The Best HDMI Cable for a 1080P LCD TV

High speed HDMI cables are rated at 10.2 gigabits per second, nearly five times that of standard speed, which comes in at only 2.25 gigabits per second. This is important for ensuring that data-dense 1080p material is sent as expected to your compatible HD display. Although you may see multiple speed ratings on various HDMI packages, only the "high speed" and "standard speed" options are officially sanctioned by the HDMI Group. Use high speed HDMI whenever possible, especially given the incremental cost difference over standard speed. As technology develops, the extra dollars spent today will be saved in the long-term by not having to remove and replace the older version.

Wire gauge is critically important for longer runs. The thicker the strands inside the HDMI cable, the more resistant it will be to sending this data-intensive material to your 1080p set. This issue is not as critical for rack-length cables that do not exceed 6 feet. HDMI cables that are 24-gauge as opposed to 28-gauge should be selected for longer distances that approach 50 feet or more.

Version 1.4 offers features that are optimized for today's 1080p displays, while looking to the future. Many 1080p HD TVs are connected to audio/video receivers, potentially making the choice of cable slightly more confusing. This is addressed by the use of the audio return channel. Enabled in version 1.4, the audio return channel allows the same cable that carries video to the TV from the receiver to also carry audio from the TV back to the receiver --- hence the "return" moniker. This reduces the amount of cabling needed behind the set.

Many new televisions offer the ability to connect to the Internet. Stringing a cable that supports Ethernet over HDMI from a compatible device means that high speed data transfer can occur between the device and the display, reducing yet another cable requirement. Offering 100 megabits per second, like on your laptop or desktop computer, this option opens up new options for 1080p display widgets and online interactivity.