Review: Accell AVGrip Pro Locking High-Speed HDMI Cable

As someone who loves connecting all sorts of devices to my big-screen TV, I have a love-hate relationship with HDMI cables.

I love how they give me excellent image and sound with just one cable. But they can also be a pain to plug in, especially when reaching in from the side.

The fact that I basically share two cables among different devices also means I end up with looser cable sockets from constant switching — which can affect picture quality even if the cable doesn't fully disconnect. So I was quite intrigued when I ran across the Accell AVGrip Pro High-Speed Locking HDMI cable. Read on for my thoughts about it.

Easy lock and unlock: The Accell AVGrip Pro uses a T-shaped groove that's etched into the connector itself to lock the cable into place. This means it connects exactly the same way as a regular HDMI cable without the need for screws. As someone who constantly switches HDMI devices, not having to deal with screws is a great convenience. Unlocking the cable is also as easy as pulling back the sliding plastic case surrounding the connector.

Nice image, sound quality: I used the Accell AVGrip Pro to connect all sorts of devices — from my PS3 and Xbox 360 to portable electronics such as a laptop and high-def camcorder — to my 63-inch TV. Video quality was quite excellent with no noticeable signal degradation. The AVGrip Pro also worked with all the devices I tested it with (I have one HDMI cable, for example, that refuses to work with my PS3 but works with other devices that I have). Sound was excellent as well.

The cable fully complies to HDMI 1.3 Category 2 specifications, which means it supports advanced features such as Deep Color technology, Dolby True-HD, and automatic audio-video synchronization or "lip sync" (the latter, however, won't fully compensate for conversion issues with video formats such as MKV, as I still had some MKV-encoded videos where the audio and video did not completely match).

Excellent speed: With an overall bandwith of up to 10.2 Gbps or 340 MHz, the Accell AVGrip Pro is considered a "High-speed" HDMI cable. This means it can handle higher refresh rates for monitors with signals of 1080p or even higher (i.e. high-res computer and WQXGA monitors). In contrast, a standard HDMI cable has a typical speed of 2.25 Gbps or 75 MHz.

Bulkier connector case: The Accell AVGrip Pro's use of a sliding case for unlocking also means that its casing is bulkier than your typical HDMI cable. But the width still compares favorably to other cables so it shouldn't be much of a problem. The plastic casing also gives an otherwise solid-feeling cable a cheap feel, though this is more of a cosmetic issue.

The Accell AVGrip Pro is an HDMI cable that provides a nice, locking connection along with high-speed performance.

With pricing ranging from $39.99 to $59.99, it isn't exactly at the lower end of the HDMI cable spectrum. But it also isn't as monstrously expensive as some of the HDMI offerings from Monster Cable, making it more in line with your average HDMI cable. Several online retailers are also offering the cable at a discount as of the writing of this review.

Compatibility with the cable is excellent — at least with the devices I had available in my house. The spring-loaded release for the cable lock also adds extra convenience compared to HDMI connectors that use screws. As with anything with moving parts, though, the question is how reliable the locking release will be after years of use. So far, it seems to work pretty well (and this review will be updated if it proves to be otherwise).

Overall, I give the Accell AVGrip Pro high marks due to its performance and functionality.

Accell AVGrip Pro HDMI Cable Pricing:

• $39.99 - 3.3 feet
• $49.99 - 6.6. feet
• $59.99 - 10 feet