Richer Sounds - THE UK's HI-FI, HOME CINEMA & FLAT PANEL TV SPECIALISTS!

- YES AND NO

When it comes to the cost of HDMI cables, we'd be the first to condemn the practice of selling disproportionally expensive cables. For example, an £80 lead with an £80 Blu-ray player really doesn't make sense. That said, the other extreme is true, too. If you're fortunate enough to own a £500 Blu-ray player then using a £5 lead really is a false economy. For the reasons given below, you won't be achieving anything like the player's full potential.

We, like most trusted magazine experts, would recommend spending around 10% of your system cost on cables to give a balanced performance.

- DOESN'T MEAN IT IS TRUE!

One or two headline-grabbing journalists have said that because HDMI transfers digital information, there can't be any difference in quality. Whilst this might make a good "shoppers champion" story - especially when combined with a free cable offer! - with our specialist knowledge we know this isn't the case; if it were, then neutral critics within the hi-fi and home cinema press who work with different products and cables every day would hardly award differing cables of differing prices varying reviews and star ratings.

1. System functionality
Simply put, some HDMI cables won't work when trying to carry a 3D or 1080p signal. If you're using a High Definition and/or 3D source then the cable has to be capable of handling this. This is especially relevant for longer cables.

2. Future functionality
The HDMI spec is continuing to evolve and improve. In the not too distant future, we're going to see new technologies, such as 4K resolution, that some existing HDMI leads won’t cope with. Better quality leads already meet these future criteria.

3. Speed
The speed with which the signal is carried may not affect the picture quality but it will affect the response time - vital for HD movie viewers and also gamers using PS3 or X-Box.

4. Better Audio
Audio uses just one pin of an HDMI cable. The better shielded that single cable is the less chance of jitter - i.e. less distorted sound.

5. Durability
The mechanical construction of a cable makes a difference to how long it will last. Many of our cables come with a lifetime guarantee, ensuring you only need ever buy one cable.

6. Reliability over longer distance
The further an HDMI signal has to run the more susceptible it is to the issues above. Therefore it is especially important when choosing a longer length (over 5 metres) HDMI cable to ensure that the lead is of a sufficient quality to meet the spec. Some cables that fulfil a certain spec over a standard 1 metre length, such as 3D compatibility, fail to fulfil this over a longer length.

For more information and futher discussion click on these useful links:
www.techradar.com/news/television/hdtv/hdmi-1-4-10-things-you-need-to-know-626951
www.qed.co.uk/1/news/hdmi_explained.htm
hcc.techradar.com/blogs/team-hcc/hdmi-ultimate-connection-standard-or-accident-waiting-happen-02-10-11