Group test: HDMI cables pt3

Overview Price: £60 (2m XS202, tested); £90 (5m XS205) More info: Techlink Techlink WiresXS With its impressive chrome-plated plugs and chunky 10mm-thick cable - which is finished in a neat grey PVC weave - the WiresXS certainly gives you a lot for your money. It's also the only interconnect tested to incorporate radio-frequency interference (RFI) absorbing ferrites at either end of the cable. Unfortunately, the added bulk of these filters might be problematic - confined spaces and projectors with rear-mounted input socketry, for example. That said, the ferrites can be repositioned; the nearer they are to the HDMI connectors, though, the better. The XS202 is wired with heavy-gauge silver-plated OFC (oxygen-free copper), explaining the cable thickness. TechLink's proprietary foam polyethylene dielectric/insulation is employed, as is aluminum/Mylar foil shielding and an overall copper braid. In other words, any unwanted leakage or intrusion of stray signals is highly unlikely. The HDMI 1.3-compliant 2m version tested (the XS202) was found to work with digital AV sources all the way to 1080p, complete with multichannel audio.

Verdict Plus points A robust and serious performer Minus points May be too bulky for some situations

Overview Price: £30 (0.5m); £35 (1m); £42 (2m, tested); £49 (3m); £55 (5m) More info: Wireworld Wireworld Island Claimed at its launch to be the "world's thinnest and most flexible" HDMI interconnect, the 1080p-compliant Island has one obvious practical advantage - it's flat. Well, not completely flat; it's 3mm thick (and 13mm wide, in case you were wondering). But that still means it can go where HDMI traditionally cannot. For example, the cream-jacketed Island could be run under carpets to a projector located at the opposite end of the room. This is a lot less bother than chasing it through plaster. Unfortunately, the room in question has to be pretty small because the Island is only available in lengths of up to 5m. Its flat design does, however, give it a half-inch 'bend radius', which would be useful for any 'tight' installation. Despite its entry-level position, construction features 'electrolytic copper' conductors, polyethylene-foam insulation and 24k gold-plated connectors. The 2m version submitted for review performed flawlessly even with 1080p sources, sound and vision being as good as the connected equipment allowed.

Verdict Plus points Flatness aids installation, good performance Minus points Competing Audioquest available in longer lengths

Final verdict So there we have it. All of these interconnects do the job for which they were intended - they will pass 1080p video, together with multi-channel digital audio, between your equipment. Not even a blind comparison test, using amongst other kit a 1080p projector and large screen driven by SkyHD and HD-DVD/Blu-ray players, could reveal any obvious differences in performance between these interconnects. Pricing is broadly similar, although you can buy more expensive models. All six are of higher-quality construction than the cheap, nasty and usually uncertified HDMI cables that are often supplied with kit - of these, I have found examples that are incapable of passing 1080p without signal dropouts (indeed some don't work at all!). A better quality cable will last longer, not least because the gold-plated terminals are impervious to oxidisation (which can eventually cause unreliable operation). Better-quality HDMI interconnects are likely to be more comfortable with signal formats of the future - HDMI 1.3 caters for higher-than-1080p resolutions and greater colour depths. In other words, it pays to upgrade. You can buy any of these six cables with confidence - the choice is down to you! However, there has to be a winner. My pick of the review samples is the Wireworld Island, on account of its installation benefits and the fact that it is - by a whisker - the most affordable of the group.

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