How to Compare HDMI Cables
Price - If price is your only consideration, then you'll want to buy the cheapest HDMI cable you can find. However, be aware that cheapest is not the best (and neither is most expensive in many cases) Therefore, price should not be your only consideration.
Descriptions - Many sellers, including us, will use terms such as "Best, Premium, Superior, Ultimate" when describing HDMI Cables. There really is no such thing or "grades" of HDMI cables; these are just attention-getters. There are no specifications or guidelines in the manufacture or distribution of HDMI cables for any of these descriptive terms. Therefore, they are of no value when comparing the actual quality of HDMI cables.
AWG (American Wire Guage) - Basically, the lower the AWG, the thicker and better quality the cable. 28 AWG is thicker than 30 AWG, 26 AWG is thicker than 28 AWG, etc. (the thinnest HDMI Cables are 32AWG) Also, signal transfer capabilities are improved with lower AWG. This is especially important when using longer HDMI cables as cable distance can present challenges in HDMI installations.
If the seller does not specify the AWG of their cables, why not? This is very basic information and an important consideration when comparing or purchasing an HDMI Cable. If the AWG is not specified, ask.
Quality of Construction - includes the cable ends and whether they're gold-plated to prevent corrosion, the quality of the cable jacket, the quality of materials inside the cable (shielding, conductors, insulation, type of wire, etc.) plus the specifications of the cable.
Certified/Licensed HDMI Cable - Only HDMI Cables which have passed the testing of an Authorized Testing Center are guaranteed to meet all of the specifications of that particular HDMI standard. (HDMI 1.3, 1.4, etc.) Cables which have not received this certification may or may not meet all of the specifications of their particular HDMI standard.
Installations and Distance - For HDMI installations of 30 feet or longer, HDMI cables should be Minimum 24 AWG. Cables with a higher AWG (higher AWG equals thinner wire) are likely not able to carry the full signal over this distance which will result in your HDMI signal being degraded between your source and display (i.e. 1080p to 720p or 480p) Our manufacturer won't produce HDMI cables longer than 30 feet with higher AWGs for this very reason. Any HDMI installations with cable runs beyond 30 feet may require an HDMI repeater (booster) to achieve the full HDMI signal over these distances.
HDMI Versions -
HDMI 1.3 - This version includes improvements in both audio and video capability. With the advent of Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD, version 1.3 adds the ability to transfer the digital bitstreams for the new high resolution audio formats: Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD.
HDMI 1.3a - In addition to the above audio improvements, HDMI 1.3 and 1.3a increase the amount of video bandwidth that can be transferred from a source to a display. HDMI 1.3 and 1.3a have the ability to transfer color depths up to 48-bits, and can accommodate resolutions much higher than the 1080p resolution standard that is in use today.
HDMI 1.4 - HDMI version 1.4 adds practical enhancements for HDMI connectivity. If home theater components, such as HDTVs, Blu-ray Disc players, and Home Theater Receivers, are HDMI 1.4 enabled, one or more of the following features can be implemented:
1. HDMI Ethernet Channel: This adds internet and home network connectivity to HDMI. In other words, both Ethernet and HDMI functions are available within a single cable connection.
2. Audio Return Channel: This may be the most practical application of HDMI 1.4. What this feature provides is a single HDMI connection between a TV and a home theater receiver that can not only pass audio/video signals from the receiver to the TV, but also pass audio originating from the TV's tuner to the receiver. In other words, when listening to audio accessed by the TV's tuner, you don't need a separate audio connection going from the TV to the home theater receiver.
3. 3D Over HDMI: HDMI 1.4 is designed to accommodate all 3D TV and Blu-ray Disc standards, with the capacity of passing two simultaneous 1080p signals using one connection.
4. 4Kx2K Resolution Support: Although the current high definition standard for consumer equipment tops out at 1920x1080 (1080p), HDMI 1.4 can accommodate future 3840x2160 and 4096x2160 high definition pixel resolutions.
5. Expanded Support For Color Spaces: This allows better color reproduction when displaying digital still photos from HDMI-connected Digital Still Cameras.
Choosing Between 1.3 and 1.4 Versions -
If all of your HD devices are 1.3 and you're not planning to make new purchases or upgrade anytime soon, 1.3 HDMI cables are right for you.
If you're buying HDMI cables for the first time, we'd recommend you purchase the newest 1.4 version as it's a major upgrade to HDMI. It will work with all 1.3 devices and 1.4 devices and will deliver all of the features and functionality of new 1.4 devices. Therefore, if you ever add 1.4 HDMI devices, you won't have to replace your cables.
If you have purchased any HDMI 1.4 device, purchase HDMI 1.4 cables. (1.3 cables will work but do not have all of the features and functionality of 1.4 cables)
Brand Name or Generic Cables? - With HDMI cables, the signal is digital - it is either perfect or there is no signal at all. It has been proven over and over again that generic certified cables will perform as well as Brand Name cables. Again, compare price, quality, AWG, specs, and construction to guide you. (Do brand name fakes exist? - yes!)
Compatibility - All Certified HDMI Cables are backward compatible with previous HDMI versions.
Warranty - Make sure you have some protection. We offer a lifetime guarantee on all of our HDMI cables. Full refund or exchange if item arrives D.O.A. (Dead on Arrival), not as described, or stops working under normal operating conditions. | 
) 
