Don't Pay for those Ridiculously Overpriced HDMI Cables
Many of you this year will be giving or receiving tech gadgets that will require HDMI cables. And when you're shopping for those HDMI cables, be warned that there is a full range of prices on them.
For example, a 6-foot HDMI cable can cost you anywhere from $3 to more than $100! Why the big difference in price? Check out Geoffrey Morrison's blog HDMI
cable buying guide.
He offers the inside scoop on where to find the best deals on these cables, and explains why there isn't a performance difference between inexpensive HDMI cables and the ridiculously overpriced ones.
The Best HDMI Cables for Your TV in 2023
If you've got a new 4K or 8K TV, or need to get new HDMI cables in general, here are the best ones to get in 2023.
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https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/best-hdmi-cable/
If you've got a new 4K or 8K TV, or need to get new HDMI cables in general, here are the best ones to get in 2023.
👇
https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/best-hdmi-cable/
HDMI Cable Types:
The Ultimate Guide
By Cable Matters / Jan 11, 2023
The Ultimate Guide
By Cable Matters / Jan 11, 2023
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👆HDMI Cable Buying Guide
Find the best price on the right cable for your new HDTV.
Which store has the best deals? Which Web site has the best selection? Which cable is right for your TV?
Answers to these questions, and more, in the definitive (if I do say so myself) HDMI cable buyers guide:
Cheap cables will produce the exact same picture and sound quality as expensive cables.
These articles explain how HDMI cables work, and why by their very
nature, you're either getting a perfect image, or no image at all.
Type
When it comes to TVs, there are four kinds of HDMI cables:
When it comes to TVs, there are four kinds of HDMI cables:
- High speed with Ethernet
- High speed without Ethernet
- Standard speed with Ethernet
- Standard speed without Ethernet
Standard speed cables can handle up to 1080i. High speed can handle
definition far beyond 1080p. Here's the thing: the price difference is
negligible, so buy only high-speed cables. Most HDMI cables you'll find
in a store are high-speed cables.
Very few products have Ethernet-over-HDMI compatibility, so it's not
likely you need to pay extra for the feature in the cable. If you want
to "future proof" your system slightly, then that's your call. For most
people, though, I don't see the point. Again, the price difference is
marginal, so it's not a big deal either way. If you're sure your
equipment has Ethernet-over-HDMI compatibility, then of course check out
those HDMI cables. That likelihood is small, though.
The short version: Buy high speed without Ethernet and don't worry about the other types.
Keep in mind a few things: There is no such thing as an "HDMI 1.4" cable, nor do you need a special cable for 3D, 120 or 240Hz, or Audio Return Channel (ARC).
There is no loss in picture quality over long distances. However,
there will be a point where you just don't get a picture anymore. So if
you're not sure if 6 feet is long enough, go for 10 feet. It shouldn't
cost that much more money.
One thing to consider, regardless of length, is an active cable.
RedMere technology and other active cables allow for thinner cables, or
really long cables. These can be more expensive, but depending on
how or where you're installing them, sometimes a tiny flexible cable
works better even if it costs a little more.
For consistency, I just checked high speed without Ethernet
6-foot/2-meter cables (some are measured in metric, some are counted in
'Merican). I figured this was the length and speed most people would be
interested in.
On the Web
Monoprice: Most of the cables I use -- and most of the cables CNET uses
-- come from Monoprice. They're exceptionally cheap, they ship quickly,
and I've never had one fail despite a significant amount of plugging
and unplugging. Just about any length is available, and all are about
the cheapest you'll find anywhere. How about a 6-foot high-speed HDMI
cable for $3.50? To give you an idea about active cables, a 6-foot
"ultra slim" high-speed cable with RedMere is $15.91.
Price: $3.50 (six-foot high speed)
Price: $3.50 (six-foot high speed)
Amazon: With Amazon Prime you get free two-day shipping. Even
if you're not a Prime member, its selection is good, as are its prices.
The Amazon Basics line of cables have a 5/5 customer rating, and you can
get two 2-meter high-speed cables with Ethernet for $10. However, if
you're willing to risk some seriously no-name cables, you can get two
high-speed cables for less than $5.
Price: $4.25 for two, and up
Price: $4.25 for two, and up
NewEgg: I've never bought cables from here, but I have bought computer parts. No issues as I recall.
Price: $2.87
Price: $2.87
Crutchfield: The king of list price strikes again.
Price: $14.99
Price: $14.99
Ye olde brick-and-mortar
I checked several national chain stores, and one popular regional chain, to see what kind of prices they had on cables. As you'd expect, their prices were, for the most part, rubbish. While I've listed the lowest price I could find, each store had many, many more offerings that were priced ridiculously.
I checked several national chain stores, and one popular regional chain, to see what kind of prices they had on cables. As you'd expect, their prices were, for the most part, rubbish. While I've listed the lowest price I could find, each store had many, many more offerings that were priced ridiculously.
Only buy HDMI cables at a store as a last resort; say, if you just
bought a new TV and forgot to order a cable online. Here are a few
stores and their respective prices, to help you in said predicament.
Walmart: The best price for a single cable was $13 for one,
$20 for a pair. Online, they had a 6-foot cable for $4.88 that claimed
to be capable of 1080p (though wasn't called high speed). Amusingly, the
Walmart I went to had an 80-inch Sharp showing a standard-definition
4x3 image. Bang-up job, Walmart; bang-up job.
Price: $20 for two
Price: $20 for two
Best Buy: The best, ahem, buy, was $20 for a single 6-foot
cable. Shame. I didn't see it in the store, but on its Web site it has a
6-foot cable for $5.49. Through the Best Buy Marketplace (i.e. approved
third-party retailers), I found one for $4. In neither case was the
speed specified.
Price: $20 (6 feet, high speed)
Price: $20 (6 feet, high speed)
Somewhat pricey cables at Target (Credit: Geoffrey Morrison/CNET)
Target: The best price was, like Walmart, two for $20. The
prices went up from there. On its Web site there was a 6-foot cable for
$15, though its speed was unspecified.
Price: $20 for two
Price: $20 for two
RadioShack: Wow. The in-store offerings were offensive. The Web site has a $9 online-only 2-meter high-speed cable.
Price: $28 (6 feet, high speed)
Price: $28 (6 feet, high speed)
Home Depot: Decent prices, actually. In the store, the best I
found was $13 for two 6-footers. Online this isn't listed, but instead
there are two $9 2-meter cables (incidentally, one is the same "brand"
as RadioShack's $9 offering). There's also a $9 12-foot cable.
Price: $13 for two (6 feet, high speed)
Price: $13 for two (6 feet, high speed)
OfficeMax: We have a "winner": $32 for a 6-foot HDMI cable
with no speed specified. Interestingly, the cheapest cable it had online
cost $5.95, which was high speed, 2 meters, and even had Ethernet.
Price: $32 (6 feet, unknown speed)
Price: $32 (6 feet, unknown speed)
No-name HDMI cables at Fry's. With minimalist prices come minimalist packaging...
(Credit: Geoffrey Morrison/CNET)
(Credit: Geoffrey Morrison/CNET)
Fry's: This southwest regional chain is known for its funky
stores and every part and piece you need to build your own space laser
or robo-dolphin. It also has no-name-brand HDMI cables. Win.
Price: $4.99 (6 feet, high speed)
Price: $4.99 (6 feet, high speed)
Bottom line
Buy inexpensive high-speed HDMI cables. Online is cheaper by far and will be available in whatever length you need. Only buy from a physical store if you absolutely have to, and if you do, certain stores do better than others. At the very least, if you're in a bind, check the Web sites of the various stores in your area. They'll at least give you an idea which store offers the best in-store price.
Buy inexpensive high-speed HDMI cables. Online is cheaper by far and will be available in whatever length you need. Only buy from a physical store if you absolutely have to, and if you do, certain stores do better than others. At the very least, if you're in a bind, check the Web sites of the various stores in your area. They'll at least give you an idea which store offers the best in-store price.
HDMI Cable Types:
The Ultimate Guide
By Cable Matters / Jan 11, 2023
The Ultimate Guide
By Cable Matters / Jan 11, 2023
👇
2 comments:
HDMI cables range in price from $5 to roughly ALL of the money.
HDMI cables connect todays TVs with A/V receivers, cable boxes, media players, and Blu-ray players. They send audio and video over the same cable, simplifying your hookups.Choosing the right HDMI cables can be tricky. Older cables don't support the latest features. The latest HDMI 2.0 cables support 4K TV and HDR. HDMI Cables
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