The HDMI confusion is exasperating for everyone. How did
something designed to make things easier become a simmering caldron of
confusion? Lets try to sort out the facts from the myths.
As I look behind my component stand, I slowly lower my head
in shame. The rat’s nest of cables is beyond comprehension and the worst thing
is that I did my 6 month rewire just a week ago. I dream of the day I finally
step up to a 
complete HDMI system that uses a single cable between every
component, a magic cable that send both the video and audio. I could go from
what looks like hundreds of cables down to less than 10. That my friends, would
be a miracle.
Every time I step into an electronics store, I am confronted
with $60, $70, even $150 HDMI cables, and that is for a 2-meter one. How is it
that the HDMI cables I use and cherish are less than half that and the fact is
you can get them much, much cheaper… Like for under $15 and it will work just
as well as the marketing marvel from Monster Cable that sells for well over
$100.
Part of the problem comes from the early versions of HDMI,
version 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 are all capable of transmitting 1080p video at the
same time as the lossless DTS and Dolby formats. This is more than enough for
95% of the people, in fact is well beyond their systems capability. That brings us to version 1.3.
HDMI version 1.3 comes in 3 flavors, 1.3a, 1.3b, and the top
of the line 1.3c. They all do the same great job of handling HDCP, 1080p and
lossless audio, not a bit better than the previous versions however. Where you
do want to consider the 1.3c cables is if you wish to pass a DVD-A, SACD or
uncompressed audio signal to your receiver. Keep in mind that both the source
and the receiver must meet 1.3c requirements, if anything in the system is less
than 1.3c, you lose all benefits of having that cable version.
In addition to the audio formats I mentioned, 1.3c is also
capable of passing the new extended color formats, Deep Color and x.v.YCC. Currently
neither of these is built into the Blu-Ray spec. and although a number of
players claim to have the capability, it is wasted since the discs don’t carry
the additional color signals. Several HD camcorders do record in this format
however so the capability may be useful if you have one of these and a TV that
is capable.
The bottom line is that getting a higher version cable won’t hurt you, it just won’t help you
except in a very small number of circumstances, if you have the equipment that
matches from source to Receiver and TV, or you just want to pay more for a
cable.
Don’t fall for the Monster marketing system that grades each
cable based on bandwidth. Every one of their cables does a great job of passing
every possible format, their grading system is an all out lie and one you will
pay for if you purchase the more expensive cables. An HDMI cable can’t change
the quality of the image like a processor in a receiver or TV, it just passes
along a digital signal. Do your wallet a favor and find the less expensive
cables and spend the rest on a few new movies.