How to choose the right HDMI cable?

Greetings to all visitors to the blog about computers. Today I would really like to tell readers about the so-called HDMI cable, which is used to connect devices, for example, Smart TV, tablets, laptops, etc. So, you need to know how to choose the right HDMI cable, what characteristics it should be based on, and much more, which we will now look at.

First, let's figure out what HDMI is. Although this abbreviation has been part of our lives for quite some time, there are people who still do not know what it means:

HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) is a multimedia interface that allows you to transmit video and digital data in high resolution, as well as transmit audio signals with copy protection.

There is also such an interface as DVI, but it is already quite irrelevant and inferior to HDMI in all respects. The advantage of HDMI over DVI is its smaller interface and copy protection technology. HDMI can be connected to computers, laptops, digital cameras, TVs, players, game consoles such as PlayStation, etc.

Length of cable

So, the maximum length of an HDMI cable is 10 meters.
The standard cable size is usually 0.75 m 0.8 m 1 m 1.5 m 2 m 2.5 m 3 m 5 m 10 m. If you want to purchase a cable more than 10 meters, then you should know that this size is not regulated by standards and subsequently there may be various distortions signals that will affect the image output. But that is not all. It’s long, but you also need to know what material the cable is made of. Let's say a Standard cable, which allows you to transmit a resolution of 720 x 1080 with a frequency of 75 MHz, is made of oxygen-free copper. The High Speed version cable with a resolution of 1080 x 2160 with a frequency of 340 MHz is made of copper. Thus, we can say that the quality of image transmission will directly depend on the material from which the cable is made.

Let's find out what an HDMI cable and its components look like

Today, the most common and frequently used device for high-quality signal transmission is an HDMI cable.

The cable has a multi-core design with mandatory shielding

What does an HDMI cable look like, the invention that all users of modern electronic equipment have been waiting for? In appearance, the HDMI cable is an ordinary cord with two connectors at the ends, which look like USB with beveled corners.

Now, thanks to a high-tech invention, they have at their disposal a miracle cable with high technical capabilities.

In cross section the cable consists of:

Outer shell;
Shielding braid;
Aluminum foil screen;
Polypropylene shell;
Shielded twisted pair cable;
Unshielded twisted pair;
Conductors for power and control signals.

Using the HDMI interface makes connecting your devices very easy. For the convenience of connecting the bottom cable, if necessary, use HDMI adapters.

HDMI cable types

As I wrote above, there are types, for example, Standard, High Speed. But there are others: Standart with Ethernet, Standart Automotive and High Speed with Ethernet. We'll sort it all out now.

Standard - this type supports a resolution of 720 by 1080 p. Designed for connecting devices such as DVD players, plasma TVs, satellite receivers. In simple words, connecting undemanding devices.

Bandwidth – 4.9 Gbps
Frequency band – 165 Mpiskels
Color depth – 24 bits

High Speed – This type supports many formats, such as Deep Color or 3D. Also supports Audio Return Channel, a technology that allows you to transmit audio without using an S/PDIF cable.

This type is capable of connecting high-quality devices - LCD panels, HDD players, Blu-ray and much more. Also supports 1080p and 4k resolution (4096x2160).

Bandwidth – 10.2 Gbps
Frequency band – 1080 Mpiskels
Color depth – 48 bits

Standart with Ethernet - this type has all the same characteristics as Standart, but with an Ethernet data link, which provides data transfer up to 100 Mb/s. The cable function will be available if the connected device supports Ethernet HDMI.

Using this technology, you can get high-speed Internet access. By the way, this type supports Audio Return Channel.

High Speed with Ethernet is a type that supports all of the characteristics discussed above. It also has a data transfer speed of up to 100 Mb/s.

Standart Automotive (car standard) - this type allows you to connect various devices to the car multimedia system.

A Significant Advantage of HDMI

How do such cables differ from other analogues and why are they so popular? The answer is simple - video over such a cable can be transmitted in high resolution 1080p (Full High Definition). And at the moment it is the highest quality format, and therefore widespread.

Perhaps some of us still remember the S-Video interface and composite cable, because relatively recently we used them to enjoy our favorite films, TV series and concerts. And the picture quality suited us quite well. The emergence of a new standard and various versions of HDMI meant a serious step into the future in comparison with the listed analogues.

Without a doubt, the new technology provides a better picture, although most people do not see the difference between digital and analogue images. But if the video is initially not of very good quality or even very bad, then it is more pleasant to watch it through old interfaces.

As for the audio signal transmission, it is also of high quality. Thanks to the HDMI interface, you can transmit up to 8 channels of 24-bit audio at 192 kHz. This allows you to fully enjoy formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Identical sound can only be achieved by using as many as 8 analog cables! It is unlikely that any music lover would want to bother with wires that are constantly getting tangled and causing interference.

HDMI cable connectors

Now let's talk about connectors. According to the specification, connector types are indicated in capital Latin letters - ABC D, etc. Words such as micro and mini may also be present.

Type A - this connector is standard and is often found in digital technology.
Type C (micro HDMI) and Type D (mini HDMI) - these connectors are much smaller than Standard and are most often connected to cameras, laptops, video cameras and other portable devices.
Type B is not a very popular type, but has a video channel with a resolution of 1080p.
Type E is a connector with a lock that allows you to lock the connector with the socket. (most often used when connecting devices in a car).

Connecting to old TVs

At the beginning of the article it was mentioned that some people still have old televisions that are still working. And here a situation often arises when it is necessary to connect some device to it. How can this be done, should I use some kind of HDMI “tulip” adapter? This question haunts many “antique dealers.”

At first glance, it seems that this is impossible to achieve and it is easier to buy a new TV. However, not every person has such means, even though flat panels have dropped a little in price.

In fact, this is a doable task that can be solved by purchasing an HDMI to RCA converter. With its help, you can connect not only a computer to an old TV, but also a DVR, laptop, modern game console, media console and any other device with HDMI.

Users on the Internet are often offered so-called HDMI to RCA adapters, but such devices are not suitable for the simple reason that the supplied digital signal needs to be converted to an analog form that will be understandable to older TVs. But passive adapters cannot do this, so it is necessary to give preference to converters.

Many similar devices (HDMI “tulip”) support 480P,720P,1080P,1080I formats with a scaling function. The output provides a signal of 480i (720x480, 60 Hz) and 576i (720x576, 50 Hz), which corresponds to the NTSC and PAL standards, respectively. There is a switch to select the desired color. To power the converter, a USB cable is included in the package.

Recommendations for selection

So, we have learned a lot about how to choose an HDMI cable, what specifications to follow, what types to choose. The characteristics, as you already understood, depend on the material from which the cable is made. But to understand the real properties of the cable, you need to test it yourself. We will try to look at a few more points that will allow us to choose the right HDMI cable.

There is an opinion that cables with gold-plated contacts transmit images better. Now they use titanium nitride, which makes it stronger, therefore, it is best to take a cable with a connector coated with titanium nitride, but this is at your discretion.

It all depends on how well the cable is made. If you take a cable of 10 meters and 5 meters, then they can show data transmission equally well.

It would be nice if the cable had ferrite filters in the form of a cylinder or rings. Such filters help suppress high-frequency external interference.

That's all, I hope this article will help you in choosing an HDMI cable. If you have additional information about choosing HDMI cables, and you are ready to share it, then please write in the comments.

Instead of an afterword

Now that we have reviewed the basic parameters of HDMI cables, choosing the device you need will not be difficult. To do this, you need to determine the supported signal, cable length and connector type. And, of course, we do not recommend buying cables from unknown manufacturers - by saving on price, you will not have complete confidence that high-quality materials were used in production, and the HDMI cable you purchased fully complies with the stated specifications. Such “savings” will not give you the opportunity to 100% enjoy a high-quality picture on the monitor.

OMARS Premium HDMI

Wired "SUV".

Transmission speed

: 21 Gb/s |
Length
: 2m/3m |
Certification
: HDMI Premium Standard

Advantages:

HDMI Premium Certificate
Small volume

Flaws:

Limited number of length variations

OMARS Premium HDMI incorporates almost everything that a good cable requires, especially when you feel sadly light on your wallet after purchasing it. First of all, it's pretty cheap. For only $10 for a 2-3-meter cable, this amount will not cause a significant blow to the budget.

In addition, these cables are certified to HDMI Premium standards. There is a small stamp on the box. Also, OMARS have a conductivity of 21 Gb/s - higher than our gold standard of 18 Gb/s.

The design is quite ordinary, but its plugs are not that bulky. Useful if you want to place the console next to a wall to save space. Also, these cables are usually sold in lengths up to 3 meters, which is acceptable for most settings.

Onyx 4K HDMI

The most persistent.

Transmission speed

: 18 Gb/s |
Length
: 2m/3m |
Certification
: HDMI Premium Standard

Advantages:

Tight design
HDMI Premium Certified

Flaws:

Not the cheapest

If you suddenly want a cable that can withstand more load than anything else from Poundland, it's worth taking a closer look at this option. It's thicker than others, with an extra mesh shell on top that acts as protection against chair legs or the teeth of bored pets. The plugs have an outer metal layer that makes them stronger than other plugs.

We don't really like pushing gold on people, but there's certainly no harm in putting 24-karat gold on the plugs.

Yes, what really matters is the HDMI Premium quality certificate. You can find cheaper options, but people who love quality will clearly appreciate this option.

Belkin HDMI 2.1 Ultra High Speed

Option for the future.

Transmission speed

: 48Gb/s |
Length
: 2m |
Certification
: HDMI 2.1

Advantages:

Functional
Reliable brand
Great price for a high quality product

Flaws:

Only the two-meter version is available (for now, at least)

If you're one of those insufferable people who wants to have the latest iPhone, the best watch, and buy every game on the first day it goes on sale, then this cable is a must-have.

This is one of the first cables for HDMI 2.1, which in the future will support 10K resolution. Just don't tell that to Xbox One X owners, let's give them five minutes of fame in 4K.

The cable has a conductivity of up to 48 Gb/s, which is like walking to the moon for modern consoles. Proof that Belkin is considered the elite of the accessories world. While it's more specialized than some 2000 cables, this one costs only $29.99 for 2 meters.

Its small plugs are also quite convenient, and frankly, we trust Belkin more than other no-name accessory makers.

Phone-TV

In some cases, you may need to connect your phone to the TV, which is doable. However, there is an opinion that it is enough to purchase a micro-USB-HDMI adapter. But in reality it is not so simple. It is possible to connect your phone to your TV, but for this both devices must have MHL support. That is, the TV must have an HDMI/MHL port, which is not relevant for all models.

If this is the case, then all that’s left is to buy the right cable. But there is one nuance here: some gadgets, such as Samsung, have 11 contacts, while other models have only 5. This also needs to be taken into account, but otherwise it is the same cable, with micro at one end -USB, and on the other – HDMI. There is no need to make any settings; just switch to the desired mode through the signal source menu.

But the following situation also happens: the phone has MHL support, but the TV does not. This is where you can’t do without a special USB-HDMI adapter, although it’s even more of an adapter that allows you to convert the MHL signal into a stream that can be understood by a TV with regular HDMI. And since this device is active, it definitely needs power, for which any standard charger will do. It looks like a box with the necessary connectors.