David Katzmaier, Senior Editor December 9, 2009
It seems like HDMI has been around forever, and claims of wireless HDMI for almost as long. But the incredibly high transmission rate of the premiere digital audio-video connection just don't lend itself to easy wireless solutions, so it's taken awhile for companies to find a solution.
Philips, Gefen, and Sony now offer the first few of what's sure to be many wire-free HDMI solutions priced near the realm ordinary customers can afford. The three brands' transmitter-receiver devices are similar in principal, allowing transmission of HDMI signals from one side of the room to the other, so a wall-mounted TV or ceiling-mounted projector doesn't require a long, in-wall cable run to look slick.
However, testing revealed some differences between the devices. The Gefen evinced some minor artifacts, namely false contouring, but delivered otherwise pristine video reliably. The Sony didn't introduce that artifact, and so looked a bit better overall to our eyes, yet its less-stable signal had a tough time competing against the Gefen. The Philips wasn't compared directly with the other two, but during its test we appreciated its solid video quality and reliability enough to score it higher than the other two, despite missing a few features.
The fourth solution we reviewed isn't wireless at all, although it will likely be used in the same situations as the other two. The Acoustic Research HDP100 just like Ethernet-over-power line adapters: using your existing AC power lines and wall sockets to transmit HDMI signals. Unfortunately, its video quality fell well short of the others.
Notably, none of these expensive devices can yet match the video quality of an actual HDMI cable, but at least they provide an alternative for custom installations.
| Product name | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $649.86 | $659.25 to $899.10 | $200.00 to $229.99 | $46.79 |
| CNET editors' rating | ||||
| Average user rating |  | | | |
| Review date | December 07, 2009 | January 30, 2009 | February 03, 2009 | December 02, 2008 |
| The Bottom Line | Though it works well, the Philips Wireless HDTV Link is too expensive and has us wishing for a feature or two more. | The professional-grade Gefen EXT-WHDMI may not quite match the quality of an actual HDMI cable, but its solid transmissions make it a viable candidate when wireless HDMI is the best option. | Sony's well-featured DMX-WL1 lacks the competition's stability and won't match the quality of an HDMI cable, but in situations where it works, it delivers fine quality for most users. | Its picture quality won't please videophiles, but the Acoustic Research HDP100's HDMI-over-powerline system works well for casual viewers who want to save some money over in-wall installations. |
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