HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a compact audio/video interface for transferring uncompressed video data and compressed/uncompressed digital audio data from your HDMI device to a compatible monitor, projector or digital audio device or television. As most people know, HDMI cables come in various lengths, and various qualities...and prices.
There are so many to choose from, from the very cheap to the wildy expensive. So which cables should you buy? Many an audiophile has spent lots of time and money trying to determine which cables are the best and whether the super expensive cables are worth the investment. On the whole, the majority have agreed that the super expensive ones do not necessarily perform any better than the regular cables. Does that mean you should go for the cheapest cables every time?
Sometimes yes, especially in situations where you don’t plan on disconnecting and reconnecting the cable often, where the cable is running a short distance, where you are connecting two devices which have easy access to the inputs/outputs or you are not running them through walls. Having a couple of cheap back-ups for these kind of scenarios makes sense, because it won’t be a hassle if one of your old cables fails.
Sometimes no, when you are creating longer runs that are extending out to the cables specified maximum distance, when you will be disconnecting and reconnecting more often (many cheaper cables have less reliable connector heads which can become fragile with regular insertion/removal, sometimes breaking the internal connection between the wires) or when you want to run your cables through walls (because who wants to try and replace a cheap cable which breaks down if it means you have to fish it back through the wall).
Some research has indicated that “the use of higher quality materials could have an impact on signal degradation when approaching the maximum lengths of an HDMI cable, but all cables are subject to specified maximum lengths”. (*Tested.com)
Keeping all this in mind, it is important to know that there are still quality differences between cables when it comes to longevity. Although there may not be a difference in performance, some cables will last longer than other based upon the quality of construction. If you were able to cut a few cables open, you would be able to see the difference in materials used to construct them. Cables with better shielding, thicker internal wiring and better connector construction will have better overall durability every time.
Typically each home will have a mix of cheap, mid-range and higher quality cables, however knowing that there is a job for each quality of cable, hopefully you feel more comfortable making the right decision for your situation.
