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Best HDMI Cable for 4K Apple TV ?

augustya

augustya

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Original poster
Feb 17, 2012
3,331
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Hi Guys,

I have just for the first time got the Apple TV 4K and I guess it does not come with the HDMI Cable right ? So I have to get one. So I wanted to know Which is the best HDMI Cable I need to get which will give me Super Fast Speed on the Data Transmission on Apple TV ?

Please suggest some Reasonable Priced or Cheap Alternatives at the same time does a good Job.
 
Anything will probably do the job. I think my wife got a cheap one from Walmart for the last ATV box. No problem whatsoever. The connection is all digital so don’t fall for titanium and gold cables and the like.
 
I had issues using cheap cables high-speed cables from Amazon and Monoprice with my ATV 4K, Onkyo Receiver, and Vizio TV. I was unreliably switching to Dolby Vision. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't.

I ended up trying 2 of the Belkin cables on a whim and the performance was much better. For $30, it's not too overpriced.
www.apple.com

Belkin Ultra HD High Speed 8K/4K HDMI Cable (2 m)

Connect your Apple TV to your HDTV or 4K HDR TV for a great viewing experience. Supports up to 4096-by-2160 resolution and bandwidth up to 48 Gbps. Buy now at apple.com.
www.apple.com

I know nothing about that makes sense, but that was just my experience. I wasn't expecting better performance with Belkin until it happened.
 
Last edited:
What is your system? and any other connections?

It shouldn't make sense as all rated cables at a certain speed SHOULD work....but my setup, even the Monoprice Certified aren't working. Could be the cable length but I assumed when it was certified it would work at the length it came (15Ft). I might move the AppleTV closer to the TV so less HDMI cabling needed.

I am thinking of switching to Belkin's (either 18 or 40Gbps). It could end up being the TV or Soundbar having issues (or potentially the AppleTV. When I had a 1080 TV, APpleTV HD, and optical Soundbar things were SMOOTH. 4K adds in many headaches for my tv viewing now, with dropouts and shutdowns, glitches...:(
 
I will only chime in with Cable Matters HDMI cables.
Something like this:
www.amazon.com

Cable Matters 3-Pack 8K HDMI Cable, 48Gbps, 6.6 ft, Supports 8K@60Hz, 4K@240Hz, HDR - For PS5, Xbox Series X/S, RTX3080/3090, RX 6800/6900, Apple TV

Cable Matters 3-Pack 8K HDMI Cable, 48Gbps, 6.6 ft, Supports 8K@60Hz, 4K@240Hz, HDR - For PS5, Xbox Series X/S, RTX3080/3090, RX 6800/6900, Apple TV
www.amazon.com
This is a 3-Pack 6ft for just over $20. They handle up to 8K, they do 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, 120Hz with zero issue for me.

I have these connected between various devices like LG C9 65" OLED, soon to be LG CX 77" OLED, AppleTV 4K, eARC sound bars. Xbox One X's, PC's connected to TV's as gaming consoles.
They had done extremely well for my uses, hoping to be able to give some information on 4K OLED 120Hz gaming if or when I can get either a console that supports it or any of the newer GPU's released recently.

But they have been very nice. And with the color coded ends on the cables, it makes it just a bit simpler when connecting multiple devices in to one without having to label.

And unlock ALL of my previous cables, I now know that a colored connector on a cable means 4K. Previously I had a drawer at my desk with cables in it and there was zero markings to tell anything apart without having the forethought to attach a label ahead of time. Just my 2 cents.
 
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ericwn said:
Anything will probably do the job. I think my wife got a cheap one from Walmart for the last ATV box. No problem whatsoever. The connection is all digital so don’t fall for titanium and gold cables and the like.
Click to expand...
that used to be the case, and pretty much still is for 1080 and 5.1 sound

Once you get into 4k, HDR, and higher bandwidth audio, some of the cheaper cables can't handle the bandwidth.
(for SDR 4k 60fps - your cable needs to be at least HDMI 2.0. if you make that HDR, you'll need to be 2.1)


You can still find cheaper cables that will work (and as you said, you don't necessarily need Ti or Gold)
you just need to make sure the HDMI version is compatible.
Link goes to a nice chart of the capabilities of each version of HDMI.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#...able says HDMI 2.1, you should be good to go.
 
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waw74 said:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#...able says HDMI 2.1, you should be good to go.
Click to expand...


That is a good link. Thanks indeed ! This is what I wanted to know. Again Thank You Vey Much !!
 
waw74 said:
that used to be the case, and pretty much still is for 1080 and 5.1 sound

Once you get into 4k, HDR, and higher bandwidth audio, some of the cheaper cables can't handle the bandwidth.
(for SDR 4k 60fps - your cable needs to be at least HDMI 2.0. if you make that HDR, you'll need to be 2.1)


You can still find cheaper cables that will work (and as you said, you don't necessarily need Ti or Gold)
you just need to make sure the HDMI version is compatible.
Link goes to a nice chart of the capabilities of each version of HDMI.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#...able says HDMI 2.1, you should be good to go.
Click to expand...

But Wait ! What ?? HDMI 2.1 Cable is so Freakin xoensive !! Compared to the older one it is atleast 7 times more expensive !
 
mnsportsgeek said:
I had issues using cheap cables high-speed cables from Amazon and Monoprice with my ATV 4K
Click to expand...
Me too.

I was having issues maintaining the higher level settings of Chroma. It would automatically revert to lower levels without any prompting or message.

I wouldn't be surprised if others on the thread that are using the cheaper Amazon cables have their Chroma levels reduced and not even know it.

mnsportsgeek said:
I ended up trying 2 of the Belkin cables on a whim and the performance was much better. For $30, it's not too overpriced.
Click to expand...
I also used the Apple recommended Belkin cable, and it fixed the Chroma issue. Well, on a rare occasion, it might revert to a lower level, this may have happened once or twice within a year.

The Amazon cable would cause the Chroma to lower usually within a few hours.
 
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Audit13 said:
I used the Amazon Basics cable.

I've been using them with all my 4k devices with no problems.
Click to expand...
No problem with any cable but I got a HDMI to lighting adapter and it was dead on arrival. I wasn't able to use it for a few weeks and when I did it was past the 30 day return window so I was out of luck. Point being check out those items right away to make sure they're ok.
 
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waw74 said:
that used to be the case, and pretty much still is for 1080 and 5.1 sound

Once you get into 4k, HDR, and higher bandwidth audio, some of the cheaper cables can't handle the bandwidth.
(for SDR 4k 60fps - your cable needs to be at least HDMI 2.0. if you make that HDR, you'll need to be 2.1)


You can still find cheaper cables that will work (and as you said, you don't necessarily need Ti or Gold)
you just need to make sure the HDMI version is compatible.
Link goes to a nice chart of the capabilities of each version of HDMI.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#...able says HDMI 2.1, you should be good to go.
Click to expand...

Thanks much for the advice!
 
mallbritton said:
Take a look at these.

Monoprice 4K Certified Premium High Speed HDMI Cable 3ft - 18Gbps Black - Monoprice.com

Monoprice's Certified Premium High Speed HDMI® Cable is designed to meet and exceed the highest standards of HDMI performance. Capable of delivering 18Gbps bandwidth, the
www.monoprice.com
Click to expand...

These guys Monoprice have made tall claims there. HDMI Test Centres verified cables etc...etc but there is is no way to verify it. Are you personally using it ? How does it stand ? Are they indeed good ?
 
augustya said:
These guys Monoprice have made tall claims there. HDMI Test Centres verified cables etc...etc but there is is no way to verify it. Are you personally using it ? How does it stand ? Are they indeed good ?
Click to expand...
I don't have experience with those cables in particular, but all of their cables I've had in the past have been rock solid.
and don't think I've seen people give bad reviews anywhere.
 
I set chroma to 4:4:4 from the day I installed the Amazon Basics cable and it's stayed there after several OS updates too.

I use the same cable to connect my nVidia card to my TV for 4k playback and it has also stayed at 4:4:4.
 
augustya said:
These guys Monoprice have made tall claims there. HDMI Test Centres verified cables etc...etc but there is is no way to verify it. Are you personally using it ? How does it stand ? Are they indeed good ?
Click to expand...

I have used about 5 or 6 of these cables over the years. On 1080 content PERFECT! I think even in-wall too.
with my 4K setup I have had issues. the only content that comes in consistently clear with these cables is 1080.

It could be my components though, but I didn't realize that 4K was going to be this touchy (4K, HDR, DV, DA).
I ordered a new[to me] brand of cables to try tomorrow. fingers crossed.
 
augustya said:
Are you getting the same Monoprice new cables ?
Click to expand...

No. I was about to order Belkin but thought I'd try the 3-Pack posted above. I have tried some from Costco (Sapphire I think that should have been good) but also had issues. It could be the length as I was using 12-15ft cords. I bought an Apple TV behind-the-TV holder I want to try and use a shorter cable. hoping that will help.
 
augustya said:
These guys Monoprice have made tall claims there. HDMI Test Centres verified cables etc...etc but there is is no way to verify it. Are you personally using it ? How does it stand ? Are they indeed good ?
Click to expand...

I've been using all kinds of A/V cables from mono price for years and have always had a good experience. I actually am using one of those cables right now from my ATV 4K to my Samsung 4K TV.
 
augustya said:
Hi Guys,

I have just for the first time got the Apple TV 4K and I guess it does not come with the HDMI Cable right ? So I have to get one. So I wanted to know Which is the best HDMI Cable I need to get which will give me Super Fast Speed on the Data Transmission on Apple TV ?

Please suggest some Reasonable Priced or Cheap Alternatives at the same time does a good Job.
Click to expand...
 
Here's with free shipping!!! LOL

smile.amazon.com

GOWOS (100-Pack) HDMI Cable, High Speed with Ethernet, HDMI Male, 4K, 24 AWG, CL2 Rated, 25 Feet

Our 25 foot High Speed with Ethernet HDMI cable meets the latest standard put forth by the HDMI standards committee. It is fully backwards compatible with all previous HDMI versions. The HDMI cable is the newest and best digital video connection on the market. HDMI is the only cable that can tran...
smile.amazon.com

smile.amazon.com

Cables Braided HDMI Cable V1.4 AV HD 3D for PS3 Xbox HDTV Meters 1080P DF 0.5m 1m 1.8m 3m 5m 10m 15m A30 - (Cable Length: 15m)

Cables Braided HDMI Cable V1.4 AV HD 3D for PS3 Xbox HDTV Meters 1080P DF 0.5m 1m 1.8m 3m 5m 10m 15m A30 - (Cable Length: 15m)
smile.amazon.com
 
BJMRamage said:
I was about to order Belkin but thought I'd try the 3-Pack posted above.
Click to expand...
I suggest just getting the Belkin and get something you know will work. It is also the cable recommended by Apple for the ATV4K, and really isn't that expensive:

Belkin UltraHD 4K HDMI Cable 2 m - Apple

Apple Store Search Results
www.apple.com



Apple said:
4K video, especially HDR10 and Dolby Vision, requires an HDMI cable compatible with these formats. Apple recommends HDMI cables that have the Compatible Dolby Vision mark as they have been tested with Apple TV 4K and a wide range of televisions. An example is the Belkin Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable.
Click to expand...

About 4K, HDR, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision on your Apple TV 4K - Apple Support

Learn how to set up your Apple TV 4K for the best 4K, HDR, HDR10+, or Dolby Vision experience.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
 
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