Are HDMI Cables Worth the Money?

Should you spend more on HDMI cables for HDTV connections? If you're looking to make the switch to high-definition video and audio, you've got several possible options, depending on your specific equipment and connector types. If your television, receiver, Blu-ray player or video game system supports it, you may use DVI, composite video or HDMI cables for your high-definition needs. With all these options, the question becomes which connector is best and whether it's worth the cost. DVI, composite video and HDMI cables all deliver comparable high-definition video quality. The difference is in what connector types your system supports and whether you can find a cost-effective solution.

Analog Cables Versus HDMI
The biggest difference between DVI, HDMI and composite video cables is the way that data moves. DVI and HDMI are digital formats, while composite video is analog. Analog signals are much harder to move, particularly over long distances, because the electrical charge that carries the signal tends to dissipate in cables, taking some of the audio and video information with it. DVI and HDMI carry digital information, and as long as there's no breaks in the cable, the digital that goes in one end will come out the other end intact, as long as the distance traveled is less than nine feet.

HDMI is an all-in-one solution, carrying audio and video from source to screen. Composite video and DVI only carry video signals, so you'll need additional cables to move audio. You can use the traditional RCA cables for this, which are an analog format, or you can use optical cable, which is a fiber-optic cable that sends digital information on a beam of light between compatible devices.

If you've got the connections on your components, HDMI will provide the simplest, highest-quality connection. DVI with an optical audio connection is just as good as HDMI, but you'll need two cables. Composite also requires separate audio and video cables. The quality isn't quite as good as digital formats, and the difference between cables can be noticeable.

Look for Generic Cables
You might find a very inexpensive generic HDMI cable that's far cheaper than a name-brand composite video cable, in which case it just makes sense to purchase the HDMI cable. You can often find generic HDMI cables on the Web, ranging from $2to $20 for 6-foot HDMI cables - significantly cheaper than comparable length DVI or composite video cables. Typically, the only time you run into trouble with generic-brand HDMI cables is if you're running cable nine feet or more. At that point, it becomes important to look at high-quality construction and materials to avoid a loss of signal quality.

Think About Cable Management
It's easier to run and conceal a single cable than multiple cables, and composite video cables plus audio cables are downright bulky compared to a single HDMI cable. If you're running cable in a confined space or are using cable management channels or other methods of concealment, you might find the extra cost for HDMI cables worth the ease of managing a single cable. Cable management isn't much of an issue when your HD equipment is all located together, but if you're running cables up to a wall-mounted television, having a single cable might make your job significantly easier.

Video Quality Differences
HDMI and DVI will give you a much better picture than composite video, but you'll need a top-of-the-line TV and a high-definition source, such as a Blu-ray player, PS3 or Xbox 360 to really notice the improved picture. The larger your set, the more you'll see the advantages of digital signals.

The exception to the rule is digital cable and satellite service. Some systems compress their digital signals to manage traffic across their networks. Consumers have reported that using HDMI makes visual artifacts from this compression much more noticeable than it was with composite video.