The better hdmi cable. Expensive or cheap

Thanks to modern technology, we have many useful and convenient products for various needs: from cooking to comfortable cleaning. Television equipment does not stand aside either, which began to be equipped with the HDMI standard, which has already become familiar today. And it's only been gaining popularity lately. About what such a cable is and what versions of HDMI exist today, and will be discussed in this article.

What is HDMI?

Old analog TVs have long been a thing of the past, although some still have them and work properly. Now, in stores, modern and beautiful digital panels of various sizes and formats flaunt all the time. Actually, the HDMI standard was created just for such TVs that produce a better image, unlike an analog signal.

Such a connector is not only common among home theaters and game consoles, it is also more common in Blu-ray players, laptops and even computers. This interface is deciphered as what can be translated as follows - a high-definition multimedia interface.

But in addition to the video signal, any version of the HDMI cable is capable of transmitting audio data, and also of high quality, which is an invaluable advantage over analog cables. And now it is already difficult to find any multimedia device without an HDMI interface. And in modern TVs there are at least 2 such connectors.

Significant advantage of HDMI

How are these cables different from other analogues and why are they so popular? The answer is simple - video on such a cable can be transmitted in high resolution 1080p (Full High Definition). And at the present time it is the highest quality format, and therefore widespread.

Perhaps some of us still remember the S-Video interface and the composite cable, because relatively recently we used them to enjoy our favorite films, series and concerts. And the quality of the picture we were quite satisfied with. The emergence of a new standard and different versions of HDMI meant a serious step into the future in comparison with the analogues listed.

Without a doubt, the new technology provides a better picture, although most people do not see the difference between digital and analog images. But if the video is initially not of very good quality or even very bad, then it is more pleasant to watch it through the already old interfaces.

As for the audio signal transmission, it is also of high quality. Thanks to the HDMI interface, up to 8 channels of 24-bit 192 kHz audio can be transmitted. This allows you to fully enjoy formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Identical sound can only be obtained using as many as 8 analog cables! It is unlikely that any music lover will want to mess with wires that get tangled and interfere all the time.

Varieties of HDMI

Due to the wide range of these cable products, many people have a reasonable question about how to find out the version of the HDMI cable. To answer it, it is worth considering exactly what types have already been created. We owe the emergence of a new high-definition standard to HDMI Licensing LLC. In turn, it was formed thanks to the efforts of several companies:

• Sony;
• Panasonic;
• Philips;
• Thompson (now Technicolor);
• Hitachi;
• Toshiba;
• Silicon Image.

The HDMI interface was created to replace the already outdated one that many still remember. And he coped with the task very well.

In essence, HDMI is a cluster of 19 wires assembled into one braid, which has several insulating layers inside. The minimum bandwidth is 4.9 Gbps (version 1.0). The transmission of a digital signal is not accompanied by its compression, which is the reason for its high quality.

The very first version of the HDMI cable was first introduced in 2002, and soon the product was firmly rooted in its niche. However, its development did not stop, and almost every year a new version appeared, and at the time of 2013 there were already 10 of them:

1. HDMI 1.0.
2. HDMI 1.1.
3. HDMI 1.2.
4. HDMI 1.2a.
5. HDMI 1.3.
6. HDMI 1.3b.
7. HDMI 2.0.

At the same time, each version has its own differences: as a rule, everything went to increase the throughput and add many useful features.

It is easy for the average consumer to get confused in such a variety, so after the release of HDMI 1.4, HDMI Licensing LLC, with the support of many manufacturers, decided to move away from digital classification. Now everything is much easier:

• 2 regular standards (category 1);
• 2 high-speed interfaces (category 2);
• one specialized protocol for vehicles.

Thus, the whole variety of versions was reduced to 5 standards. It is worth considering them in more detail, and then the differences will manifest themselves in all their glory. More on that below.

HDMI standard

A lot of time has passed since the HDMI 1.0 cable appeared, and now the usual standard can already be equated with version 1.3. Such cables are suitable for almost all household home devices, whether they are DVD players, satellite television receivers, plasma or LCD panels.

The image is transmitted in 1080i or 720p, sometimes 1080p can be supported, but there are no guarantees. This option is suitable in cases where there is no need to transmit high quality image and sound. It is characterized by a bandwidth of 4.9 Gb / s, a clock frequency of 74.25 MHz with a color depth of no more than 24 bits.

Through such a cable, simple signals can be transmitted between simple devices. There can be no talk of high gear here, and accordingly there is no detail here either. Therefore, those for whom it is important to get a high-quality picture from the screen should not choose such a cable.

HDMI with Ethernet

Everything here is the same as that listed above (1080i or 720p resolution, etc.). The only difference is that there is an additional Ethernet channel with a speed of up to 100 Mbps. Of course, this is not yet a full-fledged HDMI 1.4, but it is enough for home use.

The interface will fully function only if both connected devices support this function - that is, equipped with an Ethernet HDMI connector.

In addition to what the cable provides, at the same time it is possible to distribute data received from the World Wide Web between all connected devices. In addition, there is another additional feature that is not found in a standard cable - Audio Return Channel technology.

Automotive HDMI

It is a new development, which was created specifically for use in vehicles. The cable can work in the most difficult conditions:

• high level of humidity;
• strong vibrations;
• temperature changes.

With it, you can connect the on-board computer, which is present in almost any modern car, to various multimedia devices that have a micro-HDMI connector. And at the same time, despite all these harsh conditions, the signal will remain of the highest quality. The standard is most common among specialists in the installation of car audio systems, as well as lovers of good car audio.

The cables are equipped with an E-type connector with a special lock, which allows the convector to be better fixed in the socket. As a result, disconnection of devices during their use is excluded.

High Speed ​​HDMI

These are just the cables that allow you to enjoy the pleasant spectacle of what is happening on the screen in all its glory! The list of connected devices is much wider if we compare it with a conventional interface:

• Blu-ray players, including those with 3D function.
• HDD players.
• Satellite television.
• Plasma or LCD TVs.
• Game consoles.

That is, it is practically an HDMI 2.0 cable, since it is possible to transmit an image with a resolution of 1080p or more. That is, formats such as 3D, Deep Color and 4K (4096 × 2160, 24Hz) are supported. The maximum throughput is 10.2 Gbps at 48-bit color depth and 340 MHz clock.

In other words, connection is possible between absolutely any devices. In addition, this interface is compatible with all types of HDMI, only if the A-type connector is used.

However, compared to the conventional HDMI standard, the features don't stop there. And the whole point is not only in the dimensions of the cross section and the material of the twisted pairs, but also in the quality of their dielectrics, as well as the methods of shielding.

Ultimately, this results in a cost that is higher than that of standard cables. However, you can enjoy high-quality content only with the help of a slightly more expensive counterpart. Therefore, it is better to overpay a little, but watch full-fledged three-dimensional films, rather than and then think for a long time how to connect an HDMI cable to a TV.

High speed HDMI and Ethernet

Here are the same parameters, only an additional Internet channel with a speed of 100 Mbps has been added. If all connected devices support Ethernet HDMI, then the functionality is fully revealed. This option is the best alternative available today. This is a universal HDMI standard that has all the necessary functionality. Such cords are relevant with a backlog for the future.

Connector types

In addition to the listed varieties, HDMI cables can have connectors of excellent size:

• Type A is a standard connector that is widely used among many household devices (TVs, players, projectors, and the like).
• Type B - this HDMI has a wider video channel, its resolution is significantly higher than the 1080p format.
• Type C and D - micro-HDMI and mini-HDMI fall into this category, respectively. With these cords, you can connect tablets, smartphones and cameras.
• Type E - this variety has already been discussed above and belongs to the automotive standard, equipped with a special lock.

All types, with the exception of B, have 19 pins, but it has more of them - 29. In order not to miscalculate exactly what connector is needed for each specific device, you should look at the documentation that is always included.

Of course, if it is not purchased from the hands in the secondary market. In this case, it is necessary to avoid the use of adapters as far as possible. The fewer intermediaries, the better.

Connecting to old TVs

At the beginning of the article, it was mentioned that some people still have old TVs that still work. And here often a situation arises when it is necessary to connect any device to it. How can this be done, is it possible to use some This question haunts many "antique dealers".

At first glance, it seems that this is impossible to achieve and it is easier to purchase a new TV. However, not every person will find such funds, although flat panels have fallen slightly in price.

In fact, this is a doable task, which is solved by purchasing an HDMI to RCA converter. With it, you can connect not only a computer to an old TV, but also a DVR, a laptop, a modern game console, a media set-top box, and any other device with HDMI.

Often, so-called HDMI to RCA adapters are offered to users on the Internet, but such devices are not suitable for the simple reason that the supplied digital signal needs to be converted to an analog form that will be understood by old TVs. And passive adapters will not be able to do this, so it is necessary to give preference to converters.

Many similar devices (HDMI "tulip") support 480P, 720P, 1080P, 1080I formats with zoom function. The output signal is 480i (720x480, 60 Hz) and 576i (720x576, 50 Hz), which corresponds to the NTSC and PAL standards, respectively. There is a switch to select the desired color. A USB cable is provided to power the converter.

TV phone

In some cases, it may be necessary to connect the phone to the TV, which is doable. However, there is an opinion that it is enough to purchase a micro-USB-HDMI adapter. But in reality, not everything is so simple. It is possible to connect your phone to a TV, but for this both devices must have MHL support. That is, the TV must have an HDMI / MHL port, which is not relevant for all models.

If everything is so, then it's up to you to buy the right cable. But there is one caveat here: some gadgets, like Samsung, for example, have 11 contacts, while other models have only 5. This also needs to be taken into account, but otherwise it is the same cable, from one end of which there is a micro -USB, and from the other - HDMI. No settings are required, just switch to the desired mode through the signal source menu.

But there is also such a situation: the phone has MHL support, but it is not available on the TV. Here you just can’t do without a special USB-HDMI adapter, although it’s even more of an adapter that allows you to convert the MHL signal into a stream understandable to a TV with regular HDMI. And since this device is active, it definitely needs power, for which any regular charging is suitable. It looks like a box with the right connectors.

It is important to know

There is one important point regarding the length of the HDMI cable: the longer it is, the thicker the cord should be. For example, for 5 meters it is 7 mm, which is denoted as 28AWG. This is how the wires are calibrated according to the American system. A table of other length values ​​for different HDMI versions is shown in the table below.

Large cable thickness implies the use of larger wires, as well as improved insulation. All this allows you to transmit a signal without loss. And as far as compatibility goes, the new generation versions of HDMI work great with older standards.

All the advantages of transferring digital video content via an HDMI cable are obvious. Perhaps in the near future, such an interface will combine even more functions. In addition, work on a new video resolution does not stop and there is already talk about the 8K format. What will happen next? Wait and see.

HDMI is a wired digital signal transmission technology that is subsequently converted into images, video, and audio. Today it is the most common transmission option and is used in almost all computer technology, which provides for the output of video information - from smartphones to personal computers.

The port has 19 pins in all variations. The connector is also divided into several types, based on which you need to buy the required cable or adapter for it. The following types are available:

Types of ports can be distinguished from each other by their appearance or by special markings in the form of a single Latin letter (not available on all ports).

Cable length information

For general consumption, HDMI cables up to 10 meters long are sold, but they can be found up to 20 meters, which is quite enough for the average user. Various enterprises, data centers, IT companies for their needs can purchase cables of 20, 50, 80 and even more than 100 meters. For home use, you should not take the cable "with a margin", the option for 5 or 7.5 m will be enough.

Cables for home use are made mainly of special copper, which conducts a signal over short distances without problems. However, there is a dependence of the reproduction quality on the type of copper from which the cable is made, and its thickness.

For example, models made of specially treated copper, marked "Standard", with a thickness of about 24 AWG (this is an area of ​​\u200b\u200bdiameter equal to approximately 0.204 mm 2) can transmit a signal at a distance of no more than 10 meters at a resolution of 720 × 1080 pixels with a screen refresh rate of 75 MHz . A similar cable, but made using the “High Speed” technology (you can find the designation High Speed) with a thickness of 28 AWG (area across 0.08 mm 2) is already capable of transmitting a signal as 1080 × 2160 points with a frequency of 340 MHz.

Pay attention to the screen refresh rate of the cable (it is indicated in the technical documentation or written on the packaging). For comfortable viewing of video and games, about 60-70 MHz is enough for the human eye. Therefore, chasing numbers and the quality of the output signal is necessary only in cases where:

• Your monitor and video card support 4K resolution and you would like to use their capabilities to 100%;
• If you are professionally engaged in video editing and / or 3D rendering.

The speed and quality of signal transmission depends on the length, so it is best to buy a cable with a short length. If for some reason you need a longer model, then it is better to pay attention to options with the following markings:

HDMI versions

Thanks to the joint efforts of six major IT companies, HDMI 1.0 was released in 2002. Today, the American company Silicon Image is engaged in almost all further improvements and promotion of this connector. In 2013, the most modern version was released - 2.0, which is not compatible with other versions, so it is better to buy an HDMI cable of this version only if you are sure that the port on your computer / TV / monitor / other equipment also has this version.

The recommended version to buy is 1.4, which was released in 2009, as it is compatible with version 1.3 and 1.3b, which were released in 2006 and 2007 and are the most common. Version 1.4 has certain modifications - 1.4a, 1.4b, which are also compatible with 1.4 without modifications, 1.3, 1.3b versions.

Cable types version 1.4

Since this is the recommended version for purchase, we will consider it in more detail. There are five varieties in total: Standard, High Speed, Standard with Ethernet, High Speed ​​with Ethernet and Standard Automotive. Let's consider each of them in more detail.

Standard - suitable for connecting undemanding devices for home use. Supports 720p resolution. Has the following characteristics:

Standard with Ethernet - has identical characteristics with a standard counterpart, the only difference is that it supports an Internet connection capable of transmitting data at a speed of no more than 100 Mbps in two directions.

High Speed ​​or Speed ​​High. Has support for Deep Color, 3D and ARC technologies. The latter needs to be considered in more detail. Audio Return Channel - allows you to transmit sound along with video in full. Previously, in order to achieve excellent sound quality, for example, on a TV connected to a laptop, it was necessary to use an additional headset. The maximum working resolution is 4096×2160 (4K). The following specifications are available:

• 5 Gb / s - the maximum bandwidth threshold;
• 24 bits - maximum color depth;
• 165 MP is the maximum allowable bandwidth.

There is a high-speed version with Internet support. The Internet data transfer rate is also 100 Mbps.
Standard Automotive - used in cars and can only be connected to an E-type HDMI. Specifications for this variety are similar to the standard version. The only exception is the increased degree of protection and the built-in ARC system, which is not in the standard wire.

The work of the cable is influenced not only by its characteristics, the material of manufacture, but also by the build quality, which is not written anywhere and is difficult to determine at first glance. Use these tips to save a little and choose the best option. List of recommendations:

• There is a common misconception that cables with gold-plated contacts conduct the signal better. This is not so, gilding is applied in order to protect the contacts from moisture and mechanical stress. Therefore, it is better to choose nickel-plated, chrome-plated or titanium-plated conductors, as they provide better protection and are cheaper (titanium coating is an exception). If you use the cable at home, then there is no point in buying a cable with additional contact protection;
• Those who need to transmit a signal over a distance of more than 10 meters are advised to pay attention to the presence of a built-in repeater to amplify the signal, or buy a special amplifier. Pay attention to the cross-sectional area (measured in AWG) - the smaller its value, the better the signal will be transmitted over long distances;
• Try to buy cables with shielding or special protection in the form of cylindrical knobs. It is designed to maintain optimal transmission quality (prevents interference) even on very thin cables.

To make the right choice, you need to take into account all the characteristics of the cable and the built-in HDMI port. If the cable and port do not match, you will either need to buy a special adapter or completely replace the cable.

The modern world cannot be imagined without high technologies. And every year they just get better. One excellent example of improving the quality of transmitted data is the HDMI cable.

Its use is becoming wider today, because the possibilities of this type of connection are very extensive. Next, consider the design features of the HDMI cable and the subtleties of its choice. If suddenly you forgot to change the keyboard layout, your question may turn into “rfr ds hfnm hdmi cable”, but the essence remains the same.

Purpose and characteristics of the cable

From the abbreviation HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), it is clear that the cable is designed to transmit high-definition digital video data and multi-channel audio data. It went on sale back in 2002, and to this day has been repeatedly subjected to changes, or rather, additions, which eventually led to the creation of a highly efficient means for connecting a signal source to a receiver, even over long distances. The HDMI cable is also equipped with HDCP copy protection technology, which gives you confidence that your information is protected from intruders.

Characteristics of a modern HDMI cable:

• throughput ranges from 4.9 to 15.8 Gbps, which is quite enough for watching high-definition movies and 3D modeling;
• cable length difference - at home up to 15 meters, when using amplifiers - up to 35 meters;
• support for CEC and AV.link control protocols.

How to choose an HDMI cable for your home? In order to answer this question, you should decide on its length. If it is necessary to connect the receiver and source at distances of more than 1.5 meters, an intermediate amplifier is provided, which will be built into the cable. But then its cost will be quite high. An alternative option is to purchase an external equalizer, which, however, will also require costs. It all depends on the final cost of components and your financial capabilities.

Cable design

Choosing an HDMI cable always starts with quality, therefore, in order not to make a mistake, you need to have information about its device.

By their design, HDMI cables may differ in the presence or absence of ferrite rings. They are installed at both ends to suppress interference. Many manufacturers use this technology on all products whose length is more than 1.5 meters. This is due to the fact that with an increase in the length of connections, the wave impedance also increases, which also increases with an increase in the frequency of transmitted data. Plus, the long cable length and its passage near other sources electromagnetic radiation will also cause interference. The magnetic property of the ferrite provides effective suppression of extraneous signals when transmitting data using an HDMI cable.

The cable up to 1.5 meters long consists of:

• external insulation;
• aluminum foil screen;
• shielding braid made of copper wire, which is then soldered;
• intermediate polypropylene shell;
• separately shielded twisted pairs of the fifth category for video signals (synchronization and 3 primary colors), and all shields have a copper wire for soldering;
• unshielded twisted pair for SDA and SCL signals;
• separate lines for power and control;
• two connectors.

Based on the foregoing, you can answer the question of how to choose an HDMI cable:

• firstly, it is necessary that it has ferrite rings;
• secondly, its diameter should be quite large, this indicates the presence of all the necessary screens;
• thirdly, with a long cable length, the amplifier must either be built into it or installed at the input of the receiver.

Types of cables

Since 2002, 8 varieties of HDMI cables have been released, starting with version 1.0 and ending with 1.4. Each version has been updated with new supported standards and features. Today, 4 types are in greatest demand, which are marked with capital Latin letters A, B, C, D.

The main ones are types A and B. C and D are additions and modifications to the first type. The changes are to minimize the plug and connector, which are respectively called mini and micro.

To answer the question of how to choose an HDMI cable for connecting a monitor, it is enough to clarify the brand of the connector on the monitor itself and on the video card. If the types of connectors do not match, various adapters and extension cords are available for sale.

Application area

The scope of the HDMI cable is very wide, this is due to the mass production of equipment with the appropriate connectors and data transfer standards. HDMI connection technology is widely used both in home systems, for example, to improve the quality of video transmitted to a monitor or large TV, and in cars - for transmitting data from rear and front view cameras, as well as for connecting a multimedia system and displays, mounted in the backs of the front seats.

The question of how to choose an HDMI cable can be answered by deciding on the place of its application. If it will be used in security systems and the laying will run along the street, then the cable should be used as thick as possible. An increase in the cross section of the wire, even with an increase in its length, will not change the wave resistance, which should be no more than 100 ohms.

Application in home multimedia systems

How to choose an HDMI cable for 3D viewing? It all depends on its technical capabilities, which should allow transmitting data at high frequencies with low interference, as well as support 4K UltraHD and 3D technology.

Such cables have a postscript in the name "HIGHT SPEED". These include devices of version 1.4 and higher. After the release of this standard, another variety appeared, which is distinguished by the additional ability to connect to the network, for example, to connect equipment to a router with Wi-Fi. Such cables also have the addition "ETHERNET".

Using HDMI Cables in Vehicle Data Systems

In vehicles, STANDART AUTOMOTIVE cables are used to transfer the image from the multimedia system to the secondary displays. They are specially designed for applications with extreme temperature changes and high vibrations. They also differ in the type of connector, which has additional mechanisms and latches that contribute to its secure fixation in the socket.

The choice of HDMI cables for the car is simplified thanks to one standard and the unified marking "STANDART AUTOMOTIVE". Most manufacturers of multimedia systems use this standard, but other types of connectors are sometimes found.

Benefits of HDMI data transfer

The indisputable advantages of data transfer via HDMI is the speed, which is achieved through the use of digital encoding of video and audio signals. And this has become a huge plus over composite, component and S-Video. In addition, most modern HDMI cables also support the transmission of audio signals, which are also presented in digital form.

Choosing a cable type: summarizing

So how do you choose the right HDMI cable? In order to answer this question, you need to do the following:

• find out the type of connector and its form factor on your device;
• determine the required cable length as accurately as possible, because its cost depends on it;
• identify the conditions of its operation: for example, if it is subject to vibrations, then thicker options should be chosen. This is due to the design features of the cable.

When purchasing new modern technology, many are increasingly asking the question: how to choose an HDMI cable for a monitor or for a TV? The answer is extremely simple, because quite a lot of devices with such an interface are now being produced. In monitors and TVs, it is of the same standard. The most commonly used type A "HIGH SPEED", and the rest are used in mobile devices ah: laptops, routers, etc. Before buying a cable, you must definitely determine the connector standard in your device and its length.

Thanks to the HDMI interface, we can digitally transmit uncompressed audio and video signals. The method of transmission using a digital wire appeared on the market almost 15 years ago. What does an HDMI cable look like?

Many wires on sale look similar, and customers don't focus on their specifications when choosing a wire for a home theater, console, or receiver. Does it matter how we choose the cable? Undoubtedly!

This article will tell you which digital cord to choose for individual devices, but first, let's find out what HDMI is, a cable, how transmission through this interface works, why it is worth buying an HDMI cable, what it is used for and what parameters such a wire should have.

HDMI cable and interface

HDMI is an abbreviation for High-Definition Multimedia Interface, which in English means High Definition Multimedia Interface. The presentation of this standard took place in 2003. Since then, a lot has changed, and several remakes of it have already appeared on the market. Each of them offered increasingly faster data transfer than its predecessor.

As already mentioned, this standard is used to send uncompressed multi-channel audio and video data. The digital cord is ideal for connecting digital devices. Thanks to a single standard, it is possible to combine most television devices such as Blu-ray players or even DVD players, TVs, game consoles, set-top boxes, decoders or monitors. Configuration options are plentiful.

Starting with version 1.4, HDMI supports resolutions greater than 1080p, including Deep Color and 3D formats. The HDMI High Speed ​​Cable has been designed to provide 1080p resolution and beyond, including new display technologies such as 3D, 4K and Deep Color.

HDMI cable classification

In fact, the HDMI standard is a complete mess. Of course, everything is described in great detail in the standards tables, which is true, in fact we have many modifications of the HDMI standard, and they all refer to the connector, which looks identical in each version. It's no surprise that electronics vendors are trying to exploit this confusion and push us to buy expensive but unnecessary cords.

HDMI technology has four main cable versions:

• standard - for 1080i scan;
• high speed - for 4K/60 Hz;
• premium - for 4K / 60 Hz, but with a full color resolution of 4: 4: 4, that is, without the so-called subsampling;
• ultra-fast - for 10K using the connector in version 2.1.

Speaking of connectors, in terms of the intensity of the supported signal, there are also four main options:

• in version 1.0-1.2a, the approximate throughput is up to 5 Gbps;
• version 1.3-1.4b provides up to 10 Gbps;
• version 2.0-2.0b - up to 18 Gb / s;
• version 2.1 - up to 48 Gb / s.

The latest version of the HDMI 2.1 standard was announced on November 28, 2017. The HDMI 2.1 cable supports a maximum data rate of 42.6 Gbps, and can also support the Display Stream Compression (DSC) function to transmit images at a resolution of 7680×4320 at 120Hz.

HDMI technology implies a high quality plug-in connection. Connectors HDMI cable may have different. The classic digital wire has two plugs (“male”). On sale, you may find wires with a female contact (“mother”) on one side and a plug (“male”) on the other side as an extension cord. There are also corner or swivel ends available, which will be useful, for example, when you hang the TV on the wall.

Continued progress and miniaturization are prompting manufacturers to equip equipment with smaller and smaller connectors as their throughput increases. The microHDMI and miniHDMI standard is designed for portable device connectors.

Connecting a TV to a computer is not a problem at the moment. Just make sure your computer and TV have HDMI jacks. Every HD TV has at least one or two HDMI connectors. Laptops often have HDMI, while ultrabooks or other models offer microHDMI. If your computer has microHDMI installed, you will need to purchase a microHDMI/HDMI adapter or cable with this adapter.

First of all, you must decide what the HDMI cable is for, i.e. what maximum permissions will be sent on it.

Buying an HDMI cable for a TV at, stop with a High Speed ​​HDMI Cable version 1.3 or 1.4 wire up to 15 meters long. High-speed transmission is especially useful when watching movies in Full HD mode.

D For a monitor, a lower cord will do. Of course, by choosing a High Speed ​​wire, you will eliminate bottlenecks that lead to slow information transfer. But in most cases, standard wire should do the trick. There is also a length restriction - no more than 15 m, and the optimal length is 3-5 meters. It is advisable to choose a digital cable 1.3+, with Deep Color support, as well as a bandwidth of 340 MHz.

For the PlayStation 4, as in the case of TVs, you need a High Speed ​​​​cable with Ethernet or just High Speed. When playing on PlayStation 4, it is recommended to use a faster transfer. By choosing version 1.4+, you will be able to use Dolby True HD support, audio return channel, 340 MHz bandwidth, 10.20 Gbps maximum bit rate, and audio video synchronization.

Before choosing an HDMI cable for connecting digital gadgets, you should check the quality of the materials from which it is made:

• copper-aluminum - inexpensive, but more prone to cracks;
• copper-steel - durable, but less flexible;
• Oxygen Free Copper is the most commonly used material in the digital cord industry, featuring high conductivity and no signal attenuation issues, supporting all the features offered by the HDMI standard.

Expensive or cheap

Cheap and expensive digital wires do not differ in terms of picture and sound quality. Big name fancy cables won't provide improved contrast or saturation, but rather they will ensure that there are no problems. Moreover, expensive cables, due to the use of various creative shielding methods, become rigid, difficult to bend and hide from view.

You may come across digital cords labeled Premium. Does that mean they are any better? Partly yes. Premium is a paid certificate that is issued to the manufacturer. This marking tells us that this wire can operate up to 18 Gb / s and will cope with the 2.0 standard. But products without this badge of honor also support the indicated transfer rate, so you shouldn’t specifically “chase” it, but you just need to carefully study the inscriptions on the packaging.

The best idea when choosing an HDMI cable is to buy a regular, simple digital cable, and in case of problems that most likely will not arise, give it anti-advertising.

How to check the performance of a digital cable when buying? Follow instructions:

• check the wire with a cable tester, you can order it in the online store;
• inspect the soldering of the connector for the absence of mechanical defects, the color of the metal of the plug should not differ;
• inspect the cord along its entire length - no protrusions or irregularities are allowed;
• study the packaging, it must contain information about the manufacturer and have a presentation.

What should be the HDMI cable

You already know that the quality of a cable for digital equipment does not match the quality of the picture, although the cheapest copies may simply be faulty. We have also determined that the Premium mark is more of an official payment for a flawless guarantee than a criterion that affects the quality of what will be connected to our TV. Does this mean that you can take the first available cable from the shelf and head to the checkout?

Not really. Those who buy the wire only for watching TV and movies in Full HD may do so. However, it's time to prepare for the UHD standard, that is, 4K resolution with HDR. Perhaps you already have such a TV, or will.

HDR (High Dynamic Range) - high dynamic range

Good cables should have a high transmission capacity and maximum resolution at a screen refresh rate of 60 Hz - at least 18 Gb / s and 4K with HDR, respectively. Slower cables will transmit at 24Hz and provide 4K resolution but no HDR.

Maximum length

The length of the wire is one of the main parameters taken into account when making a purchase. Therefore, the route and length of the cord should be thought out in advance.

The maximum allowable length of an HDMI wire cannot exceed 15 meters - this is the recommendation of the HDMI Working Group consortium (with the participation of Hitachi, Panasonic, Philips, Sony, Thomson, Toshiba), which oversees the standard. If your telecommunications infrastructure requires the use of a longer wire, then you will have to resort to the so-called repeaters or signal regenerators. However, in most cases, this problem will not affect you, since devices are rarely more than 2-5 meters apart from each other. As an exception, we can assume only a projector placed on the ceiling or at the other end of the room.

Numerous tests have shown that a working digital cord made of the simplest basic materials, up to 1.5 m long, does an excellent job of transmitting. Transmission quality can only be noticed on sufficiently long wires and large TV screens, for example, when you need the ability to transmit an image using this wire using 3D technology or 4K HDR (a new standard that is becoming more and more popular among gamers).

Hello, friends.

From this article, you will get basic useful information about HDMI, what it is, where and why it is used, what characteristics it has and what types it can be. Why should you know?

Now most multimedia equipment is connected through this interface, and it is possible that you also use it, perhaps without knowing it yourself. Also, after reading the article, you will be able to choose the right cables for connecting devices.

Introduction to HDMI

This abbreviation means the phrase "High Definition Multimedia Interface", which exactly translates as a high-definition multimedia interface. It is used to send high-resolution digital video signals as well as copy-protected multi-channel digital audio.

Simply put, it is a channel for transmitting digital image and sound from one high-definition device to another. This process is carried out using appropriate cables. They can connect video cards and monitors, home theaters / game consoles and modern TVs, tablets / phones and computers, etc.

By the way, the connectors for the above gadgets differ in form factor (size): large equipment is usually connected, mini-HDMI - smartphones and some tablet models, micro-HDMI - laptops, tablet PCs, etc. equipment. Each port contains approximately 19 pins.

Characteristics

Consider the main features that distinguish this interface from others:

• The data transfer rate ranges from 4.9 to 48 (new in 2017) Gbps.
• Capable of transmitting uncompressed high-definition video, 3D TV signals, and 8 channels of digital audio.
• Displays a high-quality picture on screens with an aspect ratio of 16:9, a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels and higher. So that you can compare: obsolete TVs by today's standards had the corresponding parameters of 4: 3 and 704x480 pixels.
• The hertz of supported resolutions in modern interfaces varies from 50/60 to 100/120Hz
• Supports Ethernet connection at speeds up to 100 Mbps.

About cables

Sectional cable includes:

• External coating;
• Wire braid for shielding with the addition of a bare copper core for soldering;
• Another shielding layer of aluminum foil;
• Sheath made of polypropylene;
• Twisted pairs of the 5th category with a resistance of 100 ohms, which are designed to transmit information;
• Screening of the specified twisted pairs from external insulation and wire for soldering;
• Another twisted pair without screening, sharpened for SDA SCL signals;
• Additional conductors for control signals and power.

Length

The standard cable length is 10 meters. But you can extend it to the required size with the help of external or built-in repeater amplifiers. They are not installed at the signal output, but closer to the receiver.

To avoid interference, some manufacturers equip their products with ferrite rings on one side and the other.

And keep in mind that the longer the cable, the more massive the conductor should be.

Types

There are 5 types of HDMI cables:

• Standard. Looking for a budget option? Standard is for you. Used to connect not too demanding household appliances (DVD player, satellite receiver, plasma and LCD panels, etc.).

It does not differ in super-quality work. Judge for yourself: it transmits a picture with a resolution of 1080i or 720p., The maximum bandwidth is 4.9 Gb / s, the bandwidth (video stream transmission) is 165 megapixels, and the color depth is 24 bits.

• High speed. Do you own a Blu-ray/HDD player, widescreen or other upgraded technology, or are you just a connoisseur of high quality images? Pay attention to "High Speed".

Interacts with any formats, including Deep Color and 3D. It features support for Audio Return Channel technology (reverse audio channel), which allows you to transfer audio without another cable. Note that receiving devices must also support it. These are usually labeled ARC.

It has the following parameters: it works with a resolution of 1080i and higher, the same number of bandwidths (in megapixels), a speed of 10.2 Gb / s and a color depth of 48 bits.

• Standard with Ethernet. The same as in the first paragraph, only in addition there is an option to connect to the Internet.
• High speed with Ethernet. I think it's clear without explanation.

• Automotive version (Standart Automotive). A separate type of cable used to connect devices to a car media system.

Difference between HDMI and DVI

The forerunner of HDMI was the . Most likely, you also dealt with it when you connected the monitor to your first computer. But only video was transmitted through this channel. As you can already tell by yourself, the main improvement of the HDMI interface is that it is able to transmit sound in addition.

But this is not its only difference from DVI. Another modern port has a smaller size. It also transmits only digital signals, unlike its outdated counterpart, which can also work with analog data. Also, the bandwidth of HDMI is higher than that of DVI (the latter operate at 3.4 Gb / s).

That's all.

I look forward to seeing you more often on my blog.