Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This item gets 2 stars for Amazon's full backing - easy returns, warranty - but can't earn the rest because it offers very little additional value, even when compared to other AmazonBasics products - in other words, I am not aware of any advantages of braided cables or extra-shielded cables in a home settings at lengths of 6 feet. I also have an issue with the 'Ultra High Speed' designation. While the HDMI consortium does define 'High Speed' and 'Category 2', the 'Ultra' addition seems to be the product of over-zealous marketing from some vendors too eager to differentiate their product and to justify higher prices.
Just to clear any doubt, this cable works as well as any other 6 ft. HDMI wire, including the premium ones and it's no better than those that sell at Amazon for one penny (I actually have one in use right now). The one advantage of this semi-premium-priced wire over the 'regular' ones is some extra shielding which, in the event of an airburst (EMP) above one's residence would ensure that the TV continues to get a clear picture.
AmazonBasics vs. Other Discount Brands
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It's not an easy call between an AmazonBasics-branded wire and someone else's that sells for less (plus shipping :) ) but, here's why I went with Amazon this time.
If you look carefully, you will find the probably hundreds of HDMI 'brands' offered at Amazon (exclude the 'premium') fall in about 3 'types' as far as pricing:
a - in the single-digits plus shipping
b - in the mid to high single digits that qualify for Super Savers free shipping
c - listed for as low as pennies plus shipping
This product may compete with 'a' on price but not with categories 'b' and 'c'. Category 'c' saves you a few dollars - and I did order a couple of these myself as well as one of the less expensive Amazon cables: AmazonBasics High Speed HDMI Cable (6.5 Feet / 2.0 Meters) [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging].
Amazon has a few extra advantages worth considering if you don't mind paying a little extra.
- EASY RETURN - I know because I had to return quite a few items for various reasons. Amazon makes it very easy and, if you are returning the item because it came defective or damaged Amazon pays for shipping.
- WARRANTY - these wires come with a 1-year warranty (talking about future-proofing). If an HDMI cable performs for one year, the ods that it would stop working after that are pretty close to zero. It's possible that the other vendors back their inexpensive cables too (I never checked) but I am highly confident that Amazon will be around to honor its warranty and I'm not so sure about vendors I know less.
- QUALITY ASSURANCE - I've never had any problems with 'cheap' HDMI cables but it may be reassuring to have Amazon's name on a wire. My assumption is that Amazon did insist on some quality checks before they stamped their logo on the product.HDMI Background and the FUD of Premium Cables
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Let's face it, HDMI 1.3x cables have become a commodity these days. There are 'premium' brands, for sure and some look prettier than others (for something that goes to the back of your equipment and no one else will probably see) but the fact is that nearly all of today's makes and models qualify for 'high-speed' or 'Category 2' (see HDMI 1.3 specs below). Just to eliminate the confusion, it's worth stating that: - Practically all HDMI 1.3x certified cables are HIGH-SPEED or CATEGORY 2. Only the Category 2 (high-speed) cables support 1080p resolutions.
- The HDMI official site advises that even HDMI cables under 15 ft. (5m) that were made BEFORE the HDMI 1.3 specification can work as Category 2 cables. The FUD claim that signal attenuation is less over a more expensive cable may be true, nut that's irrelevant on a 6 ft. length.
- The 'ultra high-speed' claim that some premium brands make means very little or 'nothing'. As far as I know, there is NO official HDMI specification for 'ultra high-speed' and, every time I checked the specs of cables labelled as 'ultra', all I saw was the familiar HDMI 1.3 specifications and nothing more.
- The 'premium', very expensive HDMI cables are NOT 'future proof'. The HDMI 1.4 specs that add an Ethernet channel, an audio return channel, support for 3-D and 4K by 2K resolution use a physically different connector - in other words, the highly-expensive and the ultra-expensive 'premium' cables do NOT work with HDMI 1.4.
- At this length - 6 ft., you will get as good a service from a no-brand or Amazon-labeled cable as you would from a super-expensive rip-off. Any HDMI 1.3 cable should be able to carry, error free, all the signal your electronic equipment may put out.________________________________________
Here are the HDMI 1.3 specs supported by this cable the premium brands and the less expensive alternatives:
Maximum signal bandwidth (MHz)340
Maximum TMDS bandwidth (Gbit/s)10.2
Maximum video bandwidth (Gbit/s) 8.16
Maximum audio bandwidth (Mbit/s) 36.86
Maximum Color Depth (bit/px)48
Maximum resolution over single link at 24-bit/px2560?1600p75
Maximum resolution over single link at 30-bit/px2560?1600p60
Maximum resolution over single link at 36-bit/px1920x1200p75
Maximum resolution over single link at 48-bit/px1920?1200p60
sRGB
YCbCr
8 channel LPCM/192 kHz/24-bit audio capability
Blu-ray Disc video and audio at full resolution
Consumer Electronic Control (CEC)
DVD-Audio support
Super Audio CD (DSD) support
Deep Color
xvYCC
Auto lip-sync
Dolby TrueHD bitstream capable
DTS-HD Master Audio bitstream capable
Updated list of CEC commands (only on HDMI 1.3a,b,c)
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AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Braided Cable (6.5 Feet/2.0 Meters)The AmazonBasics Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable Braided can help you obtain the maximum performance from your latest high-definition electronic devices. Use this two-meter-long cable to connect your HDTV to your cable box, satellite dish, Blu-Ray player, and more, and experience quality audio and video (up to 1080p) from your home.
Compatible with 3D TV Technology All current AmazonBasics HDMI cables support the latest HDMI compatible components and 3D TV functionality. The only element they do not currently support is Ethernet over HDMI.
Quality Picture and Sound
Backwards Compatible with Previous HDMI Standards The cable is backwards compatible with all previous HDMI standards, so you'll be able to use this cable with all your HDMI devices. When you connect two devices with different HDMI standards, they will automatically find the best available connection.
Shielding and Gold-Plated Connectors for Signal Purity This HDMI cable features shielding with a durable, black PVC outer layer. The shielding provides outstanding defense against outside interference and helps maintain the integrity and purity of the digital signal.
The cable also features gold-plated connectors that resist corrosion while offering optimal signal transfer with lower distortion at the point of contact. The result is sound and picture quality that is faithful to the original.
AmazonBasics: Quality Products at Low Prices AmazonBasics is a collection of consumer electronic "basics" created by combining quality and low prices for an overall focus on value.
Warranty and Helpful Hints This cable is backed by an AmazonBasics 1-year limited warranty. To view the full AmazonBasics warranty, click here. If you are having trouble connecting your components with this cable, click here for the AmazonBasics HDMI Helpful Hints Guide.
What's in the Box Quad-shielded High-Speed HDMI Braided (6.5 Feet / 2.0 meters) and warranty card.
Get 12% OFF
Click here for more information about AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Braided Cable (6.5 Feet/2.0 Meters)
