HDMI Image Quality

Walk into any popular electronics store and the selection of HDMI cables ranges from the cheap five dollar cables to “high tech” premium cables that can cost over $100.00. The choice can seem overwhelming. Is it really worth the extra money to get a higher performing cable?

HDMI cables can be advertised as being high speed or high tech offering “better image quality". An HDMI cable is nothing more than a series of copper cables ran together inside of a rubberized sheath to protect them. As a digital signal is transmitted across the wires, it is in the form of Binary Bits or “ones” and “zeros” which look like “11001010". The DVD player, computer, or whatever device is using the cables will translate whatever signal it is sending into these Bits and send them through the HDMI cables. When these bits of data reach their destination, they are then translated by the output device such as a TV, monitor, or whatever device is being used, into a picture and/or sound.

This being said, there is no way for a cable to improve or degrade the “quality” of the bits. They will either reach their destination and be translated, or they won’t and there will be no signal at all.
 
Regardless of image quality, there can be advantages in purchasing a heavier duty cable that is less prone to physical damage from being walked on or from wear and tear. So, when walking into a sales situation, the only choice that you should consider is whether you want a standard or high speed HDMI cable.  High-speed HDMI cables are made to handle 1080p and 3D signals. In this day and age, the price difference between the two is so minimal and with high speed HDMI cables being available for around five dollars, it makes sense to just purchase the high speed cable.

At TechFarmer, we see claims like this from manufacturers all of the time. Giving them the benefit of the doubt, we research and test these theories ourselves before over spending on technology that simply does not deliver what it claims.