The Infidel

Ever since venturing into 4K by buying both the TV and player, I've been seeing conflicting information on whether or not a so-called 4K HDMI cable is needed to maximize the viewing experience. Many places online say it's nonsense, yet most of the backs of the 4K movies say you not only need the TV and player, but an HDMI 2.0 (or Category 2) cable.

What's the story, and what are your experiences?

E Unit

It isn't so much you need "4k HDMI", but rather you need HDMI cables that are 18 Gbps. It's the least you can get to support full 4k. Anything less and the signal will downgrade to 1080p.

Keep in mind HDMI 2.1 is headed our way soon.

The Infidel

I don't remember exactly what cable I've had until yesterday, but all I know is after I recently bought and inserted the 4K release of Ex Machina, I got a message on my TV screen saying it was going to play the movie in standard HD, and it claimed my equipment wasn't compatible, even though I had already played several 4K titles previously, and didn't get that message. So, I went and bought a GE 18 Gbps cable, and I wanted to make sure I was getting the right thing. All the information online just seems to be vague.

melasnus

For those unaware, Amazon has its own brand of 4K HDMI cables that are dirt cheap and work like champs.
I have been using them for awhile now and they have performed flawlessly.

Sonic

Hit us up with a link buddy

Deftones

Monoprice also has full speed HDMI cables that are cheap as well. If you want 4k + HDR, they are a necessity.

mrhan

Yeah, I'd stick to Monoprice. A lot of the cables they sell on Amazon is garbage. If your also looking at a 4K switchbox, Monoprice carries reliable ones, also. Stay away from the ones on Amazon.

melasnus

They are called: AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable
Meets the latest HDMI standards (4K Video at 60 Hz, 2160p, 48 bit/px color depth) that supports bandwidth up to 18Gbps and backwards compatible with earlier versions.
Current price: $6.99 for 6ft.

The AmazonBasics brand is well known for high performance.
Other brands may not be...

Sonic

Thanks! They do look mighty cheap. I took a look at the monoprice premium and they seem to look more decently built and more smoothed out also they appear to be cheaper in price than the Amazon.

E Unit

I use both the Amazon and Monoprice Premium cables. Both work great. Either will do the job very well.

melasnus

They don't appear "cheap" when in hand.
FWIW, I have replaced ALL of the HDMI cables in my systems with them.
Mainly because they are inexpensive and now I know exactly what the specs are for my HDMI cables in my house.
I wasn't too sure before because their ages varied widely.
Anyway, haven't had a cable problem yet...everything looks good.

GreenMonkey

Most cables valid for 4k will be marked with the "high-speed" moniker. Should make it easier to tell them apart in your box o' cables or whatever.

Sure some cheapies might say that for some reason, but that should cover you most of the time.

Sonic

Is something wrong with the Monoprice.com website? It just stalls and I can't select a 6ft premium cable. I tried other browsers, changed settings, tried on other devices and same shit. It's been like that since yesterday.

I'm about to go to Amazon and buy it from there since it's probably the same price in total anyways.

Paul_SD

Make sure they are "Certified Premium" for 4K

These from Monoprice are pretty inexpensive.

I seem to be able to select 6' and go to the cart (haven't checked out though)

Sonic

That's the one I'm trying to purchase in 6ft length but the site just stalls. I think on Amazon it's cheaper. I'll get it from there. Thanks Paul_SD!

Paul_SD

Sure thing.

Getting some new gear there?

Enjoy!

Sonic

Thanks

The Oppo 203 The force was strong and I gave in.

I ended up getting a Crutchfield HDMI cable instead because the tips look cool as hell.

Why So Blu?

Those look like plastic tip protectors.

melasnus

Let us know how that works out for ya.

Sonic

They are.

Sure thing I'm expecting deliver on Saturday. Might head over to best buy that day and hopefully find and pick up some cheap priced 4K discs.

TheBang

"Premium Certified" is just a marketing gimmick. Any High-Speed HDMI cable made to spec will support exactly the same data transmission. Some really early cables years ago were marginal on the specs, hence why there was a perceived notion that some people might want a program like "Premium Certified" for peace of mind. But if you're buying brand-new cables, there's no reason to go with Premium Certified over regular High Speed unless you like throwing money away.

Paul_SD

Dyslexia notwithstanding, the "PC" cables I linked to from Monoprice are not at a price level I would classify as "throwing money away". They also offer other ones (such as the Cabernet Ultra Series) which hit spec for about the same price - ~$1 per foot.

The "PC" labeling may be a gimmick, but it's one that makes it much easier for the people who don't live and breathe this stuff to just go out and buy the right thing without having to check off a list of specs that sound like an alien language to them. The designation doesn't necessarily inflate the price.

This isn't Monster® we're talking about- which BTW, Wal-mart sells their 4K cables at $3 per foot.

You may have a line on $.50 per foot cables that are well made and highly recommended- that's great.
For me, having gotten similar runs for component/DVI and then brand new HDMI back in 2006, the general $1 per foot prices I'm seeing for the new 4K cables just don't look bad at all.

Of course you can easily pay more, but as you say, you don't have to.

Sonic

Hdmi cables are like digital antennas that advertise 1080p and now 4K lol. Meanwhile a cheap rabbit ear antenna picks up the same digital signal.

TheBang

There is literally no performance difference between them though, because they both fulfill the same specs. It's the functional equivalent of me putting a gold star on the cable before selling it to you. And it's not any easier to say "buy a premium certified cable" than it is to say "buy a high speed cable".

But it usually does, for no practical benefit, which is the problem I have with it.

rw2516

It's my understanding that if you are running HDMI through a receiver, the receiver also has to have 4K processing ability.