HDMI vs HD Cables
Since this is commonly asked question, we have decided to take the time and touch on the HDMI vs HD cables discussion. Well, for starters HD stands for high definition and by that definition the HDMI cable is HD as well since HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface. The HDMI technology is the one that allows us to connect a video or audio source to HD TVs, computer screens, and video projectors and enjoy excellent quality picture and sound. The high definition display resolutions are 720p, 1080p, and 1080i, where the 720p is 1280×720 pixels, and 1080p and 1080i are 1920×1080, however, the 1080i carries the images in an interlaced format. 1080p is the “top” HD resolution, but at the time of this writing, true 1080p content is available on demand only form some of the broadcaster or available on Blu-ray disks.
Now, let’s go back to the HDMI cables: since its release in 2009, the HDMI products have evolved considerably and the cables are no exception. All versions, starting from 1.0 and ending with 1.4 support HD Video and Blu-ray Disc and have maximum resolution over single link at 24-bit/px of 1920×1200p60 (1.0–1.2a), 2560×1600p75 (1.3), and 4096×2160p24 (1.4). This means that even the older HDMI cable that you can find in the stores is an HD cable and will give you excellent picture.
What do you need to know when buying HDMI cables?
If you are interested in buying HDMI cables for your home theatre, then you need to make sure that your equipment actually supports the technology; of course, most of the electronic devices that have been released in the past few years are HDMI-enabled, and replacing your old analog cables with HDMI is well worth it. The HDMI cables are surprisingly cheap and you can get one for just a few pounds, however, you should probably stay away from the cheaper ones as they are likely to be of poor quality. You do not have to purchase the most expensive either or fall for some marketing gimmicks, claiming that only top of the range (read the most expensive) ones are safe for your equipment. The more expensive HDMI cables are only necessary only if your equipment is far apart, but in that case, you might want to consider purchasing repeaters in order to ensure that you are getting the best out of your equipment. As a rule, you should go for 1.4 or 1.3 HDMI cable, which should not only work with almost all devices, but is likely to be perfect for the ones that are to be manufactured in the next few months and years as well.