HDMI - Which version?

toyotacelicagt4 · 30 Apr 2012 at 20:53

I need to purchase 2 hdmi cables but i'm a little confused to which version I need? The 2 devices are my ps3 and a sky hd box. Some sites recommend 1.3 and others 1.4.

Thanks

Captain · 30 Apr 2012 at 20:54

The cheapest.

Django x2 · 30 Apr 2012 at 20:55

the 1.3s will work but if you can get 1.4s for a similar price do so.

Oh, and in before the "PAY LOADS IT MAKES A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE" crowd.

It doesn't. Be sensible and buy a cable with good fitting connectors, which should really cost you no more than a fiver tops, tenner if you're feeling plush.....

Vulcan · 30 Apr 2012 at 20:56

Lucero said:
Oh, and in before the "PAY LOADS IT MAKES A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE" crowd.

What crowd? This is a hardware forum, that crowd doesn't exist here.

Django x2 · 30 Apr 2012 at 20:57

You'd be surprised

The Halk · 30 Apr 2012 at 20:58

The colours are warmer on an entirely digital signal if you buy a super expensive Monster cable.

/sarcasm

Seriously though, just get a decent cable for 2 or 3 quid, only worry about it if its 10m or more.

toyotacelicagt4 · 30 Apr 2012 at 20:59

The 1.4 are the same price as the 1.3. I thought there might be a difference in connections.

ps3ud0 · 30 Apr 2012 at 21:00

Lucero said:
You'd be surprised

Not on here, think youve confused yourself where you are - mumsnet is elsewhere

ps3ud0 :cool:

Django x2 · 30 Apr 2012 at 21:02

No, just standards and what each cable offers. Throughput of 1.3 is near on identical

HDMI uses the Consumer Electronics Association/Electronic Industries Alliance 861 standards. HDMI 1.0 to HDMI 1.2a uses the EIA/CEA-861-B video standard, HDMI 1.3 uses the CEA-861-D video standard, and HDMI 1.4 uses the CEA-861-E video standard.[2][44][45][46] The CEA-861-E document defines "video formats and waveforms; colorimetry and quantization; transport of compressed and uncompressed, as well as Linear Pulse Code Modulation (LPCM), audio; carriage of auxiliary data; and implementations of the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) Enhanced Extended Display Identification Data Standard (E-EDID)".

toyotacelicagt4 · 30 Apr 2012 at 21:05

So will a 1.4 cable work with my ps3 and sky?

The Halk · 30 Apr 2012 at 21:06

Yes indeed.

toyotacelicagt4 · 30 Apr 2012 at 21:07

Thanks guys

Soundood · 30 Apr 2012 at 21:15

just picked up 2 HDMI 1.3 from poundland, i kid you not

£1 each, thank you very much, work a charm on my two Xbox's

Johnnytoxic · 30 Apr 2012 at 23:15

There are no cable "versions", they have all the same connectors and wires inside of them.

It's just marketing BS. They rate cables, a 1.4 one will probably be a nicer build with better insulation. This does not mean to say a 1.3 rated cable will not be able to deliver the bandwidth a 1.4 one can.

Up to 5 meters, pretty much any HDMI cable will be able to cope with the bandwidth HDMI 1.4 requires.

spudbynight · 30 Apr 2012 at 23:19

snowdog · 1 May 2012 at 00:08

Get a 1.4, I believe they added ethernet and 3d support.
They cost the same on the bay and on various sites as 1.3 ones, spend no more than 5 quid for a 2 meter one!

EDIT or get a 1.3 from a pound shop ofc. I liked the idea of having 1.4 cables for Ethernet for future devices.

I wouldn't get a 1.2 or lower, they officially don't support Dolby HD or DTS HD bitstreaming, only linear PCM.

Raymond Lin · 1 May 2012 at 00:31

Get the 1.4, i paid like £7 for 2m, gold plated, braided and all that jazz.

DcD · 1 May 2012 at 04:21

The Halk said:
Yes indeed.

Am I the only one who read The Halk's post in Augustus' voice?

Malevolence · 1 May 2012 at 04:54

Johnnytoxic said:
There are no cable "versions", they have all the same connectors and wires inside of them.

It's just marketing BS. They rate cables, a 1.4 one will probably be a nicer build with better insulation. This does not mean to say a 1.3 rated cable will not be able to deliver the bandwidth a 1.4 one can.

Up to 5 meters, pretty much any HDMI cable will be able to cope with the bandwidth HDMI 1.4 requires.

1.4 has Ethernet capability, ARC (Audio return channel) and the ability to carry 4096×2160 resolution HD. Three things that 1.3 can't do.

cmndr_andi · 1 May 2012 at 05:11

Malevolence said:
1.4 has Ethernet capability, ARC (Audio return channel) and the ability to carry 4096×2160 resolution HD. Three things that 1.3 can't do.

Indeed, there is a definite difference between HDMI 1.4 devices and HDMI 1.3 ones - however these differences are all on the device side. The cables they use are identical (same 19 connectors) - they just utilise them in a different way.

Therefore, if you bought a half decent "1.3" cable and used it between two HDMI 1.4 devices it should work fine and support all the new 1.4 features.