How to choose an HDMI cable to connect digital devices
In the world of information technology, time does not stand still, but fast forwards, and it is not surprising that many users are interested in the question: how to choose an HDMI cable to connect a device (Smart TV, laptop , Tablet …)?
Sometimes it is very difficult for the buyer to navigate correctly in the wide variety and the numerous versions of the HDMI cable. Which HDMI cable is better to connect various devices, I will try to tell you in a simple way in this article. Despite the fact that the HDMI interface has already firmly entered our lives, some users still ask a similar question: what is an HDMI cable for and what is hidden under this abbreviation? HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) – Enables the transmission of high definition digital video and multi-channel digital audio protected against copying.
It must be said that HDMI has several important advantages over DVI digital video interface. First, the HDMI interface is smaller, and second, the interface is protected by copy protection technology. Apply HDMI cable to connect computer to monitor, TV, projector; digital video camera to a computer, TV; DVD player to TV, as well as to connect Blu-ray players, game consoles (PlayStation, Xbox) and other digital devices.
HDMI cable length. I think many of you have wondered: how long are HDMI cables? HDMI standard, the maximum cable length is ten meters. In the specification on the maximum size of the HDMI “cable” did not find information, but the length of the standard sizes can be 0.75, 0.8, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 5 and 10 meters. The length of the cable, which exceeds 10 meters, is not regulated by the regulations. So when deciding on the length of the HDMI cable, you don’t always have to follow the rule with a margin. For example, with a cable longer than 10 meters, signal distortion and attenuation is possible, ultimately affecting the image quality. However, the quality of the signal transmission depends not only on the size, but also on the material from which the cable is made.
For example, a standard HDMI cable (v1.4, 720 x 1080p, 75 MHz) is made of 24 AWG (0.205 mm2) oxygen-free copper and a high speed cable (v1.4, 1080 x 2160p, 340 MHz) ) is made of 28 AWG (0.081mm per square) copper.
These figures indicate that the quality of the data transmission is highly dependent on the material from which the conductors are made. It should be noted that if the HDMI cable of the “Standard” category is manufactured with high quality, then it is capable of transmitting a signal of up to 15 meters within the limits of its type. If the cable length exceeds 15 meters or after connecting digital devices there will be a loss of image quality, it is recommended to use signal amplifiers.
As you can imagine, the task of a high definition cable is to transmit all the necessary information from the source to the receiver without signal distortion. According to some manufacturers, an HDMI cable that contains expensive metals has a higher data transfer rate and less interference. However, the presence of expensive metals and the quality of the workmanship in general affect the final cost.
Therefore, when choosing an HDMI cable, you must proceed from the obligations that are assigned to you in order to save a certain amount of money. If you plan to transfer data by cable from devices (DVD, satellite receiver), where the flow of information is not great, then a cheap HDMI cable is enough for you. But to view volumetric (3D) video, where the flow of information is very high, manufacturers recommend using an HDMI cable made of expensive, high-quality materials. It is worth buying a cable made of expensive metals or not, we will analyze it in the final part of the article.
HDMI cable versions. Several well-known companies (Thomson, Philips, Hitachi, Sony, Philips, Silicon Image) were involved in the development of the HDMI interface and the result of their joint work was the first complete standard in 2002. Since then, the HDMI interface has become a hole in the digital world and has become part of our lives. As you understand, this interface is constantly evolving and with each next version the developers are improving. You can get information about the specification that this or that version of the HDMI cable was subjected to from a kind of mini-review.
