Difference in HDMI Cables?

[DrunkenSano]

Been checking www.monoprice.com because I ordered a new Plasma and need to get a couple of new HDMI cables, I use to buy them at Bestbuy which now I know was sort of a ripoff. Question is, at monoprice, there are a ton of cables. I didn't know there was all these different kinds, can someone tell me if there is a difference between them or should I just buy the cheaper ones and not worry? Thanks.

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: DrunkenSano
Been checking www.monoprice.com because I ordered a new Plasma and need to get a couple of new HDMI cables, I use to buy them at Bestbuy which now I know was sort of a ripoff. Question is, at monoprice, there are a ton of cables. I didn't know there was all these different kinds, can someone tell me if there is a difference between them or should I just buy the cheaper ones and not worry? Thanks.

Well, the main difference will be whether the cables are 1.1/1.2, or 1.3 certified. All that means is that the 1.3 certified cables are designed to carry higher bandwidth to transmit HD audio. They don't really cost much more, so you might as well get them even if you don't need them right now.

Just get the ones labeled 28AWG HDMI 1.3a Male to Male Cables on their site. They'll do you just fine.

 

[DrunkenSano]

Will do, thanks a bunch!

 

[sivart]

unless you have long runs (I.e. more than 15') then 28AWG should be fine. If you are doing in wall / ceiling there are other considerations to the cable you should purchase.

 

[s44]

CL2 = run through a wall

 

[Tiamat]

As long as the hdmi cable plugs securely into your devices and you are not running longer than 3 meters, you don't really have to worry about anything. If you are running longer lengths, check out bluejeanscables.com for some light reading and possible purchase - they describe what "long" runs are and what the possible problems might be.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
As long as the hdmi cable plugs securely into your devices and you are not running longer than 3 meters, you don't really have to worry about anything. If you are running longer lengths, check out bluejeanscables.com for some light reading and possible purchase - they describe what "long" runs are and what the possible problems might be.

I think this is a good rule of thumb, but it's not entirely true. You _can_ run into some very low quality HDMI cables that will fail to work properly at that length, especially if you're running 1080p or more over them. It is, IMHO, worth seeking out officially-certified 1.3b cables for extra testing that the 1.3b spec specifies - although I would not pay THAT much of a premium for them.