In the race for more content, a better picture, higher speeds, and more precise resolution, consumers often push the capabilities of innovation beyond necessity. And who can blame them? After shelling out a grand or more for a new television set, there’s nothing wrong with expecting a 21st-century viewing experience. But is investing in a premium HDMI adapter or cord to improve your stream worth it?
What is HDMI?
HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface. In the last twenty years, HDMI protocol has become the most popular and highly used type of adapter for transferring high-definition audio and video from one device to another.
Wireless HDMI adapters allow users to transfer high-definition content from any HDMI-supported device, like a computer, game console, or cable box. Wireless HDMI adapter dongles allow sharing of content without clutter, fitting the HDMI functionality into mini spaces by eliminating the HDMI cables from the setup.
Differences between generic and premium HDMI products
We all know the saying, “you get what you pay for,” but this isn’t always the case with HDMI technology. While premium does net you some benefits, they’re more subtle than you’d expect and primarily based on the application they are used for.
We review a few of those differences.
Costs
Prices for generic and premium HDMI technology can vary greatly. And it depends on the type of premium HDMI technology you’re looking for. Generic vs. premium HDMI cords don’t experience the kind of fluctuation that HDMI adapters and dongles see as a whole. This is because HDMI technology doesn’t change. HDMI cables utilize TMDS technology to eliminate latency and interference errors as a function; it doesn’t matter who produces the material that supports the technology.
This means premium HDMI cords, with some arguments for length having some mitigating impact on quality, are the same, whether they are premium HDMI or not.
Where “premium” really begins to pay dividends is in HDMI adapters and dongles with user interfaces and interoperability requirements that call for cross-platform support of all kinds of things, including operating systems, browsers, inputs and outputs, hardware, and more.
In this case, premium HDMI gets you a better user experience and support. But again, the technology is the same.
Functionality
Since 2010, the versions and functionalities of HDMI cables have only been distinguished by the designations HDMI Standard and HDMI High-Speed (each with and without an Ethernet channel). Regarding HDMI 2.0 Standard, version numbers were used again, and the Premium Certificate was also introduced. The Premium certificate ensures that all HDMI 2.0 functions, such as 4K or even 8K, with a refresh rate of at least 60 Hz and other features are supported. A corresponding label on the packaging identifies Premium HDMI High-Speed cables.
Current HDMI transmission standards include the following:
- High-Speed HDMI cable (first version): 10 Gbit/s and suitable for HD resolution and HDMI features such as Deep Color, 3D, and HD audio
- High-Speed HDMI Cable (newer version): 18 Gbit/s and supports additional features such as 4K, HDR color display, and refresh rate up to 120 Hz
- Premium HDMI (certified) cable: 48 Gbit/s and supports HDMI 2.0 and HDMI 2.1 and resolutions up to 8K
The HDMI High-Speed cable is sufficient for normal HD mode (resolution of 1080p). However, if you want to upgrade to 4K or even 8K resolution in the future, the Premium HDMI cable is recommended.
Quality
The processing quality is something else that the brand and cost can highly impact. Last summer, Florian Marx wrote, “With many cheap cables, the transition between the plug and the cable harness is a weak point, and cable breaks and other defects quickly occur. Special nylon sheaths, for example, protect better against cable breaks and kinks than plastic sheaths.”
In other words, generic HDMI cables with 2 – 4 layers of protection are usually sufficient to do the job, but if you want more protection (premium), look for Nylon sheaths, which offer more protection than plastic.
Length
Length is another factor to consider when selecting an HDMI cable. HDMI cables are made of copper wires, so the cost goes up significantly. In addition, longer wires are problematic in many cases because they extend the length transmissions must go to deliver HDMI content successfully.
So if you’re considering buying a premium 30-foot HDMI wire, ask yourself whether you need it first. HDMI cable length should be considered carefully. Aim for wires that are no more than a few feet longer than needed.
Wireless HDMI adapters
Of course, you can skip the cords, excessive copper, and lengthy transmission issues by considering an investment in Wireless HDMI Adapter Technology, which gives viewers the flexibility to enjoy high-definition content while also avoiding clutter.
Most dongle adapters come as an extension in the wireless HDMI kit to avoid the HDMI cables cluttering your entire room.
How to set up wireless HDMI adapters
It’s pretty simple to set up wireless HDMI, but still, you may need background to do it correctly. The wireless HDMI kit transmitter wirelessly sends a data signal stream while a receiver receives the data signals on your TV. Thankfully, you don’t need to worry about the technicalities of how it works as installation is fairly straightforward.
Here’s the process to set up the whole wireless HDMI kit.
- Choose the source device like a game console, computer, or cable box from which you want to transfer signals to your TV
- Connect the source device with the transmitter
- Plug the transmitter power supply into a power circuit
- Now use another HDMI adapter to connect your HDTV to the receiver
- Plug in the receiver power supply to a power source
Set the TV input to the correct HDMI connection, and you’re good to go.
Final words
Wired and wireless HDMI can transmit high-quality videos and audio. But the difference is wireless HDMI adapters offer freedom for the user to set up the whole system wherever they want without the hassle.
Our recommendation: Skip the clutter and indecision over premium vs. generic cables and invest in a quality HDMI adapter set. If you do decide to stick with cords, skip the premium unless you’re setting up something the like a home theater, and mind your HDMI cord length.