Flashy HDMI cables - are we getting strung along?

HDMI cables for high-def AV systems don't lose signal at the same rate as analog cables - so consumers don't actually need to spend up large.

HD TV has to be one of the coolest technological improvements since the advent of pineapple lumps. High definition video is crisp, sharp and so detailed it can border on appearing three-dimensional. With HD, watching the telly is almost akin to being at the cinema. Unfortunately, HD video has a dark side.

If like many, you've just purchased a shiny new piece of consumer electronic goodness, chances are that you've also gone into fiscal-induced shock trauma after finding out how much of your hard earned cash you're probably going to have to fork out to get a "premium" HDMI cable so you can hook it up to your LCD or plasma TV.

Whilst many gadget buyers not in the know have felt the pain but chosen to buy a "premium" the HDMI cable anyway, many are appalled that the HDMI scam has continued for so long.

Don't get me wrong, connecting any one of the growing number of AV appliances available with HDMI is a complete no brainer.

Previous generations of AV gear used SCART, component, composite or S-Video connections.

These were analogue, which meant that a percentage of the signal was lost or distorted before it got to your TV, resulting in less detailed video being displayed. HDMI which stands for "High Definition Multimedia Interface," not only delivers video signals as a digital stream, giving you sharp and crispy video, it can also deliver digital audio and allow for two way communication between HDMI connected appliances (so for instance, your Sony TV remote will also work with your Sony DVD player), greatly reducing cable clutter and simplifying your AV stack in the process.

Unfortunately, there's a whole lot of confusion and mis-information out there about HDMI as well as a lot of misinformed individuals who'll try to sell unsuspecting buyers grossly over priced HDMI cables.

A quick check online revealed the extent of the HDMI scam. One online retailer had a 2 metre HDMI cable priced a breathtaking $180. Further searching revealed what appeared to be the identical HDMI cable (with a different brand) for a mere $40. In the interests of remaining litigation-free I won't name any brands or retailers.

Making matters worse many retail sales people haven't boned up on HDMI. Visiting one large retailer I was appalled to overhear a sales person telling a customer that they'd need to buy a $110 "Premium" HDMI cable so the Blu-ray player they'd just purchased could playback HD content at 1080p resolution on their Samsung LCD TV.

Here are some pointers for any wannabe HDMI cable buyers.

It's digital

Assuming that like most typical home AV setups,. the customer's Blu-ray player is a maximum of 1 to 1.5 metres from their flat panel TV, an ultra budget HDMI cable would not only also be capable of delivering 1080P HD content, it'd also deliver the video quality identical to that delivered by the so-called "premium cable".

When used to deliver an analogue signal (e.g. from an amp to speakers etc.) more costly cables can make an appreciable difference. Because data is delivered over HDMI as a digital stream of 1's and 0's that are decoded and displayed by your flat panel TV, low-end HDMI cables will usually deliver exactly the same information at the same quality as over priced, high-end HDMI cables.

Size matters:

If for instance you're looking to run an HDMI cable over distances greater than say 10-15 metres, higher quality cables will likely suffer less signal loss which can mean that they're a more reliable option. For lengths over 15 metres, chances are you'll need an HDMI extender/booster box.

Try and buy:

Talk the sales person into letting you take both a high end HDMI cable and its el-cheapo counterpart home (chances are if you're plunking down several grand for a telly and/or other AV bits, they'll be pretty agreeable). Try them both out. I bet you'll struggle to see $140 worth of difference. If you don't, take the "premium" HDMI cable back. Voila! That's $140 towards your gadget acquisition fund.

Check the Checkout:

If you choose to shop online for an HDMI cable, double check any prices that seem too good to be true, chances are they are. Many less scrupulous online retailers use freight and handling fees to hide real costs.

Spec Schmeck:

A common tactic used by snake oil sellers is to blind the poor buyer with science, usually starting with the various HDMI versions, which happens to be the most confusing aspect the whole HDMI caboodle.

Ironically, these specs usually don't mean much when it comes to choosing HDMI cables. The HDMI specification was introduced in 2002 as version 1. Since then, various improvements have been added with support for future technologies. In plain English, today's HDMI specifications can support up twice the data volumes needed for today's HD technologies.

And can support "Deep Color" technology, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD. All of which, whilst supported by most HDMI cables on the market today, are still not found on 95 per cent of the components anyone is likely to buy. The moral of this story, there probably aren't too many reasons to pay attention to the HDMI specification number with any HDMI cable - in most situations they'll perform identically.

Remember, all HDMI cables can deliver digital HD content. What HD resolution you will get is decided by the HDMI enabled gadget you've bought and your HDMI enabled TV, not the cable.