HDMI – It’s All in the Cable
HMDI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface and consists of a 19-pin connector and a cable (of varying lengths). Both standard and high-speed HMDI cables contain 19 different wires (hence 19-pins) wrapped into a single, compact cable.
The cable is used for connecting the signals from all of your high-definition video and multi-channel audio equipment using a clean, one-cable setup. No more untangling all of your cables that somehow got themselves woven into a bird’s nest. There are two mysteries in life still to be solved: where do socks go that disappear in the dryer and how do cables get so knotted up behind your audio/visual equipment?
To compare the capability of one HDMI cable to your miles of analog cables, you’d need to connect three component video cables AND six analog audio cables, that’s nine. So, would you want to use one HD cable or nine other cables? The answer is HD crystal clear!
With the development of HD-capable hardware, a cable with the ability to carry HD signals between digital audio/video devices was needed to ensure the audio you hear and the images you see are the best possible. There is no reason to invest in the best HD equipment on the market only to lose the heart of the signal in the cable. HDMI was developed by Hitachi, Panasonic, Philips, Silicon Image, Sony, Thomson, and Toshiba. These organizations, in an industry-combined effort, streamlined connecting and synchronizing HD components.
All new HDTVs come equipped with at least two HDMI ports to connect DVR, DVD, Blu-ray players and other equipment such as home theater setups. Game consoles and computers also feature HDMI outputs to deliver both audio and video. If you find yourself running out of HDMI ports to connect your home theater setup, you can purchase an HDMI switcher to plug in all your goodies. The switcher can be controlled by an infrared (IR) remote and you can integrate it into your universal remote’s scheme to easily change your component selection.
IN 1 = Digital devices (DVD/CD, Blu-ray player, game consoles, Direct TV receiver, etc.)
IN 2 = Digital devices (DVD/CD, Blu-ray player, game consoles, Direct TV receiver, etc.)
OUT = Display monitors (HDTV, PC)
STANDARDS COMPLIANCE
Every HDMI cable is rated as certified to comply with a specific revision of the HDMI standards. The revisions are identified in numerical sequence (e.g., 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3). If you see an alphabetical letter following the revision number (1.1a, 1.3c, etc.), just ignore it. The letter relates to a minor revision in a manufacturing specification or testing issue. They do not impact the functionality or features of a similar version. This means a 1.3 version is exactly the same as a 1.3c version as far as the consumer is concerned.
All versions are backward compatible. A version 1.3 cable will meet or exceed the standards and capabilities of a version 1.0 HDMI cable.
CABLE CATEGORIES
HDMI has separated cable capabilities and limits into two categories:
Category 1 (standard) – Cables in this category have been tested and certified to perform at speeds of 75Mhz, which is the equivalent of a 1080i HD signal.
Category 2 (high-speed) – Cables in this category have tested and certified to perform at speeds of 340Mhz, which is the highest bandwidth currently available over an HDMI cable. This category can also handle 1080p signals including those at increased refresh rates (60 frames per second) and/or increased color depths.
CABLE LENGTH
Although the HDMI specifications do not define a maximum cable length, 33 feet (10 meters) seems to be the average length where the use of a repeater might be required. Repeaters help maintain constant signal strength throughout the length of the cable. Some receiver chips inside HDTVs have a feature called “cable equalization” which compensates for weakened signals due to cable length. This potentially extends the length of an HDMI cable you can use with your particular setup.
For example, you could have a 40-foot cable combined with an HDTV receiver chip with cable equalization perform exactly the same as a 15-foot HDMI cable with an HDTV receiver chip without the cable equalization feature.
HMDI cables are available in lengths as short as three feet up to as long as 50 feet with a wide variety of lengths in between (e.g., 3, 12, 16, 25, 35, 40, 45, etc.). Basically, you’ll want your cable long enough to connect device to device without the cable being taut, pinched, or in a location that makes it a tripping hazard.
CABLE BANDWIDTH
The HDMI cable not only eliminates this tangled cable mess, it can carry uncompressed, all-digital audio/video signals with 5Gbps (one billion bits per second) of available bandwidth. To give you an idea of how much digital real estate you’ll have, HDTV only uses less than one-half of HDMI’s available 5Gbps of bandwidth. For the audiophile in you, HDMI carries 8-channels of 192kHz, 24-bit uncompressed audio. HDMI is also capable of carrying the compressed audio format of Digital Theater System (DTS) and Digital Dolby.
CABLE QUALITY
Assuming all other factors and circumstances are equal, a cable constructed using higher quality materials and assembled with closer tolerances will outperform a similar cable that only meets specification standards. More often than not, a higher quality cable will be in service longer and won’t have to be replaced or repaired before its life expectancy has expired.
The gauge of the sheath surrounding the inner wires contributes to the overall quality of the cable by limiting or eliminating signal loss externally. The method used to measure the diameter and thickness of the wire is the American Wire Gauge (AWG) scale. Selecting the right wire size gauge for HDMI cables (and other wiring), goes by one rule – the smaller the number, the larger the thickness and diameter of the wire. Most HDMI cables will be 22AWG to 28AWG with 22 being thicker than 28.
HDMI BETTER THAN DVI?
There are several reasons why HDMI cables are better than DVI cables: DVI can only carry video while HDMI carries both video and audio (up to 8-channels uncompressed) all the while using a much smaller connector. In addition, HDMI has the following features not available in DVI cables:
- Support for YUV Color Space
- Consumer Electronics Control (CEC)
- CEA-861B InfoFrames
FINAL THOUGHTS
Cables are definitely the most forgotten piece in the home theater entertainment puzzle. Even if you’ve researched to the ends of the digital spectrum and purchased the most cutting edge equipment, without quality cables your disappointment will be audible and visual. This doesn’t mean you need to run out and buy a premium gold-plated HDMI cable for an SDTV. Simply include your cables in your search for the ultimate entertainment Mecca.
Still have questions? – feel free to speak with an hhgregg associate. We offer the best-educated associates in the business who are smart enough to make it simple. Price and Advice Guaranteed!
