Is it true that since HDMI is digital, the cable doesn't matter?

Question

So can I get away w/ a $20 cable instead of $200? It's not carrying an analog signal, so it should be the same right?

Answer 1

Long, as in 20 feet or more you might want higher quality, but otherwise, get the cheap ones. You will see no difference.

Answer 2

Completely untrue. Some people think digital signals cannot be corrupted or degrade. Digital and analog signals are electrical signals and electrical signals can get corrupted and degrade. Digital is certainly more reselient than analog, but still vulnerable.

For short distances (15 ft or less), any HDMI cable will work. For longer distances, you want to spend a little more money on a cable. I am not saying go and spend $200 on a Monster cable. But, there are many high quality shielded cables that are not Monster.

Answer 3

Yes. There is no analog signal to be distorted. A digital signal either gets there or doesn't. All you need is a cable good enough to get it there.

I have a 6' $30 HDMI cable, and a beautiful picture on my HDTV right now.

Answer 4

Yup. Cables differ but it doesn't matter for normal use. See the article at the link.

For most uses a budget cable is fine. You only need to start to worry at longer distances (> about 15') or if you intend to embed in a wall (where future-proofing is advisable, so ensuring a cable is chosen that will carry the maximum bandwidth likely in the next 5-10 years).

Monoprice.com is a good source for budget cables, and Bluejeancables.com for better quality ... but still a lot less than Monster.

Answer 5

No, it still does matter what cable you have.

I.E. Monster Cables will provide the best shielding and materials, and therefore make all other cables inferior.

Cables are also made for certain bandwidths too. Cheap cables won't tell you what kind of bandwidth they support cause they're super low, where as quality cables will tell you they "carry 8.2mbps/10.2mbps/etc" or something like that. The higher the bandwidth, the more signal it can squeeze through. Bandwidth is really important, especially if you're doing 1080p cause they you need a cable that is specifically rated to do so.

I will say this: Cables are the most overlooked part of the Home Theater set-up. People spend thousands or dollars on their TV and their sound system, and they don't want to spend $100 or 200 on their cables cause they think they don't matter. Cables are just as essential as the source or the TV. Without good cables, your whole experience is downgraded. So my advice: Get the good cables cause it makes a difference!

Answer 6

Within reason, yes a $20 HDMI cable gives perfect transmission just like the $200 version.

Long runs (over 15 ft) some of the cables with thinner gauge wire start to show errors. They found that thicker wires and thicker wire-to-wire insulation solved the problem. So if you have long runs, buy the cables with the thicker wires.

I bought my 12 ft cable from BlueJeans for something like $38. I bought short cables for behind my rack from MonoPrice.

Answer 7

I don't know who gave answers 5 and 6 "thumbs down" because they are the only correct ones and the only ones to explain the difference instead of just giving an uneducated answer. They explained it perfectly. As for answer 6, you SHOULD buy a $200 Monster due to the fact that they warranty the cables for life. If in the future, you buy a device that needs a higher bandwidth transmission, they will send you a new wire if yours fails to work.

Answer 8

Well a $200 set of HDMI cables is OVERKILL.....

You want a well constructed and LIGHTWEIGHT HDMI cable...

And if it's rated for HDMI 1.3 instead of HDMI 1 it gives you the best BANDWIDTH you will ever need.....

My criteria is LOOK for HDMI cables rated for HDMI 1.3 or 1.3a
That should cover the quality issue......

And MONOPRICE.com is where I get mine.....

Answer 9

For the most part, if you are getting very long cables, you might want a better quality cable.