Do you need expensive HDMI cables? For most homes, the honest answer is no. I’ve been connecting TVs across the Northern Beaches and North Shore since 2002. And the cables I carry in my car are nothing fancy. Here’s what actually matters when you buy one, and what’s just marketing.

Why Expensive HDMI Cables Don’t Give a Better Picture

HDMI is a digital signal. In simple terms, the picture and sound either get through or they don’t. A pricey cable can’t make the colours richer or the sound clearer.

When a cable isn’t up to the job, you’ll know about it. You might see sparkles or flickering, the picture might drop out, or the sound might cut in and out. I see that now and then, but it’s usually an old cable or a damaged plug, not a cheap one.

Is Gold Plating Worth It?

Gold-plated plugs look the part, but they don’t improve the picture. Gold does resist corrosion, though. So in a humid spot, like a home close to the beach, it may help the plugs last longer. Still, it’s a nice extra, not a reason to buy expensive HDMI cables.

Which Cable Does Your Northern Beaches Home Need?

Instead of price, look at the type of cable. Each type handles a certain amount of data, and the official name should be on the box:

Premium High Speed: handles 4K at 60Hz with HDR. That covers most TVs, Foxtel boxes and streaming boxes like an Apple TV.
Ultra High Speed: handles 4K at 120Hz and 8K. It’s the one to get for a PS5 or Xbox Series X. It’s also a safe choice for a soundbar on eARC.
Ultra96: the newest type, which is only just starting to appear. No TV or games console can use its full speed yet, so there’s no need to rush out and buy one.

Also look for the official certification label on the box. It has a QR code you can scan to check that the cable is genuine and has passed testing.

A soundbar connected by HDMI goes into the TV’s port marked eARC or ARC. Older soundbars, like the Sonos Playbar, use an optical cable instead. Every so often, a TV and soundbar just won’t talk properly over HDMI. When that happens, I connect them with an optical cable instead.

Do HDMI Cables Work the Same Over Longer Lengths?

Not quite. The longer the cable, the weaker the signal gets. Over a couple of metres, you won’t notice any difference. But on longer runs, the cable type starts to matter.

As a rough guide, an Ultra High Speed cable is reliable to about 3m for 4K gaming at 120Hz. For 4K at 60Hz, a good cable can usually go a bit further, to around 5m. Beyond that, you’d look at an active or fibre optic HDMI cable, which has electronics built in to boost the signal. Fibre optic ones only work one way, so each end has a label showing whether it goes to the source or the TV. They also don’t like sharp bends.

In practice, I carry 2m and 4m cables in the car, and I’ve never needed a fibre optic one. My tip is to buy the length you need, rather than a much longer cable coiled up behind the TV.

Hiding HDMI Cables in the Wall

Once a cable is inside the wall, it’s much harder to replace. That’s why it pays to use a reliable cable from the start. I’ve never had a problem with the cables I use. Even so, some customers like a spare cable in the wall, in case they add a device later.

Sometimes I also leave a pull cord in the wall. That way, I can pull a new cable through later without opening up the wall.

What Usually Breaks a Cable

In my experience, cables rarely just wear out. Instead, the plug end breaks. That usually happens when someone yanks the cable out by the cord rather than the plug. It also happens when someone moves a TV on a swivel bracket in and out all the time. Each time, the cable bends at the plug.

So pull out a cable by the plug, not the cord. And if you have a swivel bracket, pick an angle and leave it there.

Need HDMI Cables Sorted on the Northern Beaches or North Shore?

When I install your TV, I connect everything with the right cable. That might be the one in the box, one you’ve bought or one of mine. Either way, you won’t need expensive HDMI cables to get a great picture

Get in touch through the contact page or send a message to book your TV installation on the Northern Beaches or North Shore.