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Frequently Asked Questions - Video Cables & Accessories |
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HDMI is confusing and you may read or hear a lot of conflicting information. We understand and have put together this HDMI survival guide. If you still have questions, please ask!
HDMI Licensing, LLC. , who owns the trademark and logo for HDMI, dictates how HDMI products (including cables) can be labeled and marketed. They have instructed cable manufacturers and retailers NOT to reference any version number (1.3, 1.4 etc.) when marketing or labeling cables. Instead of version numbers, we are to reference the cable by the classification or category that the cable falls under. Mediabridge HDMI cables are certified Category 2 High Speed HDMI Cables with Ethernet, which support everything and anything on the market including products with Audio Return Channel, 4K resolution, 3D, 1080p, the highest refresh rates available, PS3, 3D BluRay, XBox360, 1.4 HDTVs, 1.4 Receivers, … EVERYTHING. There is no such thing as a "1.4 Cable". The version number is irrelevant when it comes to the cable despite what some companies will tell you as they are trying to up sell you on a more expensive cable. There are only Standard, High Speed, Standard with Ethernet, and High Speed with Ethernet HDMI cables. Here is the exact quote from HDMI.org: Changes for Cables Effective Immediately
2. Which cable do I need for my equipment?
Mediabridge Ultra Series High Speed HDMI Cables with Ethernet are the right cable for any application. The only question is what length cable do you need. They are perfect for the most basic setup like an HD cable box to a HDTV with 1080i resolution and 60hz refresh rate to the most advanced setup like a 3D BluRay player to a 3D LED TV with 4K resolution and "600hz" refresh rates. 3. Do I need a cable to transfer data faster than 10.2 Gbps? No. There is no technology available now or in the foreseeable future that requires anything faster than 7Gbps. PS3, 3D TV, 3D BluRay, nothing requires more than 7Gbps. The High Speed HDMI specification created by HDMI Licensing requires all High Speed HDMI cables to handle at least 10.2Gbps which is far more than is needed for now and any time soon. Mediabridge cables are certified by an HDMI Authorized Test Center to be a High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet and therefore they have all the bandwidth and speed you could possibly need despite what some companies will tell you as they are trying to up sell you on a more expensive cable. 4. Why are the prices of HDMI cables so different from company to company?
Sometimes it may seem like HDMI cable retailers just make up the price of the cable based on how much money they want to make. Of course other companies have middle men, resellers, advertising budgets, celebrities they have to hire, expensive packaging, and many other reasons to charge an arm and a leg for an HDMI cable. The bottom line is, as long as the cable is certified to be a High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet by an HDMI Authorized Test Center, it can handle anything on the market so why would you need anything more? Mediabridge cables are fairly priced for a quality product and to top it all off they are backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty. There is no better choice. 5. What sets Mediabridge HDMI cables apart?
6. What lengths do Mediabridge HDMI cables come in? Mediabridge Ultra Series High Speed HDMI Cables with Ethernet currently come in 3ft, 6ft, 10ft, 15ft, AND 25ft lengths. 7. Why does the HDMI cable have "Ethernet" and do I need it? The addition of the Ethernet channel into HDMI cables does not affect the audio or video of the cable at all. In fact, if you don't want or need the Ethernet function, then you won't even know it's there. The reason it is there is for sharing an internet signal from device to device that are connected by HDMI. All devices need to be able to support the Ethernet over HDMI function for this to work. Most TVs, BluRay Players, and gaming systems come internet ready and this type of technology is meant to provide an alternative to a WiFi connection or running individual ethernet cables to all the devices in your A/V setup. 8. What is the Audio Return Channel?
The Audio Return Channel (ARC) is a new feature that is supported by some newer Receivers and HDTVs. HDMI cables have always been bi-directional and able to support this function and still do. The ARC allows for audio that originates at the display device (ie: HDTV) to travel upstream through the HDMI cable to the Receiver in order to utilize external speakers for surround sound. This is especially useful for HDTVs with built-in tuners that can pull content off-air rather than from a cable box.
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