Cables and connections

[rlafon1714]

I know it has taken a while but I just recently upgraded to ultra hd world with an 8k TV. I am wanting to know what and if there is a noticable difference between 4k HDMI cables and standard HDMI and high end vs. low end cables. Just wanting to know what to better invest in.

 

[-Jim-]

The simple answer is yes. Each generation of HDMI (specification wise) added features. If you want to have those features available, all components in the chain TV, HDMI Cable, and Receiver must meet the spec for those features.

Here's a chart you may find helpful.

I hope this is helpful.

 

[ryanosaur]

Unless you are running a long length of cable, there is no need to spend a lot on “High End” or expensive HDMI cables. If your TV and AVR share the same compatibility, get any good cable that matches. Monoprice offers a good selection of certified cables at 4K and 8k levels. (I use the 4K ones right now, have 5 or 6 and none have failed.)

 

[Replicant 7]

The simple answer is yes. Each generation of HDMI (specification wise) added features. If you want to have those features available, all components in the chain TV, HDMI Cable, and Receiver must meet the spec for those features.

Here's a chart you may find helpful.
View attachment 55358

I hope this is helpful.

@-Jim- that's a very nice very helpful chart for HDMI uses. Maybe a HDMI dedicated thread with that chart posted up would surely help many looking for the different HDMI cable uses.

 

[lovinthehd]

FWIW https://hdmi.org/resource/cables

 

[-Jim-]

FWIW https://hdmi.org/resource/cables

I like the site, but the packaging these folks use would be far simpler without all the Marketing lingo, and just use the HDMI Spec. I was just at a store looking at a small wall of various cables lengths with different outer coatings and not one of a dozen packages said meets or exceeds HDMI Specification X.X.

Talk about deliberately trying to confuse the Customer. Some did have the packaging with a QR Code, but it would have been far simpler just to have the Spec stated. I didn't bother downloading the App to read the code as I was miffed.

 

[lovinthehd]

I like the site, but the packaging these folks use would be far simpler without all the Marketing lingo, and just use the HDMI Spec. I was just at a store looking at a small wall of various cables lengths with different outer coatings and not one of a dozen packages said meets or exceeds HDMI Specification X.X.

Talk about deliberately trying to confuse the Customer. Some did have the packaging with a QR Code, but it would have been far simpler just to have the Spec stated. I didn't bother downloading the App to read the code as I was miffed.

Well, part of the point is that the cables don't have the hardware spec, they simply work on bandwidth/speed (and length/type can come into play in that regard as well). May be a bit of a weird thing but they're the folks who create it and certify it.....and don't encourage the selling of it based on a hardware version number.

 

[-Jim-]

Yes, the Type A connector HDMI cables all have the same 19 pin connector, and physical geometry; but the cable's conductors, insulation, shielding, manufacturing techniques, etc., are what determine if it will work transmitting the signals for a given HDMI Spec. HDMI Cables for a given length need to be certified to transmit all of the signals designated as required to meet the Spec at those lengths. And that what most of the OEMs fail to do.

(I know how Specs are supposed to work having been involved in IEEE and PCIC Committee work for many years.)

Check out this somewhat humorous (but accurate) YouTube on the subject: I Spent a THOUSAND Dollars on HDMI Cables.. for Science

Even trusted brands they tested had an almost 20% failure rate to meet the Specs. Most consumers wouldn't even know it's the HDMI Cable causing the issue. They'd just be pulling their hair out.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I know it has taken a while but I just recently upgraded to ultra hd world with an 8k TV. I am wanting to know what and if there is a noticable difference between 4k HDMI cables and standard HDMI and high end vs. low end cables. Just wanting to know what to better invest in.

While I think you've gotten a basic gist of things, be aware that most HDMI cables sold today are either rated for 4K at 18Gb/s or up to the full 8K spec and 48Gb/s.
The idea of 'investing' in cables is ridiculous, since in a few years they will be considered obsolete anyways. You buy cables to throw them away at some point in the future. What I'm trying to say is... DO NOT OVERSPEND!

If your setup doesn't need 8K cabling, because most of the time it doesn't. And you don't need the 48Gb/s specification that goes along with it, then spending more on 8K cabling may seem wasteful at this point. But, there are plenty of cables out there that happily carry the designation and don't cost a lot more.

In reality, I would just head over to Monoprice and get their 8K cables at 6' or less and roll with it...

HDMI CABLES - HDMI Cable, Home Theater Accessories, HDMI Products, Cables, Adapters, Video/Audio Switch, Networking, USB, Firewire, Printer Toner, and more!

Monoprice, Inc. (DBA. MonoPrice.com) specializes in the wholesale distribution of world class cable assemblies for home theater, PC, and high technology industries. MonoPrice.com offers a wide range of products from standard PC products, network cables, and HDMI cables to custom cable assemblies...

www.monoprice.com

A big issue I have with the above linked video is that they did a LOT of testing with cables from Monoprice and the only 15' cable they tested at all came from Monoprice, so it isn't shocking that they saw more failures with the brand they tested the most from, and at the longest lengths...
Read the actual results in the Excel file on this page:

I Spent a THOUSAND Dollars on HDMI Cables.. for Science

We told you we’d do it, and here it is! Testing a whackload of HDMI 2.1 and 2.0 cables to find out if you’ve been wasting your money on cables for no good reason. Data from tests is attached to this post. If you are an educator or otherwise have a legitimate reason for wanting to look at the .jso...

linustechtips.com

What you will find is that if you are truly pushing full 8K content (48Gb/s) you can pick up cables for under 20 bucks a pop which are likely to work just fine for you.
If you are pushing 4K content, then you will have basically no issues whatsoever.
Don't overspend.
Grab an extra cable or two just in case. Nothing really is worse than needing one extra cable and not having it.
I AM A HUGE FAN OF ULTRA SLIM HDMI CABLES! They are lightweight, don't pull small gear around, and they stay in place. If 4K is plenty for you, get ultra slim cables and call it done.

HDMI CABLES - HDMI Cable, Home Theater Accessories, HDMI Products, Cables, Adapters, Video/Audio Switch, Networking, USB, Firewire, Printer Toner, and more!

Monoprice, Inc. (DBA. MonoPrice.com) specializes in the wholesale distribution of world class cable assemblies for home theater, PC, and high technology industries. MonoPrice.com offers a wide range of products from standard PC products, network cables, and HDMI cables to custom cable assemblies...

www.monoprice.com

For normal 4K content (18Gb/s) this is my go-to cable and it is awesome:

Monoprice 4K Slim Certified Premium High Speed HDMI Cable 6ft - 18Gbps Black - Monoprice.com

Monoprice™ Certified Premium High Speed HDMI® Cables are designed to meet and exceed the highest standards of HDMI performance. Capable of delivering 18Gbps bandwidth, these are the only cab

www.monoprice.com

 

[-Jim-]

While I think you've gotten a basic gist of things, be aware that most HDMI cables sold today are either rated for 4K at 18Gb/s or up to the full 8K spec and 48Gb/s.
The idea of 'investing' in cables is ridiculous, since in a few years they will be considered obsolete anyways. You buy cables to throw them away at some point in the future. What I'm trying to say is... DO NOT OVERSPEND!

If your setup doesn't need 8K cabling, because most of the time it doesn't. And you don't need the 48Gb/s specification that goes along with it, then spending more on 8K cabling may seem wasteful at this point. But, there are plenty of cables out there that happily carry the designation and don't cost a lot more.

In reality, I would just head over to Monoprice and get their 8K cables at 6' or less and roll with it...

HDMI CABLES - HDMI Cable, Home Theater Accessories, HDMI Products, Cables, Adapters, Video/Audio Switch, Networking, USB, Firewire, Printer Toner, and more!

Monoprice, Inc. (DBA. MonoPrice.com) specializes in the wholesale distribution of world class cable assemblies for home theater, PC, and high technology industries. MonoPrice.com offers a wide range of products from standard PC products, network cables, and HDMI cables to custom cable assemblies...

www.monoprice.com

A big issue I have with the above linked video is that they did a LOT of testing with cables from Monoprice and the only 15' cable they tested at all came from Monoprice, so it isn't shocking that they saw more failures with the brand they tested the most from, and at the longest lengths...
Read the actual results in the Excel file on this page:

I Spent a THOUSAND Dollars on HDMI Cables.. for Science

We told you we’d do it, and here it is! Testing a whackload of HDMI 2.1 and 2.0 cables to find out if you’ve been wasting your money on cables for no good reason. Data from tests is attached to this post. If you are an educator or otherwise have a legitimate reason for wanting to look at the .jso...

linustechtips.com

What you will find is that if you are truly pushing full 8K content (48Gb/s) you can pick up cables for under 20 bucks a pop which are likely to work just fine for you.
If you are pushing 4K content, then you will have basically no issues whatsoever.
Don't overspend.
Grab an extra cable or two just in case. Nothing really is worse than needing one extra cable and not having it.
I AM A HUGE FAN OF ULTRA SLIM HDMI CABLES! They are lightweight, don't pull small gear around, and they stay in place. If 4K is plenty for you, get ultra slim cables and call it done.

HDMI CABLES - HDMI Cable, Home Theater Accessories, HDMI Products, Cables, Adapters, Video/Audio Switch, Networking, USB, Firewire, Printer Toner, and more!

Monoprice, Inc. (DBA. MonoPrice.com) specializes in the wholesale distribution of world class cable assemblies for home theater, PC, and high technology industries. MonoPrice.com offers a wide range of products from standard PC products, network cables, and HDMI cables to custom cable assemblies...

www.monoprice.com

For normal 4K content (18Gb/s) this is my go-to cable and it is awesome:

Monoprice 4K Slim Certified Premium High Speed HDMI Cable 6ft - 18Gbps Black - Monoprice.com

Monoprice™ Certified Premium High Speed HDMI® Cables are designed to meet and exceed the highest standards of HDMI performance. Capable of delivering 18Gbps bandwidth, these are the only cab

www.monoprice.com

I agree on don't overspend. But as I tend to upgrade over time, I sometimes buy a better cable than what I need if it's "on sale" and close in price to the Spec needed. (Monoprice often does this.) I'd also advise to buy the length you need that won't be strained when plugged in. (Don't go much longer than needed.) Also if you are deciding between two comparably priced and Spec'd brands => go for the one with the larger wire gauged conductors inside. It should be less lossy.

 

[BMXTRIX]

...go for the one with the larger wire gauged conductors inside. It should be less lossy.

In fairness, over 20+ years of installations, thick cables are complete garbage to work with and cable manage.

You want a cable which works well. It is worth spending MORE money to get lightweight cables.

A thick cable is often a cheaper solution to get more distance, but if a properly designed and rated cable, which works is more lightweight, then that's almost always the way to go. Especially when you look at the current weight of most components. AppleTV 4K? Half an ounce. Roku Ultra? 1/4 ounce. A new cable box? Negative. They float. While obviously not quite true, thin, lightweight cables make a huge difference with cable management and ensuring your gear doesn't flip and flop all over the place.

Lightweight cabling also typically has a much better bend radius. This is incredibly nice for both AV receivers where the cables are sticking out the back and are more likely to pull out if you move the receiver around. As well as TVs with HDMI connectors on the side which often need the cables to bend down and out of the way to feed to the equipment.

Given this 18Gb/s HDMI cable: https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=3992
or this one: https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=24187

Absolutely get the thin one. It carries the FULL 18Gb/s reliably, and will be much easier to cable manage. I have seen far too many installs with bulky cables that are poorly managed, pull out of gear all the time, and don't add any functionality to pretend 'thick means better' is a actual truth. It's just not. Heck, I fell into that trap for years myself and when I went to slim cables, it changed my world forever. Forever.

 

[ryanosaur]

In fairness, over 20+ years of installations, thick cables are complete garbage to work with and cable manage.

You want a cable which works well. It is worth spending MORE money to get lightweight cables.

A thick cable is often a cheaper solution to get more distance, but if a properly designed and rated cable, which works is more lightweight, then that's almost always the way to go. Especially when you look at the current weight of most components. AppleTV 4K? Half an ounce. Roku Ultra? 1/4 ounce. A new cable box? Negative. They float. While obviously not quite true, thin, lightweight cables make a huge difference with cable management and ensuring your gear doesn't flip and flop all over the place.

Lightweight cabling also typically has a much better bend radius. This is incredibly nice for both AV receivers where the cables are sticking out the back and are more likely to pull out if you move the receiver around. As well as TVs with HDMI connectors on the side which often need the cables to bend down and out of the way to feed to the equipment.

Given this 18Gb/s HDMI cable: https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=3992
or this one: https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=24187

Absolutely get the thin one. It carries the FULL 18Gb/s reliably, and will be much easier to cable manage. I have seen far too many installs with bulky cables that are poorly managed, pull out of gear all the time, and don't add any functionality to pretend 'thick means better' is a actual truth. It's just not. Heck, I fell into that trap for years myself and when I went to slim cables, it changed my world forever. Forever.

I agree.
I've been reading your advice on this for a while and when I upgrade my HDMIs this year or next, I'm going to be looking at the Slims. The regular cables are, indeed, quite tough to work with.

 

[-Jim-]

Gents,

I'll take function over form every time. If you are into tight bends out of / into your gear I understand your desire for "thin" cables, but I'm not a fan of tight bends at all. Some OEMs use thinner conductors (and related insulation and shielding) to build a cheaper less functional cable, and sell it as a "premium" cable at more profit. One shouldn't be cramming their expensive gear into tight spaces. Usually this has inadequate ventilation / cooling as a result as well. I've seen this many times.

(My reluctance probably goes back to my technician and electrician training I guess, when bend radii was spec'd in design / code.)

So I guess I'll agree to disagree on this point, if that's all right with you.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Gents,

I'll take function over form every time. If you are into tight bends out of / into your gear I understand your desire for "thin" cables, but I'm not a fan of tight bends at all. Some OEMs use thinner conductors (and related insulation and shielding) to build a cheaper less functional cable, and sell it as a "premium" cable at more profit. One shouldn't be cramming their expensive gear into tight spaces. Usually this has inadequate ventilation / cooling as a result as well. I've seen this many times.

(My reluctance probably goes back to my technician and electrician training I guess, when bend radii was spec'd in design / code.)

So I guess I'll agree to disagree on this point, if that's all right with you.

For years I was on the same page as you man. I got really heavyweight HDMI cables because their original design was so poorly made that you really needed a pretty heavyweight cable to deliver a reliable signal from source to display. On top of it, at the time, components were more like Oppo players everywhere and cable boxes were full 17" width beasts with hard drives installed in them for DVR purposes.

It is the reality of a typical installation though that we aren't in a large heavyweight component world (mostly) anymore. So, while some things are about space, like behind a TV coming down a wall or avoiding sticking out from sides. The majority is the tiny components like newer cable boxes and such.


Keep in mind I am running a 16x16 matrix switcher in my system. I have dozens of HDMI cables that I am dealing with across three racks and about 100 cables coming into the rack. I need the high reliability of a quality HDMI cable, but I also need them to be slim enough so that they can be properly cable managed around twists and turns while delivering that reliability.

We all choose our own components from start to finish, and that's perfectly fine. But, if you haven't tried slim cables, you should pick up a few at some point. The first time I did, I realized that I had been doing it wrong for years. I didn't know how wrong I had been doing it until I got slim cables and used them in 1080p, and then 4K installations without issue. They are amazing.