Optical HDMI Cables Are Superior, Here's WHY - FEAT Ruipro

[@MillenniumFalcon]

I landed on your channel earlier today while deciding which headset to purchase over Christmas which then led me to some of the other videos on your channel like this one. Your videos are quite helpful, and informative, and fun (seriously dude...your personality, humor, and style are very entertaining and grabs my attention so I also added a subscription to your channel). Although I can't become an official channel supporter just yet...I may do so in the future). Thank You!

[@ThomasMuehler]

You are very kind and I deeply appreciate the compliments. Welcome to the family. Hopefully I can continue to provide you with helpful content.

[@jaredsalazarofficial]

6:28 Those cables don't have copper wires, audio is transported with the video through the fiber optic. 8:10 Yes, most of it are for durability. Unlike copper based hdmi, it's shielding is for physical protection rather than eletrical. 8:46 It's enclosure should be made of metal for dissipating a lot of heat during its optical-to-electrical conversion and vice-versa.

[@ThomasMuehler]

I appreciate the clarification! - For point 1: I've heard differing things. Some say it has fiber optic and copper. But you're saying it just has fiber optic. - Point 2: That would make sense. As fiber optic is more brittle than copper. - Point 3: Also makes sense!

[@dogymal7260]

There are copper wires for power the receiver end.

[@MrFaleh1129]

6:26 I dont think thats how it works cause if they are hybrid then it would just not go further than 5m i have a fiber cable that goes around 100m from my pc to my tv (its 2.1 but my tv is pretty old 1080p tv ) and i dont think any standard or material would go that far unless its fiber (i get sound and video from that cable) so its safe to say its purely fiber for both audio and video

[@ThomasMuehler]

You are correct. That was my mistake. Both video and audio are transferred over fiber. I read something during my research for this video that discussed what I said in the video. But looking that back up again shows that I was wrong. Thanks for catching that!

[@Majeskty]

Curious about if this would work with these type of HDMI cables. I have a Pioneer A/V for surround sound from my DirecTV Streaming Gemini Box or ROKU. I have all these current copper HDMI cables going to the appropriate input for switching etc.m then to the TV input. However, there are times I don’t want to have surround sound so it acts as a Pass-Through for the A/V. Will the Fiber Optic cable perform OK with this type of setup and Pass-Through? You mentioned not to use a HDMI Switch. Yes, these are all fairly short connections and not the long run’s that this type of cable would be great in signal degradation. However, thinking for other useage, but DANG those short cable lengths are no cheaper than like 33 ft cables.

[@kramt32]

I had this brand and length. It worked fine when I tested it but when I uncoiled it and connected it to my laptop I get horrible random disconnection

[@ThomasMuehler]

That is interesting and I appreciate you letting me know! I’m sorry you ran into troubles, that sounds super frustrating. Did you send it back? Get a new one through RMA? Figure out a way to fix it?

[@MaZEEZaM]

I don't know what your videos are generally about but you have my support for this video alone. Argh....FINALLY, I've been searching for exactly this product for years! Being restricted to a maximum of 5 metres has been such a pain, recently, our dog came into my room and nearly brought my Very expensive PC (due to building it during parts shortages, especially the RTX 3080 graphics card which cost me AUD $4K ALONE) and my LG G1 Oled TV high up on my wall, crashing down as she got caught on the cable which was hanging around 1ft off the ground because 5 metres wasn't long enough. that cable is now hanging from the ceiling in plain sight. if those Ruipro cables are available in Australia, I will buy at least two of the ten-metre cables or longer if they are available. I can't practically run them under the floor, in the ceiling or walls but if the length is long enough, I could run the cable flush with the skirting boards which would get rid of any trip hazards.

[@ThomasMuehler]

I'm hopeful that this solution will work well for you. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it if you try it out!

[@RJMin2]

Are there any advantages at lengths under 10ft?

[@ThomasMuehler]

No. Only argument I could make, which is an exceedingly poor one, is optical is maybe faster (because light travels fast) and I think less prone to interference? But I think at that length would be negligible if at all noticeable.

[@raeldor]

​@@ThomasMuehler What about not having to worry about electrical interference. I was getting black screen with regular cables because I suspect I was getting electromagnetic interference from nearby electrical cables. Moved to optical and no problem since.

[@ThomasMuehler]

@@raeldor Yes, a big selling point of optical is it being less prone to interference. So, in your case that does make perfect sense.

[@MJR_heyfunny]

That comment about there's nothing worse than troubleshooting an issue for hours and hours only to find that it was a bad cable. That definitely struck true for me recently as I was changing some things around with my gaming rig and I had my EVGA RTX 3080 FTW3 ultra that I had just fixed recently by having to replace the fans hooked back up to my main screen which is a 55-in q n e d LG ,4k which I had no issues with before but all the sudden I kept on having signal loss just every I don't know 5-10 minutes some days I would get a black screen for a few seconds right in the middle of gaming and so I thought maybe the HDMI port on my 3080 was bad cuz I tried several different cables and they all did the same thing and they were all supposedly high speed HDMI 2.1 cables. And then I decided well I'll just use an adapter for the display port outputs since there's only one HDMI but that caused all kinds of problems since I was trying to run 1440p in 120 hz it did not like that at all Windows was going absolute dog s*** crazy kept on moving apps and programs from one screen to the other screen because the other monitor was ultra widescreen that actually has a display port and supports everything that the cable supports. But windows was barely even detecting that it was connecting via HDMI hell at one point it even said it was DVI I was all kinds of confused. But today I did a bunch of research while I was on break from work and found out that those adapters don't really allow certain features even if your TV supports it to work properly in most cases. So I went back to maybe it's just the cable. Stopped at Best buy picked up a couple of audio quest 8 to 10K certified cables 48 GB speed and after connecting everything up I have zero issues now and it sounds and runs beautifully in fact now it runs at 4K 120 hz 120 FPS I might still take them back if some monoprice ones will do the same thing but I'd have to order them and I need them this weekend. I had no idea what a difference a first gen 2.1 cable versus a high-end 2.1 cable makes. Especially since my first one goes to my TV and then the second one goes from the eArc port on my TV to my soundbar and no more issues there either. ^_^

[@ThomasMuehler]

Oh man that sounds horrible. Glad you found your fix. It is definitely one of those that anytime you can minimize the amount of chains (in this case that adapter) the better. As you just run into less problems. As its pretty crazy how much tech is packed into a port or cable these days to get things working right. The amount of time I've spent looking at an adapter to just give up because it doesn't support anything is a lot. lol.

[@DarkKnight-gw4gw]

Great video. You mentioned that these cables (the 33-ft one) are in-wall rated, however I do not think this is the case. Nowhere on the Amazon product page is in-wall CL2 or CL3 rated mentioned. Typically, with long 2.1 fiber cables you have to choose between HDMI-certified or CL-2/CL-3 in-wall rated. There is like only one brand that I recall having both.

[@ThomasMuehler]

Then I was probably incorrect and appreciate you catching my mistake. I would have only said it if I read it somewhere. This video was a while ago so I don't remember everything off the top of my head so don't remember where I saw it to double check! And HDMI is still one of those things I have knowledge about but don't follow super close so am not an expert in. It does look like they have some CL2 rated cables. Didn't see CL3 or having both in one cable. Not quite sure how I fumbled. But I did and I'm very sorry about that.

[@Cantimule]

If it's just light passing through the cable, it shouldn't need such a rating surely? Or is there still copper in there for eARC or ethernet perhaps?

[@Butziwackel]

I've read that the connectors of fiber cables can get really hot, due to the electronic parts inside which transform electric signals to optic ones. Indeed there is a review of another cable where the user built some kind of active cooling for the connector to keep it cold, he said that you couldn't even put your fingers on it otherwise because of the heat. Is this an issue here too? I can hardly find any information about this, but it seems to be "normal" to fiber cables.

[@ThomasMuehler]

To be honest with you I don't know. That wasn't something that I noticed but also not something that I tested/looked for. Also, a lot of my normal setup isn't using those cables. And due to life I don't spend a lot of time on my devices with HDMI where I can run int through a proper test. I will say that yes, where you plug in the port gets warm/hot. But not to the point I couldn't pull it out with my fingers or would burn myself. But that is the case with other HDMI cables I've used too. I also would image there would be some type of universal law that prevents a cable from going past a certain temperature. Which is why certifications are so important.

[@Butziwackel]

@@ThomasMuehler thanks for your helpful answer. You're right, even the connector of a standard copper wire hdmi cable can get very warm. Well, I'll think about trying fiber cable. To my surprise there aren't many tests or user experiences available about such cables.

[@ThomasMuehler]

I agree. I haven't heard of many people testing that out. I'll make sure to try and remember that in the future! And also, if i find myself in a position where i can test that out I'll definitely get back to you. If I remember. @@Butziwackel

[@MJR_heyfunny]

I'll tell you what the HDMI cable I was using on my 3080 was always burning hot while I was gaming it was so hot that I got a small positional fan to sit underneath the slot pointed directly above to help cool it off.

[@Drollsfilms2]

Very good video!! I have a question...my PC is 5 meters away from the monitor (1080p-165hz). Does the Ruipro fiber optic displayport cable really work for gaming? Do they not produce frame loss-tearing? I need it to be fluid......I await your response and thank you!

[@ThomasMuehler]

Yes, it works for gaming. Yes, it won't produce frame loss/tearing. As that isn't so much the cable (it can be but at 1080 165 hz unlikely as the bandwidth needed for that isn't significant in comparison to 4K 144 HDR). More likely frame loss and screen tearing is coming from your monitor, CPU, GPU, or a setting(s) being off. As while these (and many other) cables support Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Quick Frame Transport (QFT) which give you the tools needed from a cable standpoint to perform at top level. But your monitor also needs to have HDMI 2.1 (although I think HDMI 2.0b would also support 1080 165 Hz), a VRR technology (Freesync or Gsync, preferably the higher end variants as they perform better, with G-Sync Official - Not supported mind you - giving the best results as it requires certification. But also need to turn on that VRR via software in your Nvidia Control Panel (or AMD panel equivalent) with V-Sync On inside the game. With frame rate locking

[@gbxx6692]

would an 8k capable hdmi couple work with hdmi fiber optic cables so that a short run cable could provide strain relief for a heavy guaged hdmi fiber optic cable?

[@ThomasMuehler]

I'm not an expert. From what I do know I don't see why that wouldn't work. As everything should handshake correctly. But I have learned when it comes to electronics the more complicated the setup the more likely something is to go wrong. So, I can't guarantee anything.

[@Lebensmude]

Very informative, and I wasn’t entirely sure about the differences in HDMI cables myself. The cable you’re showcasing definitely seems like a solid choice for a private home theater, whether you’re wanting to connect your TV to your PC or have a device hooked up to your PC/TV from a long distance or even within another room itself. Seems useful when connecting a device that is located inside while a TV is located outside, such as on a covered patio. Strong, sturdy material. In my personal use, I would not find much use for this as I have a sufficient HDMI cable connected from my PC to my 244Hz Acer Predator monitor roughly a foot away and another cable connecting to my curved Samsung monitor that I tend to use as a second screen. Regardless, thank you for the explanation Thomas. It taught me a few things and if I have elaborate projects in mind for the future I will consider this specific cord.

[@ThomasMuehler]

This would be a great choice for having a device in another room due to whatever. Some things that come to mind would be reducing heat or noise. With your current setup there certainly is no need for Fiber cables or crazy lengths. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@scrampker]

@@ThomasMuehler Trying to figure out why anyone would want the fiber cable unless they were physically going further than a standard cable allows... like 50ft or so. For normal home theater use, the cheapest crap copper cables on Amazon should work perfectly for all of this.

[@ThomasMuehler]

@@scrampker I agree. As mentioned in the video anything less than 15 feet a normal copper cable should be fine. But anytime you start pushing past that 6 foot mark you increase the chance of a copper cable having a defect or issue. These cables are really for those who need a cable >15 feet. Otherwise, 100% agree save the money and go with something cheaper.

[@scrampker]

@@ThomasMuehler I'm just amazed how cheap these fiber cables are, and that they can operate from the 50mA available on each port.

[@ThomasMuehler]

@@scrampker It is impressive isn't it.

[@jackskalski3699]

Is there any information on latency, does the conversion to light add noticeable latency?

[@ThomasMuehler]

From the little I've looked into it and the limited understanding I have optical is faster than traditional and the conversion would not be significant enough to be noticeable. I do not feel any added latency with optical. I don't think I notice any improvement either. Making it a wash in my opinion. But if what I'm saying is correct then having optical throughout your chain should lower the entire chain of latency on your system which could be noticeable with enough stacking. If that makes sense.

[@jackskalski3699]

@ThomasMuehler thanks for the information. Not noticeable is good enough for me :) in the meantime I searched for information on the topic and that conversalion can delay by 1-4 frames even if you delay only a handful of lines. The monitor will decide to wait at least one frame.

[@ThomasMuehler]

@@jackskalski3699 WHAT?! 1 - 4 FRAMES? If my math is correct (which is questionable) if a game is 60 FPS each frame is 16.67 ms so a total of 16.67 ms - 66.68 ms. Which seems like a lot. Interesting. I'll definitely have to look into this more when I have more free time on my hands.

[@jackskalski3699]

@@ThomasMuehler I've found that even if you are missing a few lines of image the monitor will wait for the next frame to display the complete data. Now depending on the refresh rate that varies. 60hz ~16ms and 240hz ~4.1 ms I guess. However that's a one off delayed frame situation. In case of constant conversion, the delay for all frames would be shifted constantly, so it should be in sync with the monitor refresh beat, so perhaps just the conversion latency of 0-1ms will be added?

[@ThomasMuehler]

@@jackskalski3699 OMG, it's been two weeks. I am so sorry on the delayed response. This is a question, are you sure the waiting for the next frame for complete data isn't just with all data, specifically when you have V-Sync or G-Sync enabled? As I thought with G-Sync if enabled correctly it would wait I thought a max of 1 frame if not less (when synced perfectly) preventing screen tearing while also helping lower latency and help with fluidity (and avoid stutter). Which is why G-sync modules are the bee's knees. But most people don't understand that tech correctly. I think FreeSync and the free version of Gsync tries to do this without a module but probably not to the same degree. But yes absolutely would depend on frame rate and monitor refresh rate. Because if what you are saying is true then that is a pretty substantial latency hit no matter what compared to a copper/regular cable. I definitely need to try and research this more. But it's a hard subject to find quality information on. As it goes pretty hardcore nerd pretty quickly. And just has a ton of different technologies coming into play that muddy the waters.

[@crimsonsunbear5732]

I think we need to talk about some lack of understanding of this technology and why it exist. First of FIBER OPTIC IS MORE FRAGILE! the cable doesn't stop working because " light can't bend severe angles" maybe not a exact quote, but rather because if you kink the cable it will crack the fiber in the cable and you will need to replace the cable. I believe that unless you need to run a cable longer than 5 meters you should run your cable using a traditional copper cable. ( as it is cheaper, and actually more rugged ) A lot of issues people have with copper cables comes from cheap manufactured cables, just buy a cable from a trusted brand ( and no crazy "premium" cable for 200+ bucks )

[@ThomasMuehler]

I appreciate you adding some clarification. Yes, I agree that fiber optic is more fragile. Yes, if you happened to crack the cable then it would be busted and stop working. But if you didn't and it wasn't working it would be due to what I was saying of light not refracting correctly around the bend. Which would be fixed once straightened and would continue to work since the fiber optics isn't broken. I also agree (and I thought I said that in the review) that if you are running

[@verysuperdave]

Question about refresh rate… you said that 144hz worked? And the cable is meant to be 4k 120hz? How is this possible?

[@ThomasMuehler]

Great question. Simple answer. Spec on piece of paper isn’t “fully accurate”. Either I wasn't running at 10-bit (I think I was) or I was using CVT-R or DSC. Most likely DSC. Semi-technical but simplified answer (as that's all I'm capable of) is that HDMI 2.1 has a bandwidth of 48 Gbps. Which can support 4K, 144Hz, at 10 bit color with Coordinated Video Timing-Reducing Blanking (CVT-R). Which essentially maxes out the signal and eliminates any overhead, kind of like removing unneeded words in a paragraph. However, most of the time it will opt to use Display Stream Compression (DSC) which is "visually lossless" type of compression. That works quite well. Going a bit more in the weeds. I do believe I'm at 10-bit color. But if I wasn't and at 8-bit color that would free up some bandwidth and allow me to get the full 4K, 144Hz without DSC. Next, I think most marketing material/specs on HDMI cables are targeting the TV market. Which max out (at least last time I checked) at 120 Hz refresh rate. Which most average folk are going to be going off of. Adding higher Hz could add confusion for most of the market as gaming with high end peripherals just recently became "mainstream" and even still, is limited population wise. Also, 120 Hz would be a safe target that they can consistently hit without any issues and claim without any compression. I’m sure there is HDMI compliance issue that fits in here somewhere too. Adding onto the last paragraph, for a long time Display Port 1.3/1.4 was the go to for high-end gaming monitors (anything with high refresh rate) over HDMI. It was only with the advent of HDMI 2.1 and the DisplayPort 1.4 (I think) that HDMI was finally ahead spec wise and became more dominant. Just recently the new DisplayPort 2.1 came out. Which most monitors/graphics cards DON'T support yet. Making them essentially useless. But has more bandwidth than HDMI 2.1. I believe Nvidia’s new 5000 series cards (5060, 5070, 5080, 5090, etc.) will be coming with both HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1. With only like 2 or 3 of the monitors that JUST (within the last month) came out have DisplayPort 2.1 and some of those aren’t even the full spec. But we’re like SUPER into the weeds right now so I’ll leave it at that.

[@page2of288]

optical fiber in the cable built in ?

[@ThomasMuehler]

Yes, instead of copper strands it uses fiber optic strands. Unless if it is a hybrid where it will use both.

[@robertbobbybob]

have you tested the copper ruipros? they're also UHS certified, already went through 3 different cables with flickering issues at 4k 120hz, im going insane so im hoping these are good before i pull the trigger

[@ThomasMuehler]

I got a sample from them with their very short thin copper cables. I haven't tested them very much. Just did a quick unboxing video for them. Additionally, with those being so short I'd be shocked if there were any problems. Which was a long way of me saying I don't know. I do like that Ruipro has certification. And the cables I have used from them all work great. But that's all I can say. If you do end up trying them I'd love to hear your results. Especially, if they are bad so I can let people know. How long of cables are you using and what are you using it on? These are the ones that I've used for my personal setup and they have worked great. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S1CGQ9Z/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

[@robertbobbybob]

@@ThomasMuehler one I can outright say weren't working are the thin fibbr cables, I used a 6ft one as an output for a capture one and was flickering every 20 seconds at 4k 8bit 120hz, I switched to the stock cable that came with the capture card as an output but now realizing my long input cables from highwings are doing the same thing after a while if I don't replug them daily. Really annoying 😅 got the 6ft copper ruipro in today and ordering a 10ft tonight I'll post an update if it all goes well

[@ThomasMuehler]

@@robertbobbybob Oh no! That is good to know though. Looking forward to your results with the 6 FT and 10 FT. But if you're going through a bunch of cables it almost makes me wonder if the cables aren't the issue and instead its the port, graphics card, or something else.

[@robertbobbybob]

@@ThomasMuehler so far I've left a game open for almost 2 hours with no hiccup, put it to 4k 10bit @120hz this time and its running with 0 issue! sticking with UHS certified stuff from now on 😅

[@ThomasMuehler]

@@robertbobbybob That's is wonderful news! I'm so glad to hear that. Hopefully it continues to be that way.

[@guillermoramirez1217]

Does this cable have heating in the connectors? I read that this is a problem with fiber optic hdmi cables

[@ThomasMuehler]

I’ve felt heat on all hdmi cables. This one didn’t seem any different than the others I’ve tried. But I didn’t look all that closely to this particular cable. Also dont have a lot of spare time where I’m watching or using these cables to give you a solid answer.

[@guillermoramirez1217]

@@ThomasMuehler thank you

[@StephenMcGregor1986]

Ran a lot of these sorts of cables (not the same brand) at the HiFi shop I worked at, they were never really that much warmer than the heat off the back of a modern receiver or other equipment. Don't think they'll ever get to the point of dangerous, they'll just start cutting in and out intermittently. Strain relief is exceedingly important as they can damage easily if not installed carefully inside wall cavities etc.

[@faisalalmutairii]

great review. is the ruipro cl2 cable similar to this in terms of performance? i am completely new to such cables and i find the cable in the review entitled on amazon as "ultra high speed". the cl2 cable is the black normal 3ft cable. thx

[@ThomasMuehler]

From my comparison (if I'm looking at the right product) the CL2 Certification means it was certified to have better Fire Resistance than the cable in the review. As I don't remember if the cable in the review had/has or was tested for that. Which makes it better for in wall use as it won't catch on fire. But with HDMI being low voltage I think risk of a fire is unlikely to start with. But does provide extra peace of mind. It also doesn't appear to be "certified HDMI" like the one in this review. Which I believe I discussed the pros/cons of that as well (if not I'd check out my HDMI cable video which explains more in-depth). Which essentially means peace of mind again as a cable kind of works or doesn't work. Which is a long way to say, yes either of these cables should work great. If they don't exchange them, and if that doesn't work return them and go with a different cable. But at 3 FT any cable should work.

[@faisalalmutairii]

@@ThomasMuehler thank you so much

[@roebuddy01]

Can you try this via a switch? Why could it possibly not work?

[@ThomasMuehler]

I read somewhere that they don't recommend it with a switch. I don't have one that would test it out correctly which I why I didn't test it. But my thought process (and this is PURE SPECULATION) is it depends on how you are setting it up. For example, with and HDMI switch the output sometimes sends signals both ways via eARC (PS5 --> Switch/Xbox --> Switch/Blu-ray Player --> Switch TV). With this being only a single direction maybe that wouldn't work correctly? Whereas, if you have it say (PS5 -> Switch -> TV) I think it would work just fine as you sending data one way. But the audio thing could be an issue as it is single direction? But I'm pretty sure this supports eARC anyways so I might be just spreading a bunch of misinformation. But that would be only thing I could think of that would cause issues. Or maybe if you had multiple optical cables plugged into the same thing it would causes some problem? I really don't know for sure.

[@StephenMcGregor1986]

@@ThomasMuehler eARC works with these cables. "Compatibility with eARC: Active HDMI 2.1 Cables: Active HDMI 2.1 cables are designed to support the latest high-bandwidth features, including 8K video at 60Hz and 4K video at 120Hz. These cables contain active components, such as signal boosters and equalizers, to ensure the integrity of the signal over long distances. However, their directionality means they are designed to work optimally in one specific direction: from the source (like a gaming console or Blu-ray player) to the display (like a TV or projector). eARC Functionality: Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) is an advanced feature of HDMI 2.1 that significantly improves upon the older Audio Return Channel (ARC). It allows for the transmission of high-quality audio formats, including uncompressed and object-based audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS , from the TV back to an audio system such as a soundbar or AV receiver. How Active HDMI 2.1 Cables Support eARC: Signal Boosting for Video: The active components in HDMI 2.1 cables primarily focus on boosting and processing the high-bandwidth video signals. These components ensure that the video signal remains robust and clear as it travels from the source device to the display, overcoming the signal degradation that can occur over longer cable runs. Dedicated eARC Wires: Inside an HDMI cable, there are multiple pairs of wires, each serving different functions. For eARC, a specific pair of wires within the cable is dedicated to handling the audio return signal. This pair is separate from those used for video and other data transmissions. Passive and Bidirectional Nature of eARC Wires: The wires dedicated to eARC are typically passive, meaning they do not rely on the active components that boost the video signal. These passive wires allow for bidirectional communication, meaning audio can flow from the TV to the audio system and vice versa. This bidirectionality is crucial because it enables the TV to send audio signals back to the audio system, even though the overall cable direction is optimized for video transmission from source to display. Ensuring eARC Compatibility: Manufacturers design active HDMI 2.1 cables with eARC compatibility in mind. The cable's active components do not interfere with the dedicated eARC wires, ensuring that the high-quality audio return channel operates seamlessly alongside the boosted video signal. Practical Implications: When using an active HDMI 2.1 cable with devices that support eARC, users can enjoy the full benefits of high-quality audio and video transmission without worrying about the directionality of the cable affecting the eARC functionality. This ensures that users can set up their home theater systems with confidence, knowing that their high-end audio and video equipment will communicate effectively through a single cable. Conclusion: Active HDMI 2.1 cables, despite their directional nature, are designed to fully support eARC by incorporating dedicated, passive, bidirectional wires for audio return. This design allows users to enjoy superior audio and video performance without compromising on functionality, making these cables an excellent choice for modern home entertainment systems." If they work with receivers which one could technically think of as advanced switches then why not more basic actual switches that fully support the standard and everything necessary behind it? Should be technically possible.

[@mrgringo7289]

So how about imput latency for gaming?

[@ThomasMuehler]

Put simply, no the difference is going to be negligible. More in-depth: An HDMI 2.1 cable, whether fiber optic or copper, will have the same specifications if both are high-quality and/or certified. This means they will support the same gaming features and data transfer rates. The cable itself is primarily responsible for transferring data, not processing it. Meaning it is the least likely part in the chain (PC, monitor, peripherals, etc.) to add noticeable latency. Fiber optic cables use light to transmit data, which can be faster than electrical signals in copper cables. However, at the short lengths typically used in home setups (6-12 feet), this speed difference is not significant enough to impact real-world performance. It’s like comparing a supercar to a typical car over a short distance; the performance difference exists but isn’t noticeable over such a short span. The main advantage of fiber optic cables is their resistance to electromagnetic interference, which becomes more relevant over longer distances, which hits on multiple things moreso than latency. And over very long distances you may see an improvement in latency due to less repeating and avoidance of electromagnetic interference. But I would still say with home gaming this is likely to not be noticeable. Now if you are talking about a stadium or sports arena or something then you probably would see a difference. As those runs are WAY longer.

[@mrgringo7289]

@@ThomasMuehler thank you!

[@MajorTendonitis]

I’ve got a 30 foot run from my Denon x1800 receiver to my lg oled . I bought a 25’ blue rigger and I’m not sure if it’s just in my head , but I swear the picture quality on my LG oled looked cleaner before when my portal was located right behind the oled with a 6’ hdmi . Nothing against blue rigger ,as it’s probably fine, but for peace of mind I’m debating to try an optical hdmi . Things are a little tight at 25 feet , and I’d like to go 30 feet . But every time I look at reviews on Amazon , they either claim they don’t last long , or created more issues than it solved .

[@ThomasMuehler]

Oh man. You hit on some hot topics. Digital is supposed to be either on or off. So, can a picture actually look better? According to that statement no. But what if there is some interference and/or if the bandwidth was just enough to make a picture but not the whole picture? Or was enough for standard color gamut but not the more advanced ones? If you got the full bandwidth would that provide better picture quality as nothing is being bottlenecked? I don't have the correct answer as I'm unsure. As I'm torn. as part of me says that just isn't possible. But also don’t’ fully understand the science behind it. But also understand enough where I consider the above. As for the optical cable. This is all subjective. As I can only talk about from my own personal testing. I personally like them. I don't think they create any more issues than others. My biggest issue is that they are unidirectional, and I’ve been dumb and not looked or gotten them missed up run the cable and then it is backwards. Additionally, you want to not cause any kinks as that can break the internals and light doesn’t bend well. Which I think some people have run into problems. These are thicker cables (which is a good thing in this case) making it hard to bend them, but also soft enough they are easy to manipulate. It’s a nice sweet spot. I haven’t had any of my optical cables die on me. I have had normal HDMI cables die on me though. But also use those more often and the ones that have died have seen a lot of use and plugging/unplugging, manipulating, etc. If you have the money, really want that extra 5 feet, and are going optical, I do recommend this brand and this cable. As all my cables from them have been excellent. With that said, they have sent me a lot of cables which is why I know of them. So, take that as you will. But if I were to buy a cable, I’d buy one from them just because I know what I’m getting and have liked them in the past. In other words, taking the sponsorship or whatever you want to call it out of it. I have tried them, they have lived up to my expectations, and therefore, would continue to use them based on them proving themselves. Just like I would any other product that I’ve tried and enjoyed. For example, I like Razer mice as they are doing great work. So, would buy more Razer mice if needed as they have a proven track record for me. Whereas, Logitech mice. Used to love them, but they have been dropping the ball a lot and get a sub-par product now for premium price. Due to that I no longer recommend them. Also, I haven’t had any comments that said these cables haven’t worked well for them. But in general feedback via my comments has been limited.

[@MajorTendonitis]

@@ThomasMuehlerwow thanks for the reply. I believe you’re right ,as digital should either be off or on. I just found purchased a hdmi Fiber just for peace of mind. I’m not liking that I have something active in the chain reliability wise ,but with my phobia I have no choice . Liked and subbed . Hope you do well with your channel , as you made a good video with no background music nonsense 😊

[@ThomasMuehler]

@@MajorTendonitis I appreciate the encouragement! Also, if you remember and care to get back to me I'd love to hear your thoughts once you get it in and try it out.

[@MajorTendonitis]

@@ThomasMuehler will do . I’m almost regretting the idea , as of by chance is dies as a lot state on Amazon , it’s going to be a lot f work to get out once the walls are up. It’s in duct, but still a bear to fix , as I have linear actuator moving the stereo on drawer slides to get access , and the lines other than power are all tied up together in a harness . I had that passive one from Blue Rigger was probably fine , but I didn’t care for the size or weight as it as huge and heavy ,probably because it was a heavier gauge than normal . So then I got to thinking put the kibosh on hdmi all together , so I moved my cable portal to behind the lg oled , and used a toslink Fiber out of the tv back to the receiver. It works fine , but I’m missing the Denon receivers graphic interface a little . So as bad as I don’t want to , that’s what’s led me back to hdmi .

[@MajorTendonitis]

I’m not sure if you’re allowed to post a link of your own KZbin video , but I’ll try . It’s still work in progress as I’ve ordered some longer cables so I can things up better and arrange them so they don’t get snagged on the new cabinet that will be below it . May put a light weight bungee cord on the harness once it’s all tied up kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYKqd5xse7tkl68si=A8zhLAKm5mlWbT2x

[@Karol-g9d]

I went full fiber optic with my new isp . For xbox is wify enough or should i get hdmi fiber ? Wifi on xbox serie x is maxed out

[@ThomasMuehler]

Honestly, I've never actually used internet via HDMI so know nothing about it. I also don't know what devices officially support that. So you'd have to do research on that yourself. They say that wired is always best for gaming as it is going to have the least amount of variability. However, the new Wi-Fi 6/7 is pretty impressive. So I'm not sure how long that will continue to be the case. My recommendation would be to do some A-B testing yourself. So I'd just set up a monitor or something (that is quality) and then go into multiple matches both wired and wireless and look at your latency and see how it feels. If you don't feel a difference then go with wireless. If you do then figure out how to wire it all up.

[@Karol-g9d]

@@ThomasMuehler my bad . The internet is ethernet after isp fiber optic modem . I was wondering if any had tested in this configuration after fiber modem say etherner fiber optic and hdmi fiber optic . Why ? It seem the non fiber optic pacing system is not able to tempo it self properly

[@ThomasMuehler]

That is not something I have done. But if you find an answer I would love to hear it.@@Karol-g9d

[@StephenMcGregor1986]

Used to work at a HiFi store and we sold the Kordz PRS4 cables. Same sort of thing... "Data Rate: Up to 48Gbps (FRL mode) | up to 18.2Gbps (TMDS mode) Video Resolution: Up to 8K (7680 x 4320) / 10K (10240 x 4320) Video Refresh Rate: Up to 240 frames per second Colour Depth: Up to 16 bits Colour Formats: RGB 4:4:4 / Y’CBCR 4:2:2 / Y’CBCR 4:2:0 Content Protection: Up to HDCP 2.3 supported Audio Sample Rate / Channel: Up to 192KHz Audio Sample Size: Up to 24 bits Audio Channels: Up to 32 channels Audio Formats Supported: DTS Master, DTS:X, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos Auxiliary HDMI Features Supported: Consumer Electronic Control (CEC), Auto Lip-Sync Correction, Ethernet channel, Audio Return Channel (ARC), Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC), High Dynamic Range (HDR), Dynamic HDR, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Quick Media Switching (QMS), Quick Frame Transport (QFT), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Display Stream Compression (DSC), Source-Based Tone Mapping (SBTM) Technical info HDMI CERTIFICATION 10.0m - 20.0m ACTIVE OPTICAL HDMI CTS Certification: Ultra High Speed HDMI® Cable DPL Labs Certified Data Rate: 12.0Gbpsc, 48Gbps agg Supported Data Rate: ≥12.0Gbpsc, 48Gbps agg (8K UHD) Supported HDMI Clock: 1200MHz MECHANICAL Cable Diameter: 5.5mm±0.30mm / 8.2mm±0.30mm Mounting Length: 41.9mm/1.96″ Cable Bend Radius: 20.0mm/0.78″ - 25.0mm/ 0.98″ Retention Force (nom): 20N (approx. 2kg / 4.4lbs) +10/-5% CONSTRUCTION FRL/TMDS Conductors : OM2 (50/125µm) optical fibre Conductors: Bare copper, 32-26AWG Shielding Overall: Al-PET (nom. 25% overlapping, Al side face out) Tinned copper wire braiding(16/13/0.08mm), with nom. 85% coverage Cable Jacket Material: LSZH rated composite (10.0m - 15.0m), PVC composite (20.0m) HDMI Connector Shell: Anti-fatigue die cast Zn alloy, 1μ” 24K Gold plated HDMI Connector Pins: Solid OFC, 15μ” 24K Gold plated Active Technology: Directional, In-shell Optical Light Engine HDMI Backshells: ABS front shell with PVC injection moulded boot and strain relief" Also UL CMG Fire Rated. Pricey but fit for purpose. Basically essential cables for a modern custom home theater install with a projector.

[@ThomasMuehler]

Yep. Absolutely. Expensive, yes. But depending on the purpose worth the investment.

[@StephenMcGregor1986]

@@ThomasMuehler Such cables also pass eARC btw. Compatibility with eARC: Active HDMI 2.1 Cables: Active HDMI 2.1 cables are designed to support the latest high-bandwidth features, including 8K video at 60Hz and 4K video at 120Hz. These cables contain active components, such as signal boosters and equalizers, to ensure the integrity of the signal over long distances. However, their directionality means they are designed to work optimally in one specific direction: from the source (like a gaming console or Blu-ray player) to the display (like a TV or projector). eARC Functionality: Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) is an advanced feature of HDMI 2.1 that significantly improves upon the older Audio Return Channel (ARC). It allows for the transmission of high-quality audio formats, including uncompressed and object-based audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS , from the TV back to an audio system such as a soundbar or AV receiver. How Active HDMI 2.1 Cables Support eARC: Signal Boosting for Video: The active components in HDMI 2.1 cables primarily focus on boosting and processing the high-bandwidth video signals. These components ensure that the video signal remains robust and clear as it travels from the source device to the display, overcoming the signal degradation that can occur over longer cable runs. Dedicated eARC Wires: Inside an HDMI cable, there are multiple pairs of wires, each serving different functions. For eARC, a specific pair of wires within the cable is dedicated to handling the audio return signal. This pair is separate from those used for video and other data transmissions. Passive and Bidirectional Nature of eARC Wires: The wires dedicated to eARC are typically passive, meaning they do not rely on the active components that boost the video signal. These passive wires allow for bidirectional communication, meaning audio can flow from the TV to the audio system and vice versa. This bidirectionality is crucial because it enables the TV to send audio signals back to the audio system, even though the overall cable direction is optimized for video transmission from source to display. Ensuring eARC Compatibility: Manufacturers design active HDMI 2.1 cables with eARC compatibility in mind. The cable's active components do not interfere with the dedicated eARC wires, ensuring that the high-quality audio return channel operates seamlessly alongside the boosted video signal. Practical Implications: When using an active HDMI 2.1 cable with devices that support eARC, users can enjoy the full benefits of high-quality audio and video transmission without worrying about the directionality of the cable affecting the eARC functionality. This ensures that users can set up their home theater systems with confidence, knowing that their high-end audio and video equipment will communicate effectively through a single cable. Conclusion: Active HDMI 2.1 cables, despite their directional nature, are designed to fully support eARC by incorporating dedicated, passive, bidirectional wires for audio return. This design allows users to enjoy superior audio and video performance without compromising on functionality, making these cables an excellent choice for modern home entertainment systems.

[@josephcontreras8930]

Oh boy more cables running everywhere😅😅😅

[@ThomasMuehler]

Dude... so many cables. Even when I try not to use a lot of cables I still have way too many.

[@andreamitchell4758]

HDMI is a shit standard they should have just ditched it instead of making 2.1 copper cables and just built the optical converter circuitry into the TV's and components instead and went with smaller and better connectors, HDMI is old as dustified shit and the ports and male connectors are a shit design. they should have gone full optical fiber like SPDIF cables

[@ThomasMuehler]

I have to say this is the first time I'm hearing this perspective. I don't know enough about the actual science between SPDIF and HDMI to give a good response. From my limited understanding. SPDIF was limited in its bandwidth. Whereas, HDMI has a lot more bandwidth which makes it a superior standard. But from an interference and all that standpoint see how SPDIF was a cool technology. As I used to be a big fan until it maxed out and wasn't offering as good of features. But I wonder if that as you say is more of a port thing than a cable thing. If you feel like going more in-depth I'd love to hear it. If not I totally understand.

[@andreamitchell4758]

@@ThomasMuehler no what I mean is that they should have adopted a fiber cable standard for video like they did for SPDIF for audio. they sell HDMI fiber optic hybrid cables now that incorporate several different technologies. each end or cable hear has a converter in it that converts the optical signal from the fiber back to HDMI copper and this they can only be connected in one direction because one end is the transmitter and one end is the receiver. These cables are used for long runs but if you have anything over 15" and sometimes less you run into problems with copper. These cables also use standard copper connections for audio and other stuff like CEC and ARC. what I meant is that they should have ditched HDMI over a decade ago, I have was asking why new TV's didn't have mini display port connections ten years ago . HDMI is so ancient it is as old as mini USB , maybe even older yet it has not really evolved in terms of hardware or connectors unless you count the useless mini and micro HDMI connectors. I am saying they should have maybe built the video signal optical converters , transmitters and receivers into the TV's AVRs and other components and also included a fiber for audio in the same cable. so just one optical cable for audio and video like HDMI. SPDIF cables are not expensive because hey are just fiber, the HDMI fiber hybrid cables are expensive because they have onboard circuitry on both ends in he cable heads that do the converting from optical to wire. they could have standardized a built inn converter like SPDIF did

[@ThomasMuehler]

@@andreamitchell4758 Gotcha. That makes sense now. Appreciate you taking the time to explain that to me. I totally agree with everything you're saying. I wonder if the reason why they haven't is because they know making money off cables is a lucrative business compared to just having that built into the TV? As much as I hate to always point as money being the reason. Sometimes it is.

[@RobertO-hl5kx]

✅ *PromoSM*

[@rjames7380]

I've had nothing but issues trying to span my 3080 @ 4k 120hz to my lrg screen in living room. From audio glitches, loss of signal, or screen tears. The solution was to accept unplugging, rebooting pc and reconnect. Also to never try to exceed 60hz. HDMI fiber sounds like the quick fix before having to go and renovate the living room. Albiet hdmi fiber might be the only option for that anyway to make sure all content (& games) remain snappy and lag free

[@ThomasMuehler]

If you end up going with a Fiber HDMI cable I'd love to hear how that ends up working for you. From my understanding (and testing myself) this seems like the best option.

[@rjames7380]

I will keep you updated. Should be in the NXT few months.

[@StephenMcGregor1986]

Good idea every few years if you upgrade your other equipment to also upgrade your cabling as standards change and improve over time to ensure interoperability

[@AndrewB23]

This cable is shit, I had more drop outs and no device detected than my standard cable

[@ThomasMuehler]

Oh no that is terrible news. I'm sorry to hear that. But do appreciate you letting me know. I think you're the first person that has said anything negative about them.

[@mirarid]

Nope.

[@ThomasMuehler]

Nope what? Please elaborate.

[@jasonrebelo181]

CANADA PPL -> WOWWWW $247.24 amazon, appreciate the video and warning of caution on the price to Canadians. LETS GET THIS ON SAY: $80-$140 max. ITS a 30ft CABLE no thank you at that amount - do another more affordable affiliate ;) cheers

[@ThomasMuehler]

Yeah, I'm sorry. These cables are crazy expensive. That's for sure.

[@jasonrebelo181]

@@ThomasMuehler Hey Thomas appreciate the reply, for you and anyone else that may see my comment, i ended up having to buy 4 before one was properly working read-on if you like. (FYI not the cable in the video above, a chinese amazon resellers listing products that arent what they actually are haha) **The "order" for my case, a 30ft HMDI 2.1 cable of bringing 3080ti cyberpunk to next room over, sony 65"4k 120hz tv. - 1st cable came about 5ft shorter than it should, and would only do 60hz booooo... - 2nd ran fine for 2 days then started flickering and losing connection, this drove me crazy for a couple days as i thought i gonked the port after so much in-out the last couple years... no the port was fine: - 3rd came way longer and stiffer (-_-) than needed haha thought it was going to be good when i opened but na it was a problem with that far a run also some flicker when on 120hz and not 60hz. - 4th and one im still actively using WITHOUT issue is this below(mind you its a couple feet shorter than should have come but i am A-OK with it works for my need currently and its running 4k 120hz no issue and honestly looks better than others *placebo? but ye maybe i am happy now after all the headache Ill paste the name here for anyone that wants to go buy it or Thomas tell me to edit this out and i will but its not affiliated and its certainly not reputable but. its a maluable fiber optic hdmi2.1 thats worked perfect in my case, so far and after a couple weeks of trial and error. yes its usually $40-50 CAD. get on sale for less than $50 CAD is it worth paying once and getting something good, in this case maybe haha but im smooth running now. "Stouchi 8K HDMI Fiber Optic Cable 30ft, 48Gbps Ultra High Speed HDMI 2.1 Cable, CL3 Rated, 10K 8K60Hz 4K120Hz 2K144Hz Dynamic HDR HDCP 2.2 & 2.3 eARC Compatible for PS5, Xbox Series X, Apple TV 4K" and that name is maybe not all true but thats the title on Amazon. ****NOTE the other lengths of that brand are not the same cable type/sheathing they are different from what i received with a 30ft different from the rest- i know cuz i ordered few lengths... just the 30ft order applies to this comment***