AudioQuest for the digital filmographer
The HDMI output on your new high definition digital camcorder gives you the freedom to view the HD footage you've recorded right on your HDTV, without the need for any intermediary device. In order to experience your HD footage in all its splendor, you need an HDMI cable that is both compatible with both your digital camcorder and HDTV, as well as capable of delivering high-fidelity video and audio. Presenting the Mini-plug HDMI X from AudioQuest. While the Mini-plug HDMI X cable sports one full-size Type-A HDMI plug for connection to your HDTV, it also features one mini Type-C HDMI connector for plugging into your digital camcorder. Further, as an AudioQuest HDMI cable, the Mini-plug HDMI X is capable of delivering the highest sonic and visual performance available thanks to its use of high-integrity solid-core conductors enhanced with 1.25% silver plating. And at just 1.5m in length, this Mini-plug HDMI X cable fits great in your camera bag, and delivers incredibly high signal-transmission rates.
Keeping an eye trained on the future — Gbps
Not all HDMI cables are created equal. Besides differences in cable material and construction that influence signal fidelity, an HDMI cable's ability to transmit different amounts of information is an important consideration. An HDMI cable's data-transfer capacity is measured in Gigabytes-per-second, or Gbps. While current HD sources transmit at rates between 2.23Gbps (720p/1080i TV) and 16Gbps (Blu-ray Disc media), new developments in HD video — such as 1440p resolution HDTVs — will require transmission rates of up to 25 or 29Gbps. By incorporating larger connections with 1.25% silver for enhanced conductivity when compared with AudioQuest's HDMI A and HDMI G cables, HDMI X series cables are able to offer higher transmission capacities that satisfy current needs as well as most anticipated future applications. In fact, because transmission rates naturally increase as cable length decreases — everything else being equal &mdash the 1.5M Mini-plug HDMI X is capable of achieving transmission rates that far exceed the capabilities of any available source or destination components.
For your listening (and viewing) pleasure
AudioQuest's mission is to provide a cable for every audio/video need as well as a price for every pocketbook, without sacrificing one iota of performance quality. The HDMI X is one of AudioQuest's higher performing HDMI cables. It utilizes the large, 28-AW gauge conductor to ensure distortion stays at a minimum, and the skin-foam-skin polyethylene jacket to provide exceptional non-conductive insulation. The HDMI X takes performance up a notch by using a solid silver-plated copper conductor (1.25% silver). What's the difference between silver-plated copper and pure copper? Well, let's take a step back and explain that pure silver is the very best performing material for audio, video or digital, but it's very expensive. So the engineers came up with a more cost-effective solution — silver-plated copper. Don't make assumptions though: high-quality silver-plated copper, when used in video, RF or digital applications, becomes an extraordinary value, out-performing even the highest grades of pure copper.
Damage control — let's compare apples. . .
It's important to know that an audio or video signal cannot be improved upon — it's as good as it's going to get once it leaves your amp, DVD player, whatever component you're running. So why bother with a high-end cable? Simple: the signal can't be improved, but it can be damaged. Significantly. A lesser-quality cable leaves your signal wide-open to instabilities. A lesser-quality cable is constructed of bundled, twisted strands of conductive material — up to 200 to 2000 strands per bundle. And as the signal wants to travel the path of least resistance (down the outside of the bundle), all those twisted strands inhibit the signal. They draw the signal from the outside of the bundle to the inside, where it fights to get back to the outside again. What's the result? Distortion. Lost data. Poor sound quality.
. . .to oranges
AudioQuest, on the other hand, engineers their cables with the highest quality, perfectly gauged solid-core, copper and silver conductors. And each conductor strand is slowly and precisely loomed, not twisted, into the final cable bundle — and it's important to note that the maximum amount of strands AudioQuest has used in their longest cable, for flexibility requirements, is 32 (that's a few less than 200, and a lot less than 2000). Once they have constructed the conductor, AudioQuest wraps it in the dielectric (a fancy word for the insulating material) to keep the cable at peak performance levels at all times by absorbing as little energy as possible in order to avoid the reintroduction of energy (distortion) back into the conductor.
The bottom line
What AudioQuest is doing is engineering cables with conductors that have all the proper attributes, for decreased distortion. They've arranged the conductors so the signal travels down a straight path, for decreased distortion. They've wrapped the conductor metal in a non-conductive material, to decrease distortion. The result is an astonishingly pure, very stable signal. Starting to make sense? AudioQuest loathes distortion. You'll love AudioQuest.
