I was wrong about HDMI cables!
I see. Maybe that's why it is rated by WHF? 
It's rated by What HiFi because:
"Pictures are more stable and motion more assured, while even colours are a little more vivid and exact. Sound has more scale and detail, too."
Which is cobblers, of course.
Can someone explain why this cable has a chip in it? It might be a reason that the picture / sound are different, though I can't immediately think of why it would be necessary.
It's a noise cancelling chip.
As I''ve said if you use CERTIFIED cables they wont make a difference.
If this is aimed at my post, then the cable was certified.
I have been using the Chord active cables for a long time 2x 3m and 1x 2m and am extremely happy with them.
I did have a HDMI cable a while ago that truly irritated me with the way it changed the colours when in use.
Swapped it between different devices along with a different cable, the same cable changed the colours no matter what device it was plugged into.
The colours became more vibrant but not in a good way.
So I do believe cables make a difference, and good luck with the Chord cables.
Sounds like a faulty cable. A non faulty HDMI cable will look and sound the same as any other non-faulty cable. Just like the moon is in fact smaller than the sun.
The cable was not faulty, from a technical point of view.
Found the free chord copper cable from WHF a few years ago to be considerably worse in terms of sharpness compared to an expensive monster cable that my mum got sold from comet (Who gave her the wrong TV btw - a poorer LCD rather than the chosen Plasma 
).
Paused and changed cables, as well as watched full scenes.
For years I have argued how the cheap HDMI cable was no different to an expensive version.
However, today at the Bristol show I purchase 3 Chord Active Silver cables and it totally blew me away. For bluray playback or fir anything where data is being read actively from a disc, there is a massive boost in sound quality, the sound was sharper, crisp and punchier. Picture was also warmer, deeper in colour and rich. I am still reeling from the shock, I fully expected there to be no difference and to a certain degree I was right... Using it with sky, no difference, PC, no difference. However, bluray yes, music yes and even gaming.
My wife walked in and said "the tv looks better and sounds better". She was unaware of the test I was conducting, so that was unbiased from a non audiophile/videophile.
Hi..Do you realy have to care what other people(unbelievers) say? It's your own hard earned money and ears that enjoys.
I have been using the Chord active cables for a long time 2x 3m and 1x 2m and am extremely happy with them.
I did have a HDMI cable a while ago that truly irritated me with the way it changed the colours when in use.
Swapped it between different devices along with a different cable, the same cable changed the colours no matter what device it was plugged into.
The colours became more vibrant but not in a good way.
So I do believe cables make a difference, and good luck with the Chord cables.
Sounds like a faulty cable. A non faulty HDMI cable will look and sound the same as any other non-faulty cable. Just like the moon is in fact smaller than the sun.
The cable was not faulty, from a technical point of view.
What does this mean?
It's rated by What HiFi because:
"Pictures are more stable and motion more assured, while even colours are a little more vivid and exact. Sound has more scale and detail, too."
Which is cobblers, of course.
Come on Alec, don't beat about the bush, get off the fence and say exactly what you mean.
You're absolutely correct of course.
I have been using the Chord active cables for a long time 2x 3m and 1x 2m and am extremely happy with them.
I did have a HDMI cable a while ago that truly irritated me with the way it changed the colours when in use.
Swapped it between different devices along with a different cable, the same cable changed the colours no matter what device it was plugged into.
The colours became more vibrant but not in a good way.
So I do believe cables make a difference, and good luck with the Chord cables.
Sounds like a faulty cable. A non faulty HDMI cable will look and sound the same as any other non-faulty cable. Just like the moon is in fact smaller than the sun.
The cable was not faulty, from a technical point of view.
What does this mean?
Exactly that, physically the cable was not faulty and met the technical spec for it to be certified.
In use it exhibited the issues (to me) i stated.
I have been using the Chord active cables for a long time 2x 3m and 1x 2m and am extremely happy with them.
I did have a HDMI cable a while ago that truly irritated me with the way it changed the colours when in use.
Swapped it between different devices along with a different cable, the same cable changed the colours no matter what device it was plugged into.
The colours became more vibrant but not in a good way.
So I do believe cables make a difference, and good luck with the Chord cables.
Sounds like a faulty cable. A non faulty HDMI cable will look and sound the same as any other non-faulty cable. Just like the moon is in fact smaller than the sun.
The cable was not faulty, from a technical point of view.
What does this mean?
Exactly that, physically the cable was not faulty and met the technical spec for it to be certified.
In use it exhibited the issues (to me) i stated.
Yes, but the issues themsleves mean that all was not well somewhere along the line...
Can someone explain why this cable has a chip in it? It might be a reason that the picture / sound are different, though I can't immediately think of why it would be necessary.
It's a noise cancelling chip.
No, the chip is meant to boost signal.
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_7-57540275-221/still-more-reasons-why...
Shows how much the Chord rep knew about his own product, gosh 
Thanks BB.
Michael is right the cable from a technical point of view was fine, with Digital cables they will either work or not, there is no in between.
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Not necessarily. Even this has a good connector:
http://www.thatcable.com/product/HDMI-Male-to-Male-Cable-Type-A-(Standard)-Version-1-3BHDMI-1.3b
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