HDMI Cables - A Closer Look

In this "HDMI Cables - A Closer Look” page, we thought it good to look at some of the simple, but important aspects you as a consumer need to consider when buying a HDMI cable. Why? Because (1) they are not all the same and (2) we are seeing a lot of issues/problems with bargain priced and no-name brand HDMI cables.

• Tech Tips
• What Does It All Mean
• History Repeated
• The High Speed Challenge
• Ugly Jitter
• Future Proof

HDMI Tech Tips

In several of our HDMI “A Closer Look” pages, we thought it good to look at some of the important aspects you as a consumer need to consider when buying a HDMI cable. Why? Because (1) they are not all the same and (2) we are seeing a lot of issues/problems with bargain priced and no-name brand HDMI cables.

And honestly, we’re for good value and not against lower prices, but as always the no-name brands try and convey the idea that they are either as good or even the same as the well-known brands who have dedicated design and research facilities. The facts are these Importers are just entrepreneurs who have sourced cheap product out of China. None of their products are presented to International Magazines for thorough analysis, but will usually present feedback from unqualified sources like customers as a reason to buy. That maybe OK on service, but is totally unacceptable as proof of a product that has to meet strict design criteria!

Some of these cables are offered on-line at just $10 for a 1M length. Common logic has to indicate that in addition to the factory cost of the item, there are (1) importation costs and; (2) a margin for the seller. You do the math on what the original factory cost must be and it’s a bit scary, don’t you think?

I once bought some ‘stainless steel’ screws labelled as suitable for outdoor use. Within 2-years they started showing signs of rust. Even worse, when I went to remove them, the heads broke off! I then learn’t that I should have bought ‘marine standard’ screws which although look the same, are made to a completely different and higher specification. It is the same with cables. Even basic HDMI is a very complicated cable to produce and maintain all the necessary specifications. Why?

What Does It All Mean?

Although a HDMI product seems to tick all the right boxes as far as specifications are concerned, reality is that not all HDMI cables are "passing" the full signal to the connected device. It maybe that 4K is outputted from the Blu-ray or Home Theatre Receiver, but when it gets to the TV or Projector, there is no signal, the Picture or Sound drops out, this a common issue when trying to pass 4K. Sometimes the only fix is to drop your resoulation down to 1080P!

If a device or cable in the HDMI route is not HDCP compliant, you may encounter error messages that prevent you from playing protected content, such as 4K content from streaming services.  This problem especially rears its head on HDMI Cables 10M or longer.

The question is therefore, "How would you feel if you found out that you have bought, or as part of a "package-deal," been given a HDMI cable that was not doing what you thought you were getting?" Yes, those crystal-clear images that you demanded are in fact being scaled down to a lower standard or resolution.

Who is at fault? Well you probably reckon it's the retailer and his decision to put profit ahead of performance. We would agree which is why Audio Trends has always demanded more than good value on all the products it chooses to recommend, but also demands products that actually do what they profess to do or even more. For this reason alone, we choose to sell recognised brands that have a good track record. AudioQuest and WireWorld are the main two brands we sell, but there are a couple of others that make the cut for one reason or another.

History Repeated

A generation has passed since audio enthusiasts first discovered that cables could change the sound of their stereo systems, but clear explanations of those changes and of why one cable may produce better sound quality than another are not easily found. The fact is that the best cable of all, would be no cable at all! A direct physical connection between components would be the best, but with technology always improving it is impractical.

As you will now discover, those same principals apply to the latest High Definition video signals and of course HDMI cables are no different to earlier technologies. They may look the same, connect the same, but definitely perform differently. So, let's have a closer look.

The High Speed Challenge

HDMI can deliver crystal clear digital video and audio through a single cable. However, the ultimate image quality of HDMI connections is often clouded by the data losses caused by inadequate cable performance. The extreme 48Gbps speed of the latest HDMI version 2.1 makes the choice of cables even more critical than in the past. And this year 2025 we are about to see HDMI 2.2 capable of transferring 96Gbs!

More Than Zero's & Ones

Many consumers are under the impression that digital signals are digital signals and that their is no difference between an original CD or DVD and a copied version. When this view is challenged, by people like us, the result is often skepticism. If you have felt or feel this way right now, then the following will help clarify matters.

There is a fundamental difference between the transfer of computer data and HDMI signals. Computers are able to transfer digital data without loss, because the data moves in the robust form of blocks, which do not depend on specific timing between the sending and receiving devices. However, digital video and audio signals are continuous streams of data, which are quite fragile, since the digital processor must remain perfectly locked onto the timing of the signal to avoid data losses.

Ugly Jitter

The limitations of digital signal processors and cables create timing errors known as jitter, which remove portions of the audio signal and replace them with noise and distortion. Cables tend to round off the square waveforms of the signal, making them less clear to the processor, thus increasing jitter. This rounding effect varies greatly among cables and truly superior HDMI cables can make great improvements in imaging and sound quality. 

WireWorld & Audioquest HDMI cables utilise unique designs specifically developed to minimise jitter by providing sharper, cleaner leading edges on the digital waveform. At each price level, they provide the lowest jitter available, producing distinct improvements in clarity, image focus, smoothness and dynamic contrast.

But the biggest improvement we notice in the better cables is the sound. There is a point in you will just not see any difference in picture. For example seeing the difference bewteen a Audioquest Forest and Audioquest Cinnamon is almost impossible to notice, however there are distinct improvements in the sound. Even the entry point Audioquest Pearl HDMI ($59) sounds better than that cable from the Big Retailers.

Future Proof

The other thing that you as a consumer need to remember is that today's technology is guaranteed to be updated! What we think is high-tech today, will be consigned to the history books in the future. By buying a top-quality HDMI cable that goes beyond todays standard, then you'll not only be assured of many more years of service, but you'll have the confidence that you are getting all the picture and the best sound!

Why Choose WireWorld & Audioquest Cables

One of the deciding factors for Audio Trends to recommend WireWorld & Audioqueest was their unique approach of evaluating cables by comparing them to a direct connection. This extra work has enabled them to develop cables that clearly preserve more of the beautiful harmonic textures and dynamic expression that make live music so enjoyable. Although originally applied to interconnect (RCA) cables, this philosophy applies equally to HDMI cables and is why these brands must be on your shortlist.