High Definition Multimedia Interface, better known as HDMI, is the best type of connection cable product you can use to connect AV equipment (Audio & Video). HDMI originated from the DVI cable, having a Digital High Definition video signal but better; unlike DVI cables however, it combines digital video with digital audio. In most cases, an HDMI wire is the best type of connection cable to use when connecting capable devices like a flat screen television, Blu-ray DVD player, High Definition TV set top box, etc.

Why use HDMI?

This connection cable combines both a digital video signal with a digital audio signal and delivers those signals, matched, to your High Definition Flat panel TV. The benefit of matching is the viewer hears the spoken dialogue in a program at the same time the actor’s lips are speaking the dialogue. Sometimes with older analog style connections such as composite video or component video there can be a lag between the video’s motion and the sound where the actor’s lips aren’t in perfect sync with the audio track the viewer hears.

What Length of cable should you buy?

You might think that you should simply buy the exact length you would need…but. There are a couple of considerations you’ll want to account for when choosing what length of cable to buy. First, cables comes in specific and seemingly odd lengths; generally slightly longer is better than just long enough. You should account for the installation and future servicing processes when choosing how long to buy. For example, if you are hanging a flat panel TV above a mantel somehow you have to balance the TV (or consider an Articulating TV Wall Mount), make your wire connections and then hook the TV to the mount. As well, when you are connecting cable to your electronics you need enough length to be able to access the back of your electronics before you put them into their final position. Lastly, pay close attention to HDMI. Standards are improving. However the longer the cable the more important a higher quality tested cable becomes to your installation. HDMI cable lengths up to and between 10 to 15 or 20 feet HDMI cables all perform about the same but beyond that a better cable, although more costly, will produce a noticeably better picture. Side by side comparisons of longer HDMI cables proved the better cable makes for the noticeably better picture. Now the downside, it’s not always easy to determine which HDMI cable outperforms the other, so for longer lengths Monster Brand Cables makes several models based on your budget. The higher the model for the longer the HDMI cable and you’ll be OK. This is known from experience.

A Secondary Benefit of HDMI

Another, although somewhat obscure, benefit of using an HDMI cable is its ability to allow information to flow back and forth. Essentially, interconnected devices can almost talk to one another. Typically the person who is using an HDMI wire connection doesn’t notice this benefit unless they are using the latest TV and Blu-ray DVD player both from the same manufacturer and both having the “talk to each other” capability. So for example, when the power to the TV is turned on the DVD player would also turn on automatically from the same remote control.

Quality of HDMI cable lengths

HDMI cables come in varying lengths from a very short 3 feet (approximately) to over 100 feet (approximately) It’s the longer cables that you want to pay closer attention. Over 20 feet it’s recommended you start look at the MONSTER CABLE BRAND. If you have a longer cable and are using 3D then be sure to ask questions of the sales rep at the store and do your research. A 700 series MONSTER CABLE will work but the better the cable the more costly.

Extremely long HDMI cable runs

Today there are products available on the market which allow for the transmission of an HDMI signal to pass over a Cat5 wire. This is accomplished via the use of a balun, an HDMI to Cat5 balun whereby the HDMI signal is connect to the transmitter via an HDMI connection cable. Then its transmitted long distances over a Cat 5 wire to a receiver and then back to another HDMI wire which in turn connects to a display such as a high definition television.