Question: I am shopping for an HDTV and I keep hearing about HDMI connectors. Do I need this and what is HDMI?

Answer: HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface. The main thing you need to know about HDMI cables and connectors is that they carry both high definition digital video and digital audio on a single cable thus reducing cable clutter while providing the best picture and sound quality. With compatible equipment, you can run HDMI cables from your video source(s) to your surround-sound receiver and from your receiver to your HDTV. Or you can run them directly from your DVD player to your HDTV.

HDMI – An Upgrade to DVI

HDMI is actually an update of DVI, but unlike many DVI devices HDMI-compatible hardware can transmit the copy-protection data necessary to allow Blu-ray Disc movies to play normally. There is plenty of in depth information online about HDMI. A good starting point is Wikipedia.com (web link here).

HDMI Cables – Purchasing Suggestions

If your components support HDMI connections you should choose HDMI over other interfaces (component video, S-video, etc.) The HDMI cables cost more but are worth it. And if you want to save a substantial amount of money on HDMI cables you can shop online at sites like Monoprice.com and Amazon.com. The online discounts over the Big Box store prices are quite dramatic.