HDMI  Connection Conundrum  =   Myths, Facts, and Logic!

We have been getting more and more questions about the HDMI connection cables and find that not only customers have a lot of confusion but even some retailers seem to not know what they are all about. What's going on? A custom installer specs an HDMI cable for a projector that doesn't have a HDMI input. Some "Big Box" companys are insisting that it is the only cable to use to get the best picture without consideration of the associated components, even insisting that it will improve the picture no matter what  source is used. And of course the most expensive one is far superior in picture than their budget model. More on that later!

 

So just what is HDMI?   High Definition Multimedia Interface. Several manufacturers have adopted this format of cable as a digital audio, video, and communication transmission standard  for their current and future products. It also provides copywrite protection in the digital domain, HDCP (High-band Digital Content Protection) which the movie industry wants.  Consumers will like it because it will take the place of multiple seperate cables and organize the ease of hook-up, taking some of the guess work out of coordinating the audio video inputs. If you would like to know all the detailsand features, just go to HDMI.org.

 

All of this sounds great, simple hook-up, standardized communication, digital to digital transmission, component to component communication, wide bandwith capability and all product with the HDMI logo will have to be tested to meet  strict specifications. Eventually  this format of transfering information is very likely to become the defacto standard of the future. Why? Because between Hollywood and Washington D.C., the powers that be, agreements with AASC (content protection)have dictated that starting in 2010 manufacturers will have to reduce product available with analog out capabilities and/ or reduce the potential quality, and completely do away with analog capabilities by 2013.  Of course some people might  consider this to be a big brother conspiracy, no choice of interconnects!

 

But before you run out the door to buy a handfull of these new cables to hook up to all your HDMI connections, you might also like to know a little more about the current state of affairs. Although the HDMI cables are standardized, there is no standardization in the processor chips or firmware in the components as of now. Thus we have some incompability issues amoung manufacturers. In other words you can hook up your components with HDMI and they might work and then they might not. Sometimes a firmware upgrade may resolve the problem. As time goes on this will probably become less of an issue as the manufacturers get their act together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now back to the cables themselves, more controversy.  While some retailers will insist that you get the most expensive HDMI cables for your new display "because they will give you the best picture possible", this may or may not be true, but most likely not. First, all cables have to be tested to make sure that they pass all standards to be certified HDMI. Digital is digital, either you have sufficient signal or you don't.  There is no cable that can improve the signal or increase information in the digital domain, it is what it is. A cable can start losing small bits of data on longer runs over 5 meters,  this is just inherient in the cables transmissions design. Some companies claim that their longer cables will not lose signal, but it is recommended that any length over 5 m. should be amplified to prevent signal loss.

 

But still digital to digital transmission is "Best". Well, maybe and maybe not. Every time a digital signal is reprocessed, it has the potential to have lost data or artifacts and there is added processing in the digital to digital domain and some processing that has nothing to do with needed processing or needed adjustment of the signal, ie. HDCP (aka Hollywood Protection). Sometimes retransmitted signals, like through the cable company, that have small amounts of video loss can show up in a digital to digital transmissions as data loss and artifacts since there is no correction circuitry as with analog component signals. In this case component analog signals to the TV display can actually look better. Many reviewers have tested HDMI to component analog and found there is no practical discernable advantage to digital being the best method of transmission. And if they can't really see any substantial difference, will the average consumer actually see a better picture, probably not. Maybe in the future!

 

Still confused as to what cables would be best for your setup?  It just depends on different things like what components that you are using and the lay out of your system.  We have practical expierence and we have HDMI certified training. We would be glad to advise you on your particular system, just drop by our store sometime and we will be happy to try to help you with your cable decissions.