Connecting a television can't be difficult, can it? HDMI cable in and you're done. But does every HDMI connection provide the same functionality and quality? And what about multi-channel audio? Do you prefer apps on the TV or an external player? And does that still affect your connection? We explain.
Although there are sometimes other connectors on a television, HDMI has become the standard connection when it comes to consumer electronics. This digital connection provides image and sound in the best quality, and in some cases can even ensure that you control all devices with one remote control. However, there are still some things to keep in mind.
HDMI versions
Hdmi has been around for a long time (since 2003). In the meantime, there are already quite a few different versions. Explaining the differences in detail goes too far, but these are the main lines. Since version 1.4 there is support for arc and 3D and 4K can be used, but only to a limited extent (24 Hz with a color depth of 8 bit). Since version 2.0, hdmi also supports hdr and more variants of 4K. The latest version 2.1 offers a whole range of new functions, but is not yet widely available.
HDMI connections are always backwards compatible, so you can connect older versions to newer ones, but then you are of course limited to the functions of the oldest version.
The right cable
HDMI cables come in two main versions: Standard and High Speed. The Standard cables support a maximum of 720p and 1080i resolutions, so don't bother with those cables. Buy High Speed cables, which can handle anything up to 4K. Both versions exist in two variants: with and without Ethernet. Buy the variant with ethernet, because that is necessary if you want to use (e)arc.
HDMI cables labeled Premium High Speed are identical to High Speed cables, but are subject to additional testing to ensure they deliver the maximum bandwidth (18 Gbit/s, e.g. for 4K at 60 fps, color depth 8 bit and 4 :4:4 chrome). They have a special logo. In practice, almost all High Speed cables can do this, but they have not been tested for it.
Ultra High Speed cables are designed for extremely high resolutions (such as 8K). They have been proposed together with HDMI 2.1, but are not yet officially available. In any case, they will be compatible with your existing equipment.
In theory, cables should not be indicated with HDMI version numbers (an HDMI 2.0 cable does not exist), although this unfortunately often happens in practice. When purchasing, pay attention to the logo (we recommend High Speed with Ethernet), and if necessary, look in the features (4K60p, 2160p, hdr, etc.). For long cables (10 meters or more), consider using an active cable, which uses fiber optics to cover longer distances.
Cheap cable or expensive cable?
An HDMI cable shouldn't be expensive at all, and expensive cables definitely don't improve your image quality. So no deeper black, better detail or more intense colors with an expensive cable, that is completely impossible. If an HDMI cable fails, you will see one of the following three things: 'stars' in the image, an occasional dropout or no image at all. 'Asterisks' are random pixels that flash on and off, that too is usually immediately visible. If you have one of these problems, switch your source to a lower resolution or frame rate. If that solves the problem, then it is almost certainly the cable. With longer cables, the chance of problems is slightly higher, therefore they require slightly better quality and are often a bit more expensive.
Activate HDMI functions
HDMI does more than just transmit images and sound. For example, you can control some devices with your TV remote control thanks to CEC (Consumer Electronics Control). You often have to activate that function and manufacturers unfortunately all use their own name for it. In the menus, look for: Philips EasyLink, Sony Bravia Link, Samsung Anynet+, LG Simplink, or Panasonic Viera Link.
Some functions are not available on all HDMI connections of your television. Arc (Audio Return Channel), which transmits the sound from your television to your external sound system or soundbar, can in many cases only be used on one HDMI connection. It is then labeled with 'ARC'.
Game-specific features
Gamers switch their TV to game mode to ensure the lowest input lag. But on the latest TV models, you can also find some hdmi 2.1 features that are of interest to them. ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) must in some cases also be activated separately via the menus. HFR (High Frame Rate, concrete frame rates higher than 60 fps) is supported on some top models. For now, that is only important for console gamers, since they are the only sources of HFR content.
Bandwidth and Image Quality
HDMI 2.0 connections come in two variants: with 18 Gbit/s bandwidth and with 9 Gbit/s bandwidth. Why is that important? Because only 18Gbit/s connections support 4K with HDR. Connections with 9 Gbit/s are limited to 4K at 24 fps, without HDR. Unfortunately, this is not always clearly stated in the specifications of a TV, but you can discover it. For example, it is possible that only one or two of the four HDMI connections provide the full bandwidth. If the manual or specifications state that you can deliver up to 4K at 60 fps on a certain HDMI connection, then you can safely assume that it is an 18Gbit/s version.
On some models, you need to switch the HDMI setting to 'enhanced mode' so that the TV can 'tell' a connected player that it supports the best possible HDR quality. This happens automatically on many TVs, but you sometimes have to dive into the menus for this too. Of course you can only adjust that setting on an 18Gbit/s connection. And here too, manufacturers often use different names.
Please note, some older devices (especially some set-top boxes for digital TV) no longer provide sound if you put the HDMI connection in 'enhanced' mode. So only set the connections to which you connect an HDR-capable device in 'enhanced' mode.
External players or internal source?
For the best quality, is it best to use the built-in streaming apps on your TV or an external player? In most cases this makes little difference. Often a TV's built-in apps are the easiest choice. If the built-in Netflix delivers 4K HDR (possibly with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos), you will certainly not get a better result from an external player. YouTube must be able to deliver 4K HDR10 and 4K HLG.
If you do connect an external player, take the recommendations from the previous section into account. If you use an external audio system, be sure to read the next section. Set the player to 4K resolution (or Auto).
If you have the option to choose a particular Chroma subsampling scheme, choose 4:2:0, because that's how almost all video is saved. With 4:2:0 color information is compressed, so that less data passes over the cable. Only choose 4:4:4 as subsampling if you are sure that your player's chroma upscaler is better than the TV's.
arc and earc
Arc (Audio Return Channel) and earc (extended arc, new since hdmi 2.1) deserve some extra attention. The concept behind arc is simple: those who opt for better sound and use a soundbar or AV receiver, connect their sources to the soundbar or AV receiver.
But what should you do with the sound from sources on your TV (built-in tuners, Netflix, USB, etc.)? Normally you need a separate cable for this, often a digital optical cable from your TV to the soundbar/receiver. With hdmi arc, that's not necessary: the TV uses the HDMI cable that runs from your audio system to your TV (which only brings image to your TV) to pass the audio from internal TV sources to your audio system. For this, both your TV and your audio system must have an HDMI port with the arc function. You connect them with an HDMI cable with Ethernet (High Speed with Ethernet) ... and you're done!
Again, you sometimes have to look in the settings to ensure the correct and best configuration. In the sound menu of the TV, select that you are using an external audio system, and select the option to output 'bitstream' audio if possible. This way you guarantee that any processing is done by your audio system. Don't choose 'PCM', because in that case all processing happens in the TV, and you may lose surround information.
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos is a new surround format where sound even seems to come from above you. Although some TV models can play Atmos tracks themselves, the result is usually meager. For maximum effect, use an Atmos soundbar or AV receiver. Always make sure that your audio source (TV or external player) outputs 'bitstream' audio, not 'PCM'. For example, your audio system can take care of the decoding of the Atmos information.
Preferably connect players directly to the audio system. If you still have to connect your Blu-ray player to the TV because there are not enough connections on the soundbar, you can only send Atmos tracks that are in a Dolby True HD stream via earc. If you only have arc, you can only listen to Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus streams.
Older connections
You will find even older analog connections on many televisions. This concerns composite video (yellow RCA plug), and component video (red, green and blue RCA plug). You only use these connections if there is absolutely no other way. The quality of composite video is very poor (maximum SD 576p, with a lot of image errors), component video still delivers reasonable results (can go up to full hd). You can use a VGA connection if you want to connect an older computer or laptop, also up to a maximum of Full HD with decent quality.
In all these cases you have to rely on analog stereo (red and white RCA plug, or stereo minijack) for audio. Again, only use these connections if absolutely necessary.
The only older connection that may still be important is the digital optical audio output. Some soundbars do not have HDMI and can therefore only be connected to the TV via this type of connection.
