HDMI Means Multimedia
HDMI is a fully digital connection that allows both high definition audio and video to pass through a single cable, which means far less tangle behind the hi-fi cabinet and vastly simplified connections for all your high definition audio/video components, such as HDTVs, HD set-top boxes, the Sony Playstation 3 or Microsoft Xbox 360 gaming consoles, Blu-ray players or even upscaling DVD players.
In theory.
In practice, however, you'll find that unless you've bought everything very recently, you might have some trouble getting the most from your HDMI devices. But let's first go through the very real advantages of HDMI.
HDMI Means a Better Picture
Unlike older, analogue video cabling standards like the now antiquated composite, S-Video, component and even the computer-oriented VGA (D-subminiature), HDMI transmits digital video. This means, that just like digital audio cables before it, the highest possible quality is maintained without any signal degradation throughout the component chain. It is also capable of a higher screen resolution than the older digital video connection: DVI-D.
Not only is the signal digital, but it supports much higher resolution and richer colour than all analogue connectors, barring VGA. If you have bought - or are going to buy - an upscaling DVD player, high-definition set top box or a Blu-ray player, and you have a full HD display or TV set, then you are going to need an HDMI connection to see things at full 1080p resolution.
HDMI Means Better Sound
While the old S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) signal that passed through TOSLINK (optical) and RCA (coaxial) cables was limited by bandwidth to a compressed 5.1 channels. HDMI allows linear (uncompressed) or lossless, extremely high resolution and dynamic range audio in up to 8 channels.
If this statement went flying above your head, let's explain a little. Dolby Digital and DTS, the surround sound formats you know from DVD, are heavily compressed (like MP3s) to save space on the disc and to be streamed through a more primitive cable system. Compression was a necessary evil on DVD that unfortunately reduced quality. Blu-ray now features compressed audio that is "lossless": the compression saves some space but there is literally no loss in quality at all. The sound is identical to what you'd hear in the cinema, in some cases it's literally exactly the same signal. There are two competing lossless formats: Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio, and a third uncompressed format called LPCM (Linear Pulse Code Modulation). Not only are these formats lossless, but they are also higher resolution than DVD, which is to say that they are capable of more detail, lower bass, higher treble, and greater differentiation between loud and soft - the sound is better in every way.
Sounds great, doesn't it? It is, but let's get to the potentially problematic bits.
"What's All This About 'Copy Protection'?"
One of the consumer-end downsides of the HDMI standard is that it has allowed the implementation of "digital rights management" or DRM. Basically, without substantial (and illegal) jiggery-pokery you will not be able to do anything with an HDMI signal except watching and listening. Putting aside all the usual ethical and fair use debate, your TV and audio receiver do actually need to be compliant with this DRM - called HDCP (High Definition Copy Protection) - or you will not be able to watch things in full 1080p resolution. Nearly every single HDMI device is compliant, so it's only a concern if you're passing the signal to a DVI-D port.
"My TV Doesn't Have an HDMI Port, Do I Have to Buy a New TV?"
If you have a high-definition display that predated HDMI, you might still be in luck. HDMI video is compatible with DVI-D by mean of an adaptor dongle or specialised cable. Unfortunately, this is only the case providing that the DVI-D port has the aforementioned HDCP enabled. And again, this is only the Video signal. To get the new high-definition audio you need an HDMI capable receiver.
"My Receiver Doesn't Have an HDMI Port, Do I Have to Buy a New Receiver?"
Technically, no, but it means that you're going to miss out on the new audio formats. Some Blu-ray players decode the signal and put out discrete analogue audio via RCA cables that you can plug into any old receiver with a multichannel input, but these are rare. All of them will put out older digital signals, Blu-ray discs usually feature an extra older-format soundtrack for this purpose. At the very worst, you will be reduced to listening to your new high-definition discs in plain old two channel stereo.
The other drawback is that you won't be able to switch sources exclusively on your receiver. You will have to change the video source on your TV set and audio source on your receiver. Nothing serious, but a bother if you have a short attention span. Also, the inconvenience of more cabling. If your audiovisual aspirations are subject to the dreaded WAF (Wife Approval Factor), HDMI is a fantastic way to streamline the unsightly explosion of cables.
Also, there's the little complication of which HDMI version you're running...
"Wait, HDMI Versions? Help!"
To quote a wise man: don't panic. HDMI has gone through a few changes. Starting with HDMI 1.0, we are now on HDMI 1.3b. All HDMI cables will fit all HDMI sockets, but some of the latest features are only supported on the latest devices. Happily, this is not always a problem.
The primary feature difference of concern to most tech-savvy buyers is the support of the new audio formats, but logically, if you have a receiver that can decode them, then it will definitely have a HDMI version that supports them. If your receiver predates the new audio formats, but has HDMI, then you will almost certainly be able to convert the signal to perfect LPCM on your Blu-ray player with no loss in quality.
Essentially, HDMI will always work, but it won't allow you to do anything that your existing equipment can't do.
"Why are HDMI Cables So Expensive?"
Two words: price gouging. Most brick and mortar retailers bank on you needing the cable to use your new high-definition purchase when you get home, so they place a vast markup on them because they can. It's similar to the old scam of selling USB cables for half the price again of the semi-disposable printer you just bought. You can find cheap HDMI cables online much more easily than you will in a shopping mall. Really, you shouldn't pay terribly much more than for any other cable.
Do not listen to the justifications offered by salesmen. HDMI cables are digital. The signal consists only of "on" and "off" pulses. There is literally no difference in picture or sound quality between the cheapest HDMI cable or the most ruinously expensive one. Build quality does vary, but unless you frequently move your TV or have a possum infestation it hardly matters.
That said, there is unfortunately one area where cable quality does matter: long cable runs. Over very long distances (five metres or more), some cables will simply fail to transmit due to signal attentuation, the receiving device cannot resolve between on and off signals. This is not a slight decrease in quality, but a complete transmission failure, either with shocking picture breakup or no picture at all. Were this to happen, you would be able to replace your cable as defective. The solution is to buy cheaply and see if it works. If not, simply return and replace with a slightly more expensive cable. For extreme lengths, such as multi-room installations, professionally-fitted HDMI repeaters and signal boosters are highly recommended.
In short, HDMI is the present and foreseeable future of home entertainment connectivity. There's no reason not to dive right in.
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