What should I look for in an HDMI cable?

With the upgrading of HD devices, many HD devices such as LCD TV, Blu-ray DVDs and HD projectors are applied HDMI to realize the synchronous transmission of images and videos. Most users pay more attention on how to choose an HDMI. However, it’s also very important to choose an HDMI cable.

You can detect the HDMI cable’s quality by these following aspects.

Construction and materials — Characteristics like conductor thickness, quality of shielding and insulation, and innovative internal design features intended to enhance the performance and reliability of the cable.

Speed rating — All HDMI cables Best Buy sells are rated to handle a continuous throughput of at least 10.2Gbps, which is certified to be compatible with HD signals up to 1080p resolution (including full HD 3D). Higher speed ratings indicate increased bandwidth to support additional video, audio and intercommunication features of emerging and future technologies.

Bit depth rating — Better HDMI cables offer higher bandwidth and are therefore certified to pass more nuanced color information than lesser cables. Basic HDMI cables typically handle a stream of 8-bit color information, whereas more sophisticated, high-bandwidth models are optimized for 10-bit, 12-bit or even 14-bit color depth.

Connector enhancements — Higher-end HDMI cables often sport connectors fabricated of zinc oxide for improved EM and RFI shielding and/or electroplated in gold for reliable electrical coupling and corrosion resistance.

In-wall rating — Like other types of household wiring, HDMI cable that?s fished behind walls or between floors is required to meet certain criteria related to fire resistance and other safety concerns. Be sure to verify that the cables you buy are "in-wall rated" if this is how you intend to install them.

Specific feature support — This is the single most critical factor, and we encourage you to consider it above and beyond any technical specification. Make sure that the HDMI cables you buy support the specific features and benefits you expect from your interconnected HDMI equipment. These might include features like 1080p (or greater) resolution, high frame rates like 120Hz or 240Hz, Deep Color, Automatic Lip Sync, specific types of surround-sound formats, or readiness for future feature implementation. The chart linked below compares the different HDMI cable lines currently in our assortment across a wide range of technical characteristics and feature support capabilities.