OVERVIEW

HDMI™ is becoming the connection standard for High-Definition consumer electronics products. The growth of HDMI is “Monsterous™.” The purpose of this paper is to give you an overview of this technology, how Monster® plays an important part in bringing it to you, and to answer your questions on which HDMI cable is right for you.

WHAT EXACTLY IS HDMI?

HDMI stands for “High-Definition Multimedia Interface.” It provides an all-digital connection solution in one cable, with the potential for the most incredible video picture ever seen, combined with full, uncompressed digital audio sound. The HDMI connectivity standard was a result of a combination of giants in the industry getting together to create a high performance digital connection. Sony, Hitachi, Thomson (RCA), Philips, Matsushita (Panasonic), Toshiba, and Silicon Image are the founders of HDMI.

High-Definition, as we know it today is advancing rapidly, and will pale in comparison with the video of tomorrow. Soon, you will hear new buzz words like “deep color,” higher refresh rates, and higher resolution displays. Driven by advances in computer, display, and source technologies that will enable consumers to achieve a more lifelike video experience, HDMI has updated its versions to reflect an increase in data capability. Hence some of the confusion over HDMI cables.

There have been five versions of HDMI since it’s inception in 2002. The latest version provides for a superhighway of data for products that will come in the near future. Evolving technologies in video displays (1080p, 1440p and beyond), new sources such as Blu-ray Disc™, HD DVD and Playstation® 3, and content (such as the latest in HD movies in 1080p, and 10bit/12bit and greater color depth) all need more advanced cable technologies.

HDMI: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

HDMI offers a connection that provides the most incredible audio and video experience that the Consumer Electronics industry has ever known. With every advance, HDMI delivers even sharper, more vivid images, with brighter and deeper colors, and with the highest-quality surround sound available. The “one-cable” solution that makes it easier for consumers to hook up their products- that’s the “Beauty.”

The “Beast” is that HDMI engenders more confusion than any other connector type with many different cable and component standards, interoperability problems, and false information about the quality and performance of HDMI cables. For example, the most recent HDMI standard HDMI 1.3 category 2 specification lays the groundwork for technologies in components yet to come, such as deep color beyond what is available today, higher refresh rates for smooth video, higher resolution to 1080p and beyond, and greater pixel density as displays get larger. Poor picture quality can range from dropped pixels, snow, streaks across the screen, or to total picture drop out.

Moreover, many electronics and cables do not perform to the standard, so many combinations of cables and components don’t work. Additionally, cable performance, especially over long runs, have degraded picture quality.

EXPLAINING THE HDMI CABLE CONFUSION.

A common misconception is that all HDMI cables are the same—so just buy the cheapest cables you can find and they’ll work for you. The truth is:

1. There are many levels of High-Definition digital video, and different standards for HDMI-enabled components. Hence, there are different levels of HDMI cables to connect them.
   
   
2. High-Definition (720p/1080i), as we know it today, is delivered at a 2.2 Gbps (giga-bits per second) throughput rate. Although high compared to standard DVD at .81 Gbps, it is miniscule compared to the throughput requirements that will achieve the best performance from High-Definition in the near future, which will require 10.2 Gbps and more. Previous generation HDMI cables developed to meet the original 2.2 Gbps standard are not certified for the new standard and may not pass the full bandwidth required to provide the best performance from these new products.
   
   
3. HDMI marks the first time that a cable connection standard has created a “superhighway” for digital content, with components yet to come. Even some of the original HDMI 1.0 cable from 2002, may not work with the latest sources and displays and sources of today (1080p, 12 bit color), and will surely strain to deliver the quality picture and sound content of tomorrow.
   
   
4. Unlike computer data, which is tolerant of data transmission losses, video data is not. Accurate transmission is essential. Most HDMI-compliant cables can transfer older versions of High-Definition (720p/1080i) data rate over short lengths, but have problems maintaining the same performance over longer lengths as well as higher data rates required of 1080p.
   
   
   
   
5. HDMI cables are very sensitive to construction variances. With HDMI’s super-high data rate and microscopically tight tolerances, mishandling of cables during an install can significantly affect performance. Look for better shielded connectors, mesh jackets for durability, special winding techniques, nitrogen gas dielectrics to minimize loss, and CL 3 jacket ratings, to ensure maximum performance with every installation. These features all provide high practical use value.
   
   
6. A number of manufacturing factors such as cable construction, precision cable twisting, low loss dielectrics contribute to better performance in digital.
   
   
7. A new term has come to HDMI cables. With all of the confusing numbers of Megahertz, 60 hz refresh rates, as well as Gigabytes per second to rate cables, Silicon Image, co-founders of HDMI, has determined that speed is good way to combine all of the parameters above. Standard Speed and high speed are the two groups of cable designations, but there is a wide spread of speeds that these cover.