HDMI was adopted by the AV industry as it headed towards digital video sources and displays, away from cathode ray tube and analogue devices.

One of the main causes of confusion regarding HDMI is the version numbering system – 1.2, 1.2a, 1.3, and eventually the current 1.3c. The HDMI protocol started as HDMI 1.0 then progressed to 1.1, 1.2, and 1.2a. Most of these versions were given a few additions to the protocol and a few tweaks but no great advances in the technology.

HDMI 1.3 had the same physical structure as previous versions but the format will be split between standard (category one) and high-speed (category two) cables. In October 2008 new trademark-use guidelines were applied stating that any 1.3-compatible device must be accompanied by a list of the 1.3 features it supports. Despite this, the market remains littered with non-compliant products, including those that are wrongly labelled, such as standard speed cables labelled as high speed.

You must also remember that an HDMI cable is an advanced piece of electronics technology comprising a very complex cable structure, so it must be treated with appropriate care. Ultimately the performance of an HDMI cable is dictated by its ability to pass the required bandwidth, and not by the size.

Many factors also affect the price of a HDMI cable. One of these is gold plating which does not serve as a particularly good conductor, but it will protect the connector from corrosion. A standard nickel-plated connector – the matte grey or silver-coloured connectors you may see on some cheaper gear – is the common alternative to gold plated. But such connectors may be susceptible to corrosion over time, as would bare brass, copper or silver.

The price of cables is a contentious point for many users, installers and manufacturers, but it needs to be tackled. Like many things, you can’t judge what is best by how much it costs. It’s easy to make an expensive cable, but not so easy to make a good one. In the market there is a high point and low point, and somewhere in the middle is usually the best value, but that’s up to the individual to gauge. Overall, as HDMI becomes more prevalent, there will be no going back to the component, composite or S-video. HDMI is here to stay.