off. A sequence of bits which are either on or off makes up a piece of information which the TV uses to identify the source of the material, the resolution required, the image components, the sound, copy protection data and so on.

If the sequence of bits can be clearly recognised, an image is displayed. If no signal is received, no image is displayed. If the TV is unable to fully recognise a sequence owing to a poor signal level for instance, error correcting circuitry is deployed to decode the signal. Too many errors will make the sequence unreadable, but if the errors are relatively small in number an image will be produced. The error checking is so sophisticated that there is no chance that the wrong image (or a poor image) will be produced – it will either be present and correct, or it will not be displayed.

So the price you pay for a cable should be based on the quality of the cable alone, not on any hope that the picture will be better with a more expensive cable.

As for cables With Ethernet, unless you have Ethernet enabled HDMI ports on your equipment, you do not need them. The only circumstances in which it would be wise to purchase them would be for future-proofing and certainly if the cables are to be embedded in walls or otherwise inaccessible after installation, consider that you may purchase Ethernet enabled equipment in the future, so it could be a wise long term choice.

Conclusion

The features that are available from equipment with HDMI connectors are dependent on the implementation of HDMI versions within the equipment and as such are independent of the cable used externally. The fact that a feature was introduced by specification 1.3 or 1.4 is totally irrelevant when we come to choose a suitable HDMI cable.

The categorisation of cables is a big step towards simplifying the choice for the consumer, but we are still left with some decisions to make when buying an HDMI cable. Hopefully this article goes some way to explaining the choices that need to be made, as follows -

If you want a cable that works with 2D, 1080i or 720p, select a Standard Speed cable

If you want a cable that works with 3D, 1080p or above, select a High Speed cable.

If the equipment has an Ethernet channel, select either High Speed  or Standard Speed With Ethernet.

Don’t buy the cheapest cable you can find (it may not be reliable).

Don’t buy the most expensive cable you can find (unless you are buying it for the right reasons – it will not improve the picture!)

All HDMI cables sold by Clear Vision Systems are either High Speed or High Speed with Ethernet. We offer a range of cables with varying prices to reflect the quality of the cable. Many of our cables have rotating or right angle plugs, some are flat and some are round. Go to the Cables - HDMI category from the menu on the left hand side of the page to view them.