HDMI cables are among the important components of a television system especially if you want to utilize the system to its full potential. They connect video source components like set-top boxes, streaming devices, game consoles with TV screens and audio/visual receivers. At present, HDMI standards have evolved over time to transfer and handle high-density (HD) data transfers.

When you decide to upgrade your 1080p HD TV to 4K HDR TV, it takes a lot more effort than just buying a new screen. It becomes a compulsion for each and every component to be compatible with 4K HDR TV and should be able to handle HD content. While upgrading to 4K HDR TV, the major pain point is to find suitable cables. Sometimes when you upgrade to 4K HDR, your current HDMI cables might give you a lesser quality picture than the actual quality.

The Good news is that current cables are capable to carry a 4K HDR video signal. But it can be difficult to be certain whether a particular cable is appropriate for the device. Here’s what you need to know to make sure that you select the right cables while upgrading to 4K HDR TV.

Certification Types

There are four types of certification standards available for HDMI cables for home use. Standard certified cables are capable of transmitting 1080i or 720p video. In Standard cables, there are two varieties available. One with an ethernet channel and one without it. Another standard type is High-Speed cables which transmit video resolutions from 1080p to 4K. They are available in both Ethernet and non-ethernet versions. Premium High-Speed HDMI certified cables are capable of high-quality 4K performance.

Which HDMI cable is suitable for 4K HDR?

When it comes to choosing a cable, which supports the 4K HDR quality, any cable certified as High-Speed is likely to perform the 2.1 a and b standards. This means that all High-Speed cables need to perform more-or-less the same with each version of the certification standard.

This doesn’t encourage a belief that all High-Speed HDMI cables should transmit 4K at 60 fps with HDR. And with cables, the older a cable is, the more likely it is to develop a flaw that hinders 4K HDR performance. Even the cheap and low-quality cables are more likely to wear out quickly.

Additionally, all the cables do not contain the same high standards. For instance, cables which barely passed certification when manufactured in 2010, when high-speed cables tested version 1.4, may not be capable to transmit 4K resolutions at 60 fps.

Lastly, a certified cable may not be exactly as same as the cable available for purchase. Any cable’s certification for a particular cable model lasts until that model changes. And if there are any changes in the components that make up for that particular cable model, then the certification won’t expire for that model. There are chances that manufacturers may source different components to different suppliers whenever they need a new production run. The re-certification of the new cables is not compulsory even though the changed components may affect the cable performance in the long run.

All the types of High-Speed HDMI cables are supposed to and will carry 4K video signal. One important thing to note here is that if your cable model is 2009 model or plus, your 4K content should reach your screen properly. If your cable is a tested version 1.4, it should carry 4K but it might not perform as well as you anticipated.

Here is the summarized information you would want to know:

Certification standard:

Standard:

• Pre-1.4 version released before 2009 would not support 4K or HDR
  

High-Speed:

• Version 1.4 released in 2009 is capable to handle 4K, ARC and ethernet resolution
  
• Version 2.0 released in 2013 is capable to handle 4K resolution at 60 fps
• Version 2.0 a and b released in 2015, 16 have certifications for HDR

Premium High Speed:

• These cables have stricter testing for 4K 60 fps. They have expanded color support capacities

Here is a detailed summary of the article to help you out:

• If your cables are purchased after 2009, they are likely to transmit 4K resolution and HDR.
• If HDR, 4K resolution at 60 fps or the extended color palette is important for you, then your old cables are definitely not going work for you.
• To make sure that you buy a quality cable with the best possible performance, buy cables which are marketed as Premium High-Speed HDMI.

This Article is Originally posted here; How To Choose the Right HDMI Cables After Upgrading To 4K HDR TV