HDMI Cables quality

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › HDMI Cables quality

xyeovillian

400 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 23

ID Verified

#228524 10-Jan-2018 11:35

I have a HDMI cable which has just stopped playing the right colours so I swapped it for another.

My Question is do you need more expensive ones or something like $5.00 ones from say the Warehouse?

To connect PS3,Panasonic DVD recorder,Apple TV and Intel Nuc through a Yamaha RX-840 finally to An LG smart TV.

I have always used the cheap ones just curios with anyone's experience.

reven

3748 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 874

Trusted

#1935434 10-Jan-2018 11:42

cheap ones are fine, digital cable. if youre putting a cable in a wall that isnt easy to replace, then sure getting a better quality one (but nothing monster like). pretty much all my cables are cheap ones from warehouse/ebay etc.

Dunnersfella

4100 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 887

#1935813 10-Jan-2018 19:43

For your gear, you won't notice a single bit of difference.

However now people are attempting to jam up to 18Gbps down the cable for UHD HDR content, many cables are being shown up.

Today I couldn't get all the XBoxS UHD capabilities to work with a UHD TV, one cable needed to be replaced and then everything worked.

The issue is that every manufacturer has made big claims for ages but there hasn't been an easily available source to test what they have said... now there is.

Many AV manufacturers are now recommending that if you want to jam UHD 4:2:2 60fps or higher down an HDMI cable - that you should move towards a powered cable to boost the signal in runs over 5 meters. UHD projector owners are the ones who will most likely feel the pinch of this.

Masterpiece

247 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 37

#1935886 10-Jan-2018 21:58

xyeovillian:
I have a HDMI cable which has just stopped playing the right colours so I swapped it for another.

My Question is do you need more expensive ones or something like $5.00 ones from say the Warehouse?

To connect PS3,Panasonic DVD recorder,Apple TV and Intel Nuc through a Yamaha RX-840 finally to An LG smart TV.

I have always used the cheap ones just curios with anyone's experience.

I'll quote myself from another thread below that explains some of the reasoning behind requirements.
I'll add that it really comes down to the quality control of manufacture and quality of the components than the actual price.
For 4k+HDR signals and greater than 4~5m length I'd recommend active cables.
For relatively shorter lengths just a reasonably constructed cable is good.
I have been using Dynamix cables from Jaycar with no real dramas.

Also note cables can expire from use, contacts get dirty, moisture ingress, overuse breakdown. Gaming console cables can get overuse from being constantly plugged in and out and moved around. Smoking, cooking oils and tar can ruin contacts.

Most HDMI 1.4 devices are limited to 9~10.2Gbps and in some cases lower.

1080p24 @8bit 4:4:4 = 2.23Gbps

If you struggle with this, lower settings 1080i, 720p or even 576i to get a signal then step up one level at a time until it fails then drop back one setting. That then is the device/cable transport limit. Note: some DVD/BD players amp up the signal more than others at the risk of swamping the HDMI cable.

If you struggle to do this over any connection you are in trouble for anything related to 4k or HDMI 2.0a~2.1

2160@24 8bit 4:4:4 = 8.91Gbps

A lot of people should be able to do basic 4k as above with short/medium cables and transitional 4k devices.

2160@24 10bit 4:4:4 = 11.14Gbps
2160@24 12bit 4:4:4 = 13.36Gbps

This is where people will start having issues when they raise bit depth to 10bit/12bit, this will be the default future for 4k +HDR as 8bit is just not good enough.

2160@50/60 8bit 4:4:4 = 17.82Gbps

So you want 60fps, you drop to 8bit but probably overwhelm your systems.
8 bit is not the way to go.

You are better off setting this

2160@24 10bit 4:4:4 = 11.14Gbps
or
2160@50/60 10bit 4:2:0 = 11.14Gbps

I'd argue that the 24hz would be better on a modern display that ups the Hz.
this does depend on the source material and what it is as default.

Me:"I'm not a robot!"

ET: "Maybe; you have some freewill, but you chose your path by arrangement"

Me "That sounds like a program with no freewill?"

ET: "We will catch up when you end this cycle"

Me: "Sounds like a 'KPI'!"

ET: "Did you read the terms and conditions?"

Me: .....

Batman

Mad Scientist
30012 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6217

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1935909 10-Jan-2018 22:52

xyeovillian:

I have a HDMI cable which has just stopped playing the right colours so I swapped it for another.

My Question is do you need more expensive ones or something like $5.00 ones from say the Warehouse?

To connect PS3,Panasonic DVD recorder,Apple TV and Intel Nuc through a Yamaha RX-840 finally to An LG smart TV.

I have always used the cheap ones just curios with anyone's experience.

If you're not transmitting 4k60fps $5 cables are fine. If you are, they may not be fine.

xyeovillian

400 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 23

ID Verified

#1937330 11-Jan-2018 19:11

I bought 2 thats all they had left kmart Audiosonic HDMI cable 1.5m working good now!