Paul Rako, the Technical Editor at EDN has a good blog post on $10 and $140 HDMI cables spurred by the Christian Science Monitor article Why are HDMI cables so expensive?

Just a discerning audiophile having no real experience in home video, not owning a TV myself or feeling the need to ever own one.  I don’t think I would fully trust a reviewer at the CSM. Chris Gaylord, who wrote the article, is the editor of “Innovation” at CMS and if we give him the benefit of the doubt he probably knows stuff.  But does he really know how to tell the difference of high quality hi-def components?  There is so much to know at “Innovation” editor and HDMI cables are so specific.

Well, either way, Paul Rako post is worth the couple min of read time.  You may learn something.

BTW - the quick answer is NO.  There is no difference.  But you’d have to see for yourself.

via: EDN

ORLANDO, Fla., June 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Belden (NYSE: BDC), a world leader in the development of signal transmission products for enterprise, industrial, building management, broadcast, and security applications, demonstrates the unique cable performance properties of their HDMI cable by running an unamplified 1080p/60 digital video signal 100 feet from a generic Blu-ray Disc player to a generic 1080p/60 display. This demonstration will be featured live throughout the InfoComm/NSCA tradeshow in Orlando, Florida June 17-19, 2009.

“All HDMI cables are manufactured offshore in Asia, with one exception: the HDMI cable made by Belden,” states Steve Lampen, Product Line Manager at Belden. He continues, “However, this is just raw bulk cable. To be turned into assemblies, our partner Blue Jeans Cable (www.bluejeanscable.com) sends our bulk cable to China where it is cut and assembled with connectors. We currently make this raw cable in two gauge sizes, 23.5 AWG and 28 AWG, of which the 23.5 AWG is being demonstrated here at InfoComm, running what many say is impossible: a crystal clear 1080p/60 digital video signal over 100 feet.”

read the rest at hd.broadcastnewsroom.com

source: hd.broadcastnewsroom.com

www.bluejeanscable.com

Blue Jeans Cable gets a lot of respect on the audioREVIEW forums.

Developed in Collaboration With RedMere, New Powered SuperThin Cables for HDMI Are Ideal for Elegant Flat-Panel TV Installations and Use with Mobile HD Devices

Monster, the world’s leading manufacturer of cables, AV accessories, and power conditioning products, today announced the introduction of a new line of “Powered” SuperThin Cables™ for HDMI™ Cables specifically designed for use with a wide variety of electronics devices, ranging from today’s super-slim flat-panel TVs to digital video cameras, home theater systems, gaming systems or portable computers. The new Monster SuperThin Cables for HDMI are the first fruits of a recently announced collaboration with RedMere, a leader in advanced silicon chip development. Monster Super Thin Cable for HDMI products will be available in 4-, 8-, and 16-foot versions in the DigitalLife line of products (DL HDMI HSMI-4, DL HDMI HSMI-8, DL HDMI HSMI-16). Monster’s Core line of cables for HDMI will also offer a SuperThin cable design in 1, 2, 4 and 5 meter lengths.

read more on eCoustics, details and stats….

source: eCoustics

Mount Vernon, N Y. Key Digital, Inc, the Experts in Digital Video Technology and Solutions, is proud to announce the launch of the KD-VPHD3 Video/Audio Processor & Switcher for commercial and residential markets.

This processor is a new addition to the popular HD Hot Rod Series of video and audio products. Among its features are video processing techniques using numerous proprietary technologies which include Key Digital’s Clear Matrix Pro and SDS (Super Digital Scaling) circuits. These circuits allow deinterlacing and up converting from virtually any standard digital or analog source to the resolution of the video display being used including 720p, 1080i and 1080p HD resolutions.

The sophisticated hardware and software incorporated in the KD-VPHD3 allows for superior interconnectivity of analog and digital video sources without the typical connection glitches found with many other products that output HDMI signals. This connectivity enables the KD-VPHD3 to act as a universal distribution center for any HDMI or component video source. The KD-VPHD3 has full HD 1080p output and takes advantage of the recently introduced HDMI 1.3 standard.

Additionally the KD-VPHD3 allows for individual customization of aspect ratio, brightness, contrast, hue, edge enhancement and image position for every input source. This feature allows the user to have the maximum performance available from each device connected to the KD-VPHD3.

Michael Lakhter, VP of Sales for Key Digital stated, “The KD-VPHD3 offers the finest in state-of-the-art performance for scaling and deinterlacing video signals. Additionally, the KD-VPHD3 has a complete set of connection options including accommodations for computers via its VGA input. This input is then processed to the digital HDMI output for connection to a digital video display.” KD-VPHD3 supports control systems via RS-232/IR such as: AMX, Control4, Crestron, Colorado Vnet, Home Logic, Lifeware, RTI, Savant, Universal Remote Control, Xantech and many others. <

The KD-VPHD3 is currently shipping and has a suggested MSRP of $2,500

Sunnyvale, Calif. — The licensing agency for the HDMI digital connection standard formally unveiled Thursday the HDMI version 1.4 specifications, which among other things will enable bi-directional communication allowing networking capabilities with Ethernet devices, and upstream audio transmissions.

HDMI 1.4 includes an HDMI Ethernet Channel (HEC) enabling data transfers of up to 100Mbps between supported connected devices, said the HDMI LLC, the agent responsible for licensing HDMI specifications.

The bi-directional connection allows a broadband-connected television using its HEC-enabled HDMI port to provide Internet connection sharing with another HEC-enabled device, such as a game console or DVR.

The HEC will require new HDMI 1.4 cables, which will be offered in two performance levels of low- and high-data rates.

read more on twice.com

source: twice.com