Do you really need a longer HDMI cable? You’ve got alternatives

• What are the alternatives to long HDMI cables?
• When are long HDMI cables the best (or only) option?

Even if it wasn’t in a home theater setup, we’ve all had it happen at least once — some crucial device turns out to be just out of reach of your cables. The other day, I wanted to charge my Steam Deck while I was playing games in bed, but discovered that my USB-C cable was a few inches short. It wasn’t a huge deal since the Deck is a portable device to begin with, but I did have to end my session early once I noticed I was down to 7% power.

When the issue is the reach of an HDMI cable, the natural temptation may be to rush out to the store to buy a longer one. That’s going to be necessary sometimes, but before you do, you might want to consider a few alternative strategies that could make for a tidier home theater. There are also some important points to remember when you do need to go long.

What are the alternatives to long HDMI cables?

Moving things closer (or choosing devices that fit better)

Moving things around is an obvious answer to the problem, but worth considering whenever possible. It’s free, and it can force you to rethink your home theater plans in a way that leads to a more pleasing arrangement.

For a simple example, consider the handheld game consoles in the setup pictured up top. You might like the idea of positioning them closer to your couch, making it easier to hit a power button or grab them out of their docks. The reality, though, is that you’d not only need longer cables for that, but some way of keeping those cables organized in a way that prevents people from tripping on them. Some people hate the idea of HDMI cables even being visible, in which case this scenario is a non-starter.

There’s no sense hooking up your Blu-ray player again if you haven’t used it in years.

Hypothetically, it could force you to re-evaluate whether you even need a device to begin with. There’s no sense hooking up your Blu-ray player again if you haven’t used it in years. If you’ve got an old multi-speaker sound system that’s dependent on a receiver to bridge to HDMI, it might be time to upgrade to a new soundbar. Yes, that is more expensive than buying a cable, but you’ll appreciate the simplicity and extra space in your living room.

Speaking of which, you may want to shop with compactness in mind when you’re starting fresh. Your budget might allow for a Sonos Arc, but a Beam will fit in more locations and still sound pretty great. In other situations, a mount might be the answer, whether it’s for a soundbar or something else. In the past I’ve mounted not just an Apple TV 4K behind a TV, but even a Mac mini, resulting in a setup with no visible wires, for which even the shortest HDMI cables are probably overkill.

Wireless speakers or wireless HDMI adapters

If you pair the right products together, you can achieve a completely wireless audio setup. TVs and media streamers based on Amazon’s Fire TV platform, for instance, can connect a pair of identical Echo speakers via Alexa. Similarly, if you’ve got an Apple TV 4K, you can set any AirPlay-compatible speaker as a default audio output, although the safest configuration is a pair of Apple’s own HomePods.

Compatibility is the biggest issue here. There’s no universal standard for wireless home theater audio, so you’ll need to research the choices compatible with your TV’s hardware and software platforms. There may be none, or you might require an add-on product (like a media streamer) that will still demand an HDMI cable.

If you choose Wi-Fi speakers, those are vulnerable to any trouble with your home network. You may need to upgrade your router or stick to wired sound.

Wireless audio also carries a couple of potential risks. The first is desync with video, although that’s usually minor or non-existent as long as you avoid Bluetooth speakers. If you choose Wi-Fi speakers, those are vulnerable to any trouble with your home network — so if you’re already dealing with flaky or dropped connections, you may need to upgrade your router or stick to wired sound. The exception to this is if your TV and speaker combo rely on direct, device-to-device Wi-Fi instead.

Wireless HDMI adapters are another possibility, but come with their own limitations. On consumer gear, you’re likely to be capped at a 30Hz refresh rate for 4K video, or 60Hz for 1080p — less than ideal when many TVs and consoles support 4K at 120Hz. You probably won’t get HDR support, either. As for audio, don’t expect spatial formats like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X.

There’s more. A decent transmitter/receiver bundle for a home theater is liable to cost you at least $150, and pro-grade systems run much higher. For gaming, wireless video carries the chance of enough input lag to affect how well you play. That’s not guaranteed — but in tandem with all the other concerns I’ve mentioned, you’ll have to decide just how much you care about ditching cables.

When are long HDMI cables the best (or only) option?

Plus tips on choosing one

If you demand maximum audio or video fidelity, an HDMI cable is always the way to go, no matter how far away a peripheral is sitting. Only HDMI 2.1 or later offers full support for high and/or variable ( VRR) refresh rates, as well as dynamic HDR standards like Dolby Vision and HDR10+. With current wireless tech, you’re sacrificing not just these features, but sometimes the best audio as well.

Staying wired may also be preferable for compatibility and reliability purposes. As long as you buy the right cable, there should be zero issues with platform support or signal interference. Going wired may additionally minimize the time you spend fiddling with apps, depending on the devices you’re connecting. If you don’t already have an Alexa-based smart home, it could take a little while to fully configure a couple of Echo Studios and a Fire TV.

For distances of about 10 feet (3 meters) or more, you’ll need to choose “active” cables, or add HDMI signal boosters into the mix.

Then there’s the matter of cost. Short of rearranging your setup, long HDMI cables will usually be the cheapest option, given that even a 50-foot (15-meter) HDMI 2.1 model can be bought for less than $40. If you’re willing to put up with the aesthetic and ergonomic issues, cables can save you money that might be better spent on other parts of your home theater — or paying bills.

You do need to be careful when shopping for ultra-long cables, however. For distances of about 10 feet (3 meters) or more, you’ll need to choose “active” cables, or add HDMI signal boosters into the mix. Either of these are going to ramp up your expenses, at which point it might be legitimately cheaper to explore options like mounts. To accommodate our Steam Deck dock and Sonos Ray, my wife installed a makeshift wall shelf — and that didn’t cost more than a plank of wood, some paint, and a few screws.