Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Which HDMI cable?
- Thread starter mrsmith1
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
you don't need super premium cables. If the cable supports the spec, then it supports the spec.
as long as they're HDMI 2.1, you're good to go
mono price has them, or the Best Buy essentials, or tons on amazon, All for a tiny fraction of the price of the cables mentioned in the last post.
as long as they're HDMI 2.1, you're good to go
mono price has them, or the Best Buy essentials, or tons on amazon, All for a tiny fraction of the price of the cables mentioned in the last post.
Just make sure that the cable is certified.
www.hdmi.org
HDMI Cables - Different Cable Types
HDMI cable overview with the different HDMI cable types, their port capabilities, and how to tell the HDMI connector types apart. HDMI 2.1b
If it’s called an “HDMI 2.1 cable” it does not support the spec. HDMI does not allow the use of the Specification Version Number in its officially licensed, certified products.
The cables which support 1080p60 are called HDMI High Speed and High Speed with Ethernet
The cables which support up to 4K60 are called HDMI Premium High Speed and Premium High Speed with Ethernet
The cables which support up to 8K, and transport up to 48 Gpbs are called HDMI Ultra High Speed
The Premium and Ultra certified cables carry holographic labels with a QR code which can be used to identify them as certified compatible.
Just get the Belkin one that Apple sells. That’s what I use on both of mine.
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/...d85a2798114b7b6d73219d920ab2e71dbc48089803872
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/...d85a2798114b7b6d73219d920ab2e71dbc48089803872
I have always used the Amazon Basics cables and they've been fine for my 4k/60 requirements.
I use an AppleTV 4k 2nd gen, Zidoo z9x, LG 4k UHD disc player, and Anthem avm70 processor.
I use an AppleTV 4k 2nd gen, Zidoo z9x, LG 4k UHD disc player, and Anthem avm70 processor.
You could get 6 Amazon Basics HDMI cables for that price and they will perform exactly the same.
The question is, without certification, how can you believe the manufacturer?
"In this day and age of marketing, it seems that every product out there can claim just about anything with little to no fact-checking".
"With so many cable possibilities and requirements, it places the consumer in an electronic jungle faced with scores of options and little refuge. Current Digital Video television has up to four different resolution standards (2K, 4K, 8K, and 10K), a host of color attributes, and several different audio functions all requiring certain Published minimums (Figure 1). With so many different features available to the consumer the selection process becomes more difficult"
Paywall:
All my cables are Audioquest Carbon.
Last edited:
Yes, there are differences in HDMI cables.
I do not recommend the Amazon Basics cables since they are only 18 Gbps cables. The Belkin cable mentioned earlier is a 48 Gbps cable and is certified. Do not waste your money on the AudioQuest cables.
Here is some opinion of the marketing hype of the AudioQuest claims:
And some discussion about their speaker cables:
I do not recommend the Amazon Basics cables since they are only 18 Gbps cables. The Belkin cable mentioned earlier is a 48 Gbps cable and is certified. Do not waste your money on the AudioQuest cables.
Here is some opinion of the marketing hype of the AudioQuest claims:
AudioQuest Perfect Surface copper/grain snakeoil nonsense? - Page 1
AudioQuest Perfect Surface copper/grain snakeoil nonsense? - Page 1
www.eevblog.com
And some discussion about their speaker cables:
Video called "Hear Sound Loss in Speaker Cable" - Page 1
Video called "Hear Sound Loss in Speaker Cable" - Page 1
www.eevblog.com
Last edited:
Nothing on the Apple TV 4K requires more than a 18 Gbps cable. Having a higher bandwidth cable isn't going to result in picture quality differences.
4K HDR at 4:4:4 colour depth requires more than 18 Gbps. It also helps to future proof for the next ATV version.
4:4:4 10bit is not a part of the HDMI 2.0 standard and Apple TV doesn't actually support HDMI 2.1 fully so again you don't need a higher bandwidth cable.
Apple does support 4:4:4
Adjust video and audio settings on Apple TV
On Apple TV, you can adjust audio and video settings, reduce loudness, set subtitle and audio languages, send audio to other speakers, and more.
support.apple.com
The current ATV supports 2.1. If you like to buy cables every time you upgrade the ATV, buy the cheaper cable.
Apple TV 4K - Technical Specifications
View the tech specs for Apple TV 4K and the Siri Remote — including size, weight, capacity, ports, and more.
www.apple.com
Last edited:
Yes, but not 10bit which is what would use more than 18Gbps. Again, more than 18Gbps cables aren't needed. You can use one just fine but it will not result in any bit of difference in quality.Apple does support 4:4:4
Adjust video and audio settings on Apple TV
On Apple TV, you can adjust audio and video settings, reduce loudness, set subtitle and audio languages, send audio to other speakers, and more.support.apple.com
The current ATV supports 2.1. If you like to buy cables every time you upgrade the ATV, buy the cheaper cable.
Apple TV 4K - Technical Specifications
View the tech specs for Apple TV 4K and the Siri Remote — including size, weight, capacity, ports, and more.www.apple.com
Thanks for clarifying. Lots of technical info and some posts with otherwise good intentions are misinformation.
Yes, opinions.
There are other sources which come to the opposite conclusion, such as:
I was skeptical but went from Pearl to Forest it was like my TV was calibrated
Crutchfield - Seriously Into Audio Since 1974
Read what Crutchfield customers have to say about the AudioQuest Cinnamon 48 (3 meters/10 feet) Ultra High Speed 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 cable with Ethernet.
www.crutchfield.com
AudioQuest HDMI Cable Review Series: Pearl 18, BlueBerry 18, Cherry Cola 48, Cinnamon 48, and ThunderBird 48
In our latest installment of HDMI TEST BENCH, we tackle five different models and eight different lengths of AudioQuest HDMI cables to give you a good idea of whether or not they're fluff, or have the right stuff to reliably transmit digital bits between the various components in your media or...
Many of the contributors to the cited forum are engineers with decades of experience designing electronic devices. They point out there is a lack of evidence to back up many of the claims. Their opinions are very likely more informed than the average customer review.
I do not disagree with some of the customer reviews. The cables appear to be certified and very likely work well. I am drawing attention to the point there is no material performance benefit to the user to use one instead of the less expensive 48 Gbps Belkin cable cited earlier in this thread. Both cables are certified to meet the HDMI specification and therefore have the same performance when used for their intended purpose. There maybe qualitative reasons for someone having a preference for AudioQuest such as colour, look, feel. There could also be some differences that affect durability that are outside the HDMI specification. If you prefer these qualitative differences and they are worth the difference in price you pay that is ok as well.
AppleTV definitely supports 10 bit video. Here is a copy of the supported video formats cited in my earlier post taken from Apple's web site. Dolby Vision, HDR10+/HDR10/HLG with HEVC (Main 10 Profile) all have 10 bit Codecs.
Code:
Video Formats
SDR video with AVC/HEVC (Main/Main 10 profile) up to 2160p, 60 fps
Dolby Vision (Profile 5) up to 2160p, 60 fps
HDR10+/HDR10/HLG with HEVC (Main 10 Profile) up to 2160p, 60 fps
H.264 Baseline Profile level 3.0 or lower with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats
MPEG-4 video up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 fps, Simple profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats
HDMI Quick Media Switching (QMS) for seamless format transitions10bit support for 4k60 requires HDMI 2.1 which the Apple TV 4K doesn't support (other than earc) though they claim 2.1 support. It is unfortunate that companies are allowed to claim HDMI 2.1 support when they don't truly support it but it is allowed for some reason.
Yes, they added QMS after release. It doesn't require a higher bandwidth cable though.