It never fails to happen with the latest in electronics whizbang. When some kind of new technology gets its start, it's as if you're the only one in your circle who gets it. Everyone comes to you and asks you, "Hey, do you know what this HDMI thing is all about?" And you're happy to tell them what you know and have them go away all impressed at how you keep abreast. And then, the technology begins to evolve. So rapidly does it go on that pretty soon, you have to be a participant technology really interested to know what's going on. These days, to buy HDMI cables, which should be simple enough, can be a major exercise in technology awareness. It's just that there are all those versions - 1.2, 1.3, 1.3a, b, c, d 1.4, 1.4a, etc. .. that you have to know about. What are all these, and there are different cables for them?
There is a reason why it's also messy, of course. The standard HDMI and the DVI standard that came before it, were all rather hastily put together without enough thought. They kept adding features over the years that they should have thought of to begin with. The question is this - do you need to worry about version numbers when you go out to buy HDMI cables?
Basically, the version number does not matter when you buy HDMI cables. Version numbers only apply to the equipment that you buy. All HDMI cables will work with all the equipment. All cables are the same for most purposes. You may see it printed on the packaging that a cable is 4.1 compliant. That only means that it's been tested with equipment that's 1.4-compliant, it does not mean that it's especially equipped to work with that standard.
If you do not want to really worry about version compatibility, there are just two version numbers that you need to think about - 1.2a and 1.3. Everything that's 1.2a and older, belongs to one class of cable and everything else, to another. But here too, unless you are a super-high-level videophile, there is practically no difference.
And finally, does it matter if you buy a certified HDMI cable - something that's certified for full HD 1080p? You've see these certifications on packages. So it's only understandable but you want it When you buy HDMI cables. But does it mean anything? The thing is, certification does not really mean anything for HDMI because the HDMI spec does not say anything about lots of important characteristics - cable length, for instance. Basically, when you buy from your favorite big box store and they say that their cables are certified for, say, 100 feet, there is no real testing that goes on. They just ask their vendor in China and accept whatever they're told. Basically, that should be good enough, right?
