There is no difference between cheap and expensive HDMI cables

access said:
well, i had to buy proper branded hdmi cables because none of the cheap ones could handle 4k hdr, all short length, nothing that could cause interference.

screen would flash or go black. 1080p no problem, 4k..? nein!

use the more expensive cable, no problem.

someone told me some of the cheaper guys leave some of the copper out of the cable. apparently it has multiple channels for various functions..
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No it's probably more along the lines of using the wrong HDMI cable. You do get 1.4 through to 2.0a if you've got the 1.4 you're not getting 4k.
 
Lupus said:
No it's probably more along the lines of using the wrong HDMI cable. You do get 1.4 through to 2.0a if you've got the 1.4 you're not getting 4k.
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i remember when the new hdmi came out, similar articles like this came out saying there is no difference in hdmi 2 or 1.4 cable, "dont be fooled"


oh and these were labelled 2.0, actually they were purposefully purchased because they are supposedly 2.0, from a cable making supplier in cpt, some other cheap ones from a different supplier, also 2.0/4k
 
quovadis said:
I think there needs to be a more clear discussion on cheap price vs poor construction. You get really poor cables at a cheap price and really good quality certified cables at a cheap price. Most likely the one you had problems with was the former and an older HDMI version.
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Exactly
 
It would have been more interesting to do a more science based test. Specifically looking at the electrical properties of each cable. Namely the impedance of the shielded shielded twisted pairs. The specification specifies it to be 100 ohms
Then doing a high frequency sweep of each cable to see what its cutoff point is.

Testing the output of a digital image isn't going to tell you anything. Especially when you are converting that image back to analog (using a screen), then to digital again( using a camera).
 
Lupus said:
No it's probably more along the lines of using the wrong HDMI cable. You do get 1.4 through to 2.0a if you've got the 1.4 you're not getting 4k.
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rakabos3 said:
Exactly
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the cheap cables were purchased as 4k 60hz cables (2.0...). ordered others from a place that makes them up per request.

between my samsung 4k hdr tvs and intel nucs, the cheap cables do not allow a stable picture all the time at 4k 60hz.

each time the imported cable fixed the problem. obviously i ordered according to a required spec..
 
I think people are used to equating refresh rate with fps when talking about screens, so they continue referring to refresh rates in other contexts when they actually mean fps
 
Very misleading title. If a cable isn't properly rated for 18Gbps you'll struggle to get 4K, bitstream full audio and with full HDR working properly 100% of the time. Not saying more expensive cables are better, but there certainly is a difference between cables.

The refresh comment isn't entirely false either, just worded poorly. If you've got a high refresh rate gaming monitor (for example) you'll struggle to get high refresh (read this as fps sent to the monitor) if the cable isn't a highly rated one.
 
access said:
well, i had to buy proper branded hdmi cables because none of the cheap ones could handle 4k hdr, all short length, nothing that could cause interference.

screen would flash or go black. 1080p no problem, 4k..? nein!

use the more expensive cable, no problem.

someone told me some of the cheaper guys leave some of the copper out of the cable. apparently it has multiple channels for various functions..
Click to expand...

Ya, you need 18 Gbps rated cable. Problem is, very few actually show the Gbps rating (though interestingly enough the ones in the article do!)
 
Kosmik said:
Because hdmi is a digital encoded signal. If all the bits are received correctly on the other end, only then is the signal converted for display. So you will either get full signal or none, not ghosting or loss like old analogue audio,video cables. Cable quality maybe around flexibility, like a braided cable vs plastic but not signal.
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^This. A digital signal doesn't have quality issues and either works correctly or not. Just buy a good quality brand. This likely comes from the days of gold plated rca cables. Never saw a difference with those so likely the only factor would be durability. I'd rather buy another one when needed then.

konfab said:
It would have been more interesting to do a more science based test. Specifically looking at the electrical properties of each cable. Namely the impedance of the shielded shielded twisted pairs. The specification specifies it to be 100 ohms
Then doing a high frequency sweep of each cable to see what its cutoff point is.

Testing the output of a digital image isn't going to tell you anything. Especially when you are converting that image back to analog (using a screen), then to digital again( using a camera).
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The only real test would be capturing the output at multiple resolutions and refresh rates and measuring when erroneous pixels or tearing occurs.

Carnajo said:
Very misleading title. If a cable isn't properly rated for 18Gbps you'll struggle to get 4K, bitstream full audio and with full HDR working properly 100% of the time. Not saying more expensive cables are better, but there certainly is a difference between cables.

The refresh comment isn't entirely false either, just worded poorly. If you've got a high refresh rate gaming monitor (for example) you'll struggle to get high refresh (read this as fps sent to the monitor) if the cable isn't a highly rated one.
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Agree with this but with most brands they advertise things like gold plating and such which just does nothing. The true difference would be in wire gauge used as well as shielding between strands. But the cost doesn't give an indication of this.
 
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I couldn't disagree more with this headline. Every single cheap HDMI cable I've ever purchased has given issues after a while. Obviously the problem is not with the cable's ability to carry a digital signal but rather with the build quality and its ability to stay firmly plugged in. Hyper-expensive HDMI cables are a load of crap, but you don't want to cheap out on them either.
 
Nonsense. If you have a 4k TV with Dolby Atmos with Dolby Vision .... you wont get pass through your ARC port with just any HDMI cable. And if I its it's not HDCP 2.2 you'll get a failure.

Try connecting a Roku through a hdcp 2.2 port and run the sound to a Dolby atmos sound bar through the ARC. Try it at 60fps.

The Roku will give you a pass through error. Apple TV 4K will just push you down. If you force Dolby Vision at 60fps..you hear crackling.

Both will test your cable and give you your limits.

And your port.
 
Cyberzealot said:
Nonsense. If you have a 4k TV with Dolby Atmos with Dolby Vision .... you wont get pass through your ARC port with just any HDMI cable. And if I its it's not HDCP 2.2 you'll get a failure.

Try connecting a Roku through a hdcp 2.2 port and run the sound to a Dolby atmos sound bar through the ARC. Try it at 60fps.

The Roku will give you a pass through error. Apple TV 4K will just push you down. If you force Dolby Vision at 60fps..you hear crackling.

Both will test your cable and give you your limits.

And your port.
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I don't know what that is but that wasn't the point. Unless it's a different standard with extra bandwidth like USB3 over USB some might work and some not. But that wasn't the point but rather that you don't need to buy a more expensive cable over a cheaper one for the same standard.
 
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