Currently with more Video On Demand services (EG. Apple TV ,Netflicks, Stan & Telstra TV) offering an increased variety of 4K UHD content what makes the cables that connect your devices compliant?
Your HDMI cables will need to support up-to 18Gbps data transfer speeds to be compliant with the 4K standard which can include additional features like High Dynamic Range, 12bit colour and Dolby Vision.
If you have a Audio Visual Receiver included in your system it will need to also support 4K and will have to be HDCP2.2 compliant for the 4K devices to communicate with each other to display 4K.
So if you have all your devices 4k compliant (HDCP2.2)some signs that your cables are not 18Gbps rated could include images with pixels that look like sparkle or in the extreme, black and white pixels filling the entire display.
Good HDMI cables do not have to be expensive. The difference between cables that support and pass 18Gbps is usually in the design and materials the cable is manufactured from. Some examples below.
- Flexibility to stop twists and kinks, bends nicely and easy to manage. This helps with installation in joinery etc. keeping it neat and tidy
- Connector Size and design needs to be strong and small for easier installation behind wall mounted TV’s and inside joinery
- Will have good quality metal on the connector to resist corrosion
- Available in many different lengths
If you would like to find out more and take a look at some examples then check this link.