HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is the latest and greatest digital audio/video cable connection and can give you great HDTV resolution. Besides HDTVs, HDMI is being included in a variety of devices these days, including DVD players, cable and satellite set-top boxes, Media Center Edition PCs, and the Sony PlayStation 3 gaming console.

What’s so great about HDMI? Well, a few things:

To connect HDMI cables, start by locating the HDMI port on your device, which looks like a thin, wide slot with a slightly tapered base. Next, attach one end of the HDMI cable to your computer and plug the other end into the HDMI slot on the back or side of your TV.

• It’s all-digital. Like DVI and FireWire, HDMI provides an all-digital path for your standard and high-definition video signals.

1. HDMI 1.0 (December 2002) was a very rudimentary, single-cable implementation of the technology – but it was revolutionary because it could carry both a 1080p high-definition video signal (with 8-bit color) and eight channels of 24-bit audio on a single cable with a maximum bandwidth of just under 5 Gbps.
2. Almost 10 billion devices enabled with HDMI ® technology have shipped since the first HDMI specification was released in December 2002. The latest HDMI 2.1 Specification released in November 2017 continues to enable the development of new product categories and innovative solutions to meet the growing demand for higher performance and more immersive consumer experiences.

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• It’s high-bandwidth. HDMI can support data signals as fast as 5GB per second. That means it can handle HDTV with plenty of room to spare. (In fact, HDTV uses less than half this bandwidth — so the HDTV signals don’t have to be compressed.) FireWire, by comparison, tops out at 400MB per second (there is an 800MB per second variant, but it’s not very common) — less than 1/12 the bandwidth of HDMI.

• It can support all variants of HDTV. 720p, 1080i, even 1080p can run over an HDMI cable.

• It can carry up to eight channels of digital audio. So a single HDMI cable can carry your HDTV and your 7.1-channel surround sound, reducing the tangle of cables behind your system.

Keep in mind, though, that the “big name” HDMI cables in your average electronics store are incredibly expensive. Don’t fear, though — HDMI cables don’t have to be super-expensive. In fact, certified HDMI cables can be relatively cheap, and there are many good online sources. And as HDMI becomes more widespread, the price for cables will drop.

As long as your HDMI cable runs are less than 30 feet, you can buy one of those inexpensive cables and expect excellent results. When you get over 30 feet, consult a specialist because you might need some special active components to boost the signal level.

If you’re shopping for a new TV, a new receiver, or a new DVD player, or choosing an HDTV set-top box or satellite receiver, go with HDMI if you can. HDMI can provide the highest quality video signal and throws your multichannel surround sound audio in on the same cable. You really can’t go wrong here!

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HDMI is fully backward compatible with DVI, which just means that you can interconnect HDMI and DVI devices. So you can connect, for example, a DVI connector on your HDTV cable set-top box to an HDMI input on your new plasma (or vice versa). Keep in mind that such connections will carry only video signals — DVI doesn’t support audio. If you’re buying all new gear, it’s best to choose HDMI all around, but if you’re upgrading, the good news is that HDMI won’t strand your investment in DVI-equipped gear. All you need is either an inexpensive (about $20) adapter or HDMI-to-DVI cables, which have an HDMI connector on one end and a DVI connector on the other.

Ultra High Speed HDMI^® Cable Certification Program

The HDMI 2.1 Specification includes a new cable - the Ultra High Speed HDMI^® Cable. It’s the only cable that complies with stringent specifications designed to ensure support for all HDMI 2.1 features including uncompressed 8k@60 and 4K@120. The cable’s increased bandwidth capability supports up to 48Gbps.

The Ultra High Speed HDMI Certification Program is a mandatory certification program for all Ultra High Speed HDMI Cables; and ensures quality Ultra High Speed HDMI Cables reach the market and support 4K and 8K video, HDR, VRR, eARC, and all other HDMI 2.1 features. Cables are also required to be tested and certified to ensure low EMI to reduce the possibility of interference with wireless networks, streaming media players, Bluetooth devices and mobile phones.

All certified cables of any length must pass certification testing at an HDMI Forum Authorized Testing Center (Forum ATC). Once certified, cables will be required to affix an Ultra High Speed HDMI Certification Label to each package or unit of sale enabling consumers to verify the certification status of the product.

To identify the cable, make sure the packaging displays the required Ultra High Speed HDMI Certification Label shown above. Please note the label includes the official Cable Name Logo printed on it. The name is also required to appear on the outer cable jacket itself. To verify the cable has been tested and certified in compliance with the HDMI 2.1 Specification, the label can be scanned by the HDMI Cable Certification app available on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store and other Android app stores.

For more information on the Ultra High Speed HDMI Certification Program please refer to the FAQs below.