? On HDMI Cable

[bmurphy2121]

Not sure if Im posting in right area but here it goes.
Ive been reading a lot about HDMI cable and was wanting to know if its worth upgrading to HDMI 1.4 or just keep the original stuff that I have. Ive read that by using the newer HDMI cables Ill be able to get better sound quality and video is this true or myth? Can someone please help

 

[bandphan]

Not sure if Im posting in right area but here it goes.
Ive been reading a lot about HDMI cable and was wanting to know if its worth upgrading to HDMI 1.4 or just keep the original stuff that I have. Ive read that by using the newer HDMI cables Ill be able to get better sound quality and video is this true or myth? Can someone please help

Don't believe the hype. Visit the hdmi website and review the two certifications and what the different versions added.

 

[markw]

Ive read that by using the newer HDMI cables Ill be able to get better sound quality and video is this true or myth?

Not so much a myth as an outright lie.

 

[MDS]

Each new version of the HDMI spec adds features. If you won't use those new features either because you don't need/want them or because your TV, BluRay player, etc don't support those features then using a cable that supports features introduced in version 1.4 won't do anything for you.

For example, 1.4 adds support for an audio return channel and ethernet over HDMI. If your TV doesn't support an audio return channel or ethernet, then using a cable designed to support those features won't magically enable them.

The only thing you need to be concerned with is category 1 (aka 'low speed') and category 2 (aka 'high speed'). Generally, it's best to use category 2 cables and ignore any version numbers on the cable.

 

[pzaur]

Not sure if Im posting in right area but here it goes.
Ive been reading a lot about HDMI cable and was wanting to know if its worth upgrading to HDMI 1.4 or just keep the original stuff that I have. Ive read that by using the newer HDMI cables Ill be able to get better sound quality and video is this true or myth? Can someone please help

And if you are purchasing new cables, buy them from somewhere reasonable.
But first, read through MDS' post, especially the middle section.

Monoprice.com
Bluejeanscable.com

Don't purchase them in store since you'll be paying uber-amounts of mark-up on them.

-pat

 

[bmurphy2121]

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I have cables but was thinkn bout upgrading them to be all the same kind because as of right now they are the same cables that I bought when HDMI/DVI was first released. So thats why I had the question of what type/kind to get or if I really needed to upgrade at all. I just want to get the most for my money and not blow money on something that I dont need nor will even work for what I have.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Well, that's the line that was never really discussed.

HDMI 1.4 isn't just a cable. It's an interface standard.

You will not just need new cables, but new gear which supports and takes advantage of HDMI 1.4.

If your gear is HDMI 1.1 specific, then there is no need to upgrade to HDMI 1.4 or even HDMI 1.3 at this time. You just don't get anything from it at all.

On the other hand, if you had HDMI 1.3 gear, and you had HDMI 1.1 cabling, then you may be missing out on HD audio or something else that was potentially there.

The fun of HDMI is that it likely will keep evolving for several more years until it is replaced with 'something'. Not sure what, but hopefully a wireless or CAT5/6 solution.

 

[bmurphy2121]

Bmxtrix, thatnks for the info. Ive tried to look into the what my reciever can take but I cnt find it anywhere. The reciever that I have is a Pioneer Elite VSX 81TXV the other gear that I have is a PS3 slim and a Samsung LN46A650 TV. So Im just clueless on if my reciever will allow me to upgrade to at least the 1.3 casue I def know I cant use the 1.4 because my reciever is not 3D capable and its older reciever.

 

[BMXTRIX]

From your owners manual:

This unit has been designed to be compliant with HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) Version 1.2. Depending on the component you have
connected, using a DVI connection may result in unreliable signal transfers. Also, when using a component with HDMI version 1.0, it is not possible to
output copy-controlled DVD-Audio CPPM sources from the HDMI connection.

Page 49 at the bottom.

Definitely no reason to upgrade the cables.

 

[bmurphy2121]

Ok thanks for the input. At least now I know that I wont have to spend any money until I decide to upgrade my whole system. Thanks again everyone for all the great input.