HDMI Cable Reviews

When researching cables you will run across a lot of HDMI cable reviews, understanding them is as important at reading them. You’d be amazed at how people can repeat stats and have no real idea what they mean. You took the time to look up some HDMI cable reviews, it’s only right that you understand them as well.

The first thing you need to understand is what the current HDMI high end stand is. Eventually there will be a 2089z standard or something ridiculous that that only aliens in a parallel dimension will be able to see the difference in, when that happens you are better off being able to be forward compatible. What does that mean? Simply put; even if you don’t have the best TV/blu-ray combo on the market, shop like you do. Or better yet shop like you are going to be buying tomorrow’s technology today.

If an HDMI cable review says that a cable supports 1080p and 480p, it’s fluff. Of course the cable will support a 480p cable! HDMI is backwards compatible. It’s not the difference between FM and AM we’re talking about here. If you take into account the top resolution, you can take for granted that the lower resolutions will be supported. Discard the lower numbers, you’re covered.

Cable gauge is often talked about in these reviews as well. It’s important that you understand what a gauge is and what it means to you. Gauge is thickness, plain and simple. Whether you’re dealing with a solid cable (silly) or a stranded one, the overall thickness is what you are looking at. Smaller numbers means thicker. I have no idea why that is, but it’s true. Thus a 28 gauge cable is not as thick as say a 20 gauge.

There is a minimum requirement for the thickness of the cable to be HDMI compliant. A 28 gauge cable is still a 28 gauge cable, it doesn’t matter who makes it or what it is made out of, if it is HDMI compliant it is compliant. The cable its self doesn’t know any better, it just does its job; conducting digital signal. Using a noncompliant cable can lead to picture pixilation (blocks), sound failure and even intermittent and continued picture failure. If the word “compliant” is not used in an HDMI cable review, I look at it a little skeptically.

Shielding matters as well. Shielding isn’t just the nice plastic cover over the cable either, that’s a common misconception. Shielding has to do with the tin that’s wrapped around the copper on the inside of the cable. Double shielding will have two wraps while triple shielding involves three (Go figure). What difference does triple make over double? Not much really. Previously it was thought that a thicker cable conducted signal better and all the extra shielding was needed. Someone finally figured out that digital signal is still a low-voltage signal and that thick cables were more of a detriment than an advantage and things calmed down some. Now the average cable is a 28 gauge, double shielded cable with a flexible coating. A lot of sellers were left holding onto thick, unwieldy cables to sell that aren’t any better than thinner cables. Be on the lookout for rave reviews where these are concerned.

Connectors matter as well when looking at HDMI cable reviews. Gold plated connectors are nice, but make sure there is a nickel undercoating if possible. Often there will be some measure of emphasis put on “gold connectors”. Gold is a noble metal, that is to say it does not corrode, but everything under it often will. One scratch to the gold surface that is deep enough can have devastating results over time. Having a nickel undercoating helps prevent this.

These are a few tips for understanding some of the HDMI cable reviews on the internet these days. Probably the biggest tip I can give you is to pull up as much specific information about HDMI cables as you can and really understand what the numbers and letters mean. IN the end you will be able to find what you are looking for and know you’ve made the right choice.