HDMI Cable Debate – You Think Your HD Cable is the Best?

When was the last time you had a look at your HDMI cable? Probably a few months ago, right?How much do you know about those tiny pin connectors when it comes to displaying the most vibrant display on your brand spankin’ new TV, monitors and anything else for that matter?

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ver since HDMI became the new standard for pristine quality visual enhancement, the entire graphics industry is getting redefined one cable at a time. This article is dedicated to discussing different aspects of HDMI cables.

HDMI Defined in Technical Jargon:

Wikipedia users have defined HDMI as an attributed form of: High Definition Multimedia Interface. Personally, I like to shorten it to ‘High Definition Media Interface’ or just ‘my damn gold plated LED TV cable’.

It says, “HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a compact audio/video interface for transferring uncompressed digital audio/video data from an HDMI-compliant device (“the source”) to a compatible digital audio device, computer monitor, video projector, or digital television.^[1] HDMI is a digital replacement for existing analog standards such as composite video, S-Video, SCART, component video, and VGA.” – Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hdmi

What Should You Know?

I get it; the above definition is way too technical for an average real life individual. In simple terms, HDMI cables are just the enhanced version of normal VGA cables and pin based cables that your TVs used to have once. The current standard of HDMI has refined graphics and audio to a jaw dropping level.

Before the invention of HDMI, people had to use two different, or more than two, cables to manage audio and video signals. Take the example of conventional VGA cables. Once you have connected them from a video-out source to a video in source, you will only get the display. For audio, there has to be another cable connection in the device that is already projecting the image. Gamers understand this entire theory.

Which One is the Best HDMI Cable for Me?

It is true that HDMI has simplified both audio and video transmissions simultaneously. However, within the HDMI cable world, there are different standards/ versions to consider. For instance, the previous versions of HDMI were 1.2 and 1.3. Both of them are still being used widely but with the upcoming, and currently, used revisions of the same versions, there is a conflict among cable manufacturers.

Top it all off with price constraints and a tad bit of confusion – you have got yourself a lousy HDMI cable. How so? First of all, you should know that expensive is not always the best choice. We are going to talk about ideal HDMI cable brand for you a little later in this article. 

1. a.       Expensive HDMI Cable is Not Your First Option:

In case of an HDMI cable, you can always chuck out the ‘expensive is best’ notion. No, the best cable you can get is for $10.99 or underneath this price range. For ten bucks, you can easily have a 5m – 6m length cable, and that too with high quality long term performance.

The sales man will obviously try to scam you at some point. It is their job to sell products at a high price, for a fair amount of commission. Now if you have heard that a shinier HDMI cable is far superior than a $10 HDMI cable, you heard it all wrong. Nothing happens to faster cable signals, “better” graphics and vice versa.

If anything which really matters here is that you should be buying a small length cable, instead of going for what the seller is telling you. Lengthier cords or HDMI cables weaken the signal strength. Therefore, if it is a 50m HDMI cable you got behind your TV screen, buddy, you’re in for a weak performance based display.

1. b.      Consistent, High Quality Image: 

Here’s the deal; as long as you have a solid connection going on, there is nothing to worry about. The pins/ plates inside the HDMI cable need to be intact, and the outer core itself has to have a solid body. If the manufacturers made the cable right, it will keep on working as long as it is supposed to. This is all you need to understand about cables.

Now some of you are quivering to know more about HDMI stuff, such as; how these cables work, how the pin connectors respond to graphics and audio inputs etc. For such details, you can head over to Wikipedia or scroll through different online sources where HDMI cables are technically defined for nerds like you.

Take a look at some HDMI Cable brands and our recommendations against them: 

• Mediabridge Ultra Series – High Speed HDMI Cable (With Ethernet)

MediaBridge doesn’t really need a high chord intro here. The company has been making HDMI cables, networking cables and all sorts of cables that probably connect anything with connectivity option on it. We are recommending Mediabridge Ultra Series High Speed HDMI Cable because it has more than 4,000+ reviews at Amazon.

What Customers are Saying? 

• I first purchased the the HDMI cable from ClearAV, it was inexpesive and not the best product. It cost me a little over $4 for the item and S&H. It is a shame that I never got to know about this brand earlier. MediaBridge works as advertised.
• I love this cable because: a: It has “HDMI” word embossed on it, which I think is noteworthy, b: It is very firm and thick, which adds sturdiness to the entire cable’s layout, and c: I love it because it is gold plated and too damn shiny.
• Perfect picture; perfect sound – definitely worth it.

Mediabridge Ultra Series High Speed HDMI Cable – Customer Video Review | Courtesy of Vimeo

MediaBridge Ultra Series High Speed HDMI Cable Features:

• Full metal jacket ensures premium grade performance and high level connector shielding.

• 3D movie technology fully supported. For Ethernet, Audio and maximum 1080p Res displays.

• Certified as Category 2 device, with 10.2GBps/340 MHz data transfer rate.

• 48b color mode supported. Deep color at its truest form.

Other cable brands are DVI Gear HDMI Cable 2M 6 feet and AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable (9.8 Feet/3.0 Meters) – Supports Ethernet, 3D, and Audio Return [Newest Standard]. Both of them come with a very affordable price tag. In fact, the DVI Gear HDMI Cable has more than 6,000+ reviews at Amazon. You will have no hard time trusting these brands.

Moving on, if someone has recommended Monster Cable THX 900 16′ HDMI A/V Cable – 15.8 GBps to you, we implore you to reconsider your decision. Not only is this a $25 cable, but compared to the brands that we have discussed above, it will be an unjust blow to your wallet. Think again.