With HD equipment, there are several different connection options, but choosing the right one is easy. Only HDMI is specially designed for high definition. HDMI stands for high definition multimedia interface. What makes HDMI different from other cable options? First, HDMI transmits a purely digital signal. This eliminates signal loss that can occur during analog conversion or external line interference. Second, HDMI has exceptional bandwidth, reaching up to 10.2 Gbps. A single HDMI 1.3 cable can transmit digital video and eight channels of audio. The analog equivalent of an HDMI connection would require a component video cable, consisting of three lines bundled together to separate the red, green, and blue video signals, and four pairs of stereo cables for audio. In other words, one HDMI cable is equivalent to eleven RCA cables. Knowing that most HD consumers use multiple devices, including HD cable or satellite boxes, HD tuners, HD-DVD or Blu-ray players, gaming systems, home theater systems, digital video recorders, televisions, etc., it's easy to see how Eleven cables per device can quickly make the back of an entertainment center look like a pile of color-coded spaghetti. With the latest HDMI 1.4 technology, expected to hit the market in 2010, manufacturers will soon push HDMI capabilities even further. HDMI 1.4 features include 3D video, Ethernet connectivity, and higher resolutions, all over the same single connection. With all the great features that HDMI already has to offer and all the future possibilities of what it can become when 1.4 technology is fully implemented, the question is not "Which cable should you use to connect your HD equipment? but 'Which HDMI cable should you...... middle of paper ......equipment they are connected to. The $50-100 saved on an inferior cable can cost a consumer thousands of dollars in damaged HD equipment. The last element to consider in the price of the HDMI cable is the length of the cable. As with any type of cable, over longer runs greater signal loss will occur. The same construction advantages that provide a sharper image at short lengths will help preserve that image on longer prints. However, consumers should be aware that distances greater than 15 to 20 feet may require an HDMI amplifier, regardless of cable. Despite the wide variety of connection options offered on HD equipment, connecting it with anything other than an HDMI cable doesn't make sense. . HDMI cables are the only cables designed for high definition. When shopping for the right connection, remember that those $5 cables may seem tempting, but those extra dollars pay for quality..