When ‘Premium’ actually means Premium - The Case for ‘Premium Certified’ HDMI Cables in ProAV Operations
Choosing the right HDMI cable is just as critical as selecting the right AV equipment. This is where Premium Certified HDMI cables make a significant difference.
In today's world, the word "premium" has been stretched, overused, and often stripped of its true meaning, becoming a meaningless buzzword. But when it comes to HDMI cables, "Premium Certified" isn't just a marketing term, and ignoring this simple fact may be costing you money on your AV projects.
In the professional AV industry, signal integrity and reliability are non-negotiable. With the increasing demand for 4K60 HDR video, high-speed data transmission, and stable connectivity, choosing the right HDMI cable is just as critical as selecting the right AV equipment. This is where Premium Certified HDMI cables make a significant difference.
What Does ‘Premium Certified’ HDMI Mean?
A Premium Certified HDMI cable is a high-performance cable that has undergone rigorous testing and verification by HDMI Licensing LLC. These cables are specifically designed to support full 18Gbps bandwidth, ensuring seamless transmission of 4K60 4:4:4 HDR video, high-fidelity audio, and reliable Ethernet connectivity. But one of the most crucial aspects that set Premium Certified HDMI cables apart is their compliance with Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) standards.
Why Is EMI Compliance So Important?
In modern AV environments, numerous electronic devices operate in close proximity - displays, computers, laptops, cameras, microphones and networking equipment. These devices all emit electromagnetic signals that, if not properly managed, can cause interference with video and audio signals traveling through HDMI cables.
If an HDMI cable is not EMI-shielded or properly tested for compliance, it can act as an antenna, picking up unwanted noise from surrounding electronics. This interference can result in:
• Screen flickering or complete video loss during presentations
• Audio distortion or dropouts in live events or conference calls
• HDCP handshake failures, preventing encrypted content from displaying
• Intermittent signal blackouts, making meetings and lectures unpredictable
Premium Certified HDMI cables must pass stringent EMI compliance tests to ensure they effectively block external interference, delivering an uninterrupted, stable signal even in the most complex AV setups.
How to Identify a Premium Certified HDMI Cable
A true Premium Certified HDMI cable can be identified by a special anti-counterfeit hologram and QR code on its packaging. Scanning the QR code with the official HDMI app verifies the authenticity of the cable, guaranteeing it meets HDMI’s strict performance and compliance standards. All of Lightware’s HDMI cables are ‘Premium Certified’ to ensure that cables are never the weakest link in your system.
Premium Certified vs. Regular HDMI Cables
Unlike standard HDMI cables, Premium Certified cables are tested and guaranteed to:
• Support full 18Gbps bandwidth for 4K60 HDR and beyond
• Minimize EMI interference, especially in rooms with many devices
• Ensure signal stability over long distances without degradation
• Deliver reliable HDCP 2.2 compliance, preventing handshake and content protection issues
Regular HDMI cables may claim 4K support but often fail to deliver reliable performance, leading to signal dropouts, flickering, handshake failures, or incompatibility with modern AV devices.
The Risks of Using Non-Premium Certified HDMI Cables in ProAV
• Using non-premium certified HDMI cables in conference rooms, classrooms, and AV control systems can lead to:
• Unstable video signals – flickering or complete blackouts in mission-critical presentations
• Interference from other devices – causing image and sound distortions
• Incompatibility issues – failing to support modern encryption (HDCP 2.2), preventing content playback
• High failure rates – leading to costly troubleshooting and replacements
Why Lightware’s HDMI Cables Are the Right Choice
At Lightware, we recognize the importance of premium connectivity in professional AV operations. That’s why allof Lightware’s HDMI cables are Premium Certified, ensuring reliable performance, full 18Gbps bandwidth support, and complete compatibility with high-resolution displays, projectors, video processors, and AV-over-IP solutions.
Choosing Lightware’s Premium Certified HDMI cables means AV professionals, system integrators, and end users can deploy solutions with absolute confidence, knowing they are using industry-leading, certified, and performance-tested connectivity.
Download our ‘Wired Journal’, a comprehensive rundown of Lightware’s cable offering including our test results and cable comparison table.