The Best HDMI Cables

A lot of sales people would tell you that a gold-plated and tremendously expensive HDMI cable is the best for your audio-video systems.  But here's the dish:  HDMI cables carry digital signals.  The more expensive price doesn’t mean more improved picture and sound quality.  Unlike their analogue counterparts, HDMI cables are more or less the same. 

The thing is, it is generally accepted that the differences between a GBP10 HDMI cable and one that costs more than GBP100 is so minute that you cannot see or hear it.  This is not saying that manufacturers of high-end HDMI cables lie about their claims of providing a better HD experience.  It’s just that the normal consumer will not be able to detect the difference that machines can gauge.

Well, that’s the general rule.  There are a few exceptions.  In our experience, these are the HDMI cables that stand out.  Note that we prefer gold-plated cables, for the simple reason that gold does not corrode, assuring you that you’d get to use your cable for a long time. 

Here are cables that we would personally recommend:

Monoprice High Speed HDMI 1.3a Category 2 Certified Cable 28AWG. This HDMI cable comes in blue, and is gold plated.  A category 2 certified and 1.3a cable is one of the later revisions that double the bandwidth you get from the original HDMI cables.  As such, you get a whole new world of potential advancements like deep color, better spectrum of colors, higher resolutions and more multi-channel audio formats like DTS-HD.  High speed HDMI cables are compliant with HDMI 1.3a standards. 

MonoPrice 6FT HDMI Male to DVI-D Male Cable. If you're aiming for flexibility, this one can connect to HDMI devices like sat boxes, LCD projectors, DVDs, plasma TVs and HDTV.  Basically supports all standards: enhanced, standard or HD video.

Both MonoPrice cables are selling at below GBP10, making it the best cables that deliver value for money!

Monster HDMI 1000hd Ultra-High Speed HDMI Cable. Best for the home theatre, Monster’s HDMI cable starts at GBP61 for the first meter.  The thing is that Monster’s 1000d HDMI cable comes with a performance guarantee that assures you of lossless digital surround sound and delivers full high definition picture!  Monster also guarantees you that its HDMI cables do not only meet HDMI standards, but also surpasses them!

The 1000hd also comes with a full lifetime warranty that ensures optimum performance for life.  If you’re still not convinced that this HDMI cable is the best in its class, then consider these:

That being said, remember our earlier stand that HDMI cables do not necessarily affect picture and sound quality.   If you do get “sparklies”, or if you notice picture degradation, then it is advisable for you to get another one.