HDMI 1.4, will HDMI 1.3B cables work?

[VirtualLarry]

Just wondering. Is there something physically different between an HDMI 1.4 cable and an HDMI 1.3B cable, if they both support 10.2Gbit/sec signalling rates?

Can I connect two HDMI 1.4 devices, with an HDMI 1.3B cable? Will it work? Just curious.

I sell cables at a flea, and I bought a bunch of (IMHO, good-quality) HDMI 1.3B cables. I made certain that they were HDMI 1.3B and 10.2Gbit/sec signalling rate. But now the spec is 1.4, so if I can claim that these are 1.4 compatible, then I could probably sell more of them.

If HDMI cables are like SATA(1/2/3) and USB cables (1.0/1.1/2.0) then they should be upwardly-compatible.

(Yes, I know that USB 3.0 cables have an additional row of pins.)

 

[zerocool84]

1.3b does not support Ethernet channel, Audio return channel, 4K × 2K Resolution, or 3D which 1.4 does so no you should not sell them as High Speed aka 1.4 compliant but of course they're all backwards compatible so they'll all fit in the same HDMI ports so no worrying about not fitting.

 

[NutBucket]

I'm pretty sure they'll work. Honestly, in my limited HDMI experience I buy the cheapest cables I can find and they seem to work without any issues.

 

[queequeg99]

You really shouldn't be mentioning any HDMI specification number in your advertising (at least according to the HDMI powers that be): http://www.whathifi.com/news/from-today-the-hdmi-14-cable-is-dead

According to the article, you should be referencing the actual features of the cable. Based on the HDMI.org site, if the cable supports 10.2Gbit/s rates, it is a high speed cable regardless if it is marked 1.3, 1.4, or anything else. Any high speed cable will support 3D, audio return, and 4K resolution signals. Of course, they would have to be connecting devices that support these features.


Taken from the HDMI consortium FAQ:

Q. What is the difference between a “Standard” HDMI cable and a “High-Speed” HDMI cable?
Recently, HDMI Licensing, LLC announced that cables would be tested as Standard or High-Speed cables.

A: Standard (or “category 1&#8221 HDMI cables have been tested to perform at speeds of 75Mhz or up to 2.25Gbps, which is the equivalent of a 720p/1080i signal.

High Speed (or “category 2&#8221 HDMI cables have been tested to perform at speeds of 340Mhz or up to 10.2Gbps, which is the highest bandwidth currently available over an HDMI cable and can successfully handle 1080p signals including those at increased color depths and/or increased refresh rates from the Source. High-Speed cables are also able to accommodate higher resolution displays, such as WQXGA cinema monitors (resolution of 2560 x 1600).


Q: Will I need a new cable to support Audio Return Channel functionality?

A: No. Audio Return Channel -enabled devices can be connected via all the existing categories of HDMI cables



Q: What kind of cable will I need to use for 3D?

A: 3D video requires substantial data throughput, so you’ll want to use a High Speed HDMI cable (with or without Ethernet).


Q: What kind of cable will I need to use for a 4K display?

A: A High Speed HDMI Cable (with or without Ethernet)

 

[VirtualLarry]

Oh, good, so I can sell them as "HDMI 1.4 compatible".

(Since the new features of HDMI 1.4 devices, simply require a "high-speed HDMI" cable, and my cables are 10.2Gbit/sec, therefore "high-speed", therefore compatible with HDMI 1.4 device features.)

 

[Rifter]

Oh, good, so I can sell them as "HDMI 1.4 compatible".

(Since the new features of HDMI 1.4 devices, simply require a "high-speed HDMI" cable, and my cables are 10.2Gbit/sec, therefore "high-speed", therefore compatible with HDMI 1.4 device features.)

yup, should work fine.

Everyone always gets way to into the 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.whatever and doesnt realize there is really only two type of HDMI cable. The standard speed and high speed, with either also being available with ethernet.

 

[Destiny]

A real High speed HDMI 1.4 spec cable uses all 19 pins... HDMI 1.3 and other "falsely" advertised High Speed HDMI Cables use only 14 pins... the high bandwidth requirement and lower copper gauge (thicker copper) does become noticeable when you get longer HDMI cables...

There are actually Chinese factories when they get huge quantity orders by a major cable brand will resort to assembling High Speed HDMI cables with only 14 pins functioning to save time and money or making HDMI 1.3 specs and sell them as HDMI 1.4 = cheaper pricing "High Speed" HDMI Cables...

Probably won't notice a difference with short HDMI Cables - but longer ones 25ft + you will notice a picture quality difference or get no picture at all!

If you want cheap good cables = Monoprice...

or stick to major brands who only source to HDMI Adopters...

 

[VirtualLarry]

A real High speed HDMI 1.4 spec cable uses all 19 pins... HDMI 1.3 and other "falsely" advertised High Speed HDMI Cables use only 14 pins... the high bandwidth requirement and lower copper gauge (thicker copper) does become noticeable when you get longer HDMI cables...

There are actually Chinese factories when they get huge quantity orders by a major cable brand will resort to assembling High Speed HDMI cables with only 14 pins functioning to save time and money or making HDMI 1.3 specs and sell them as HDMI 1.4 = cheaper pricing "High Speed" HDMI Cables...

Probably won't notice a difference with short HDMI Cables - but longer ones 25ft + you will notice a picture quality difference or get no picture at all!

If you want cheap good cables = Monoprice...

or stick to major brands who only source to HDMI Adopters...

This doesn't make sense. You are saying that there is a picture quality difference, if they leave out 5 pins?

You seem to be describing the difference between an HDMI cable with ethernet, and a regular HDMI cable. Not the difference between high-speed and standard.

 

[queequeg99]

This doesn't make sense. You are saying that there is a picture quality difference, if they leave out 5 pins?

You seem to be describing the difference between an HDMI cable with ethernet, and a regular HDMI cable. Not the difference between high-speed and standard.

There were some rumors back in the day about very cost aware Chinese factories making HDMI cables that omitted some of the pins required by the HDMI spec. The story is that they omitted future use pins (audio return, power detection, and other things that most consumers would not have used at the time, if they do now). I don't know enough about how HDMI works to know if this is even possible. But the mere omission of pins should not impact video quality (assuming the damned thing works at all). But if you're dealing with a manufacturer that plays these kinds of games, who knows what else might be wrong with the cable which might impact video quality.

As far as I can tell, the rumors were unsubstantiated.

 

[Emulex]

yes some folks omits unused features like ethernet but you can find monoprice does the job great for short distance use.

 

[Destiny]

This doesn't make sense. You are saying that there is a picture quality difference, if they leave out 5 pins?

You seem to be describing the difference between an HDMI cable with ethernet, and a regular HDMI cable. Not the difference between high-speed and standard.

I apologize for the misunderstanding...

Missing 5 pins = missing some hdmi 1.4 specs features...

More copper (lower gauge) = better for longer cables = getting picture

But if the cables you are selling works at a better value = even better!