Three of the Best HDMI Solutions for Long Distance Runs of 4K/8K Video

In this video, we discuss the Three Best ways to transmit HDMI 4K/8K HD video from your source to your display devices with subject matter expert and ISF calibrator Jason Dustal. This includes: active HDMI cables (ie. Bullet Train HDMI cables), Cat6 with HDMI Baluns, raw Fiber with HDMI Baluns.
For Active HDMI, check out: www.bullettraincables.com/
For HDMI Baluns, check out: www.avproedge.com/
Thanks to HavenSmart for Installation Help: www.havensmart.com/
Read about Jason Dustal: bit.ly/JasonDustal
0:00 Introduction
0:50 AH Smarthome
1:45 3 Ways to Transmit HD Video
2:20 Passive Copper HDMI Cable Limitations
3:10 Preconstruction Wiring Recommendations
3:22 Cat 6A
3:50 Fiber
4:17 Types of Fiber
5:22 What we Run
5:36 Bullet Train HDMI Cable
6:50 What to look For When Buying HDMI Cable
8:10 What is HDMI USB Power for?
10:03 Cable Direction?
11:22 Best Solutions for HDMI
13:30 Cable Bandwidth Limitations
15:00 Cat5 Considerations
15:40 Fiber Balum Extenders?
17:10 3 HDMI Long Run Solutions Recap
17:50 Toolkits to test HDMI
18:40 Denon/Marantz HDMI Diagnostic Mode
19:30 How Are You Doing It?
20:25 Run Conduit!
20:55 Final Considerations
22:00 Terminating HDMI Cables
26:20 Bloopers
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Read Everything You Need to Know about HDMI 2.1: bit.ly/HDMI21explained
For Active HDMI, check out: www.bullettraincables.com/
For HDMI Baluns, check out: www.avproedge.com/
Shop Audio Advice: bit.ly/3thUFI1
Recommended Subwoofers:
SVS SB-1000 Pro: audioadvice.io/36Pea3a
SVS PB-1000 Pro: audioadvice.io/3sreeyk
SVS SB-3000: bit.ly/SVSSB3000Sub
Paradigm Defiance X12: bit.ly/ParadigmX12
Recommended AV Receivers:
Denon AVR-X3700H 9.2CH AV Receiver: audioadvice.io/33XJ2gH
Yamaha RX-A2A: audioadvice.io/3ppWFg9
Denon AVR-X6700H 11.2CH AV Receiver: audioadvice.io/3HsdEou
Anthem MRX1140: bit.ly/MRX1140
Recommended Speakers:
SVS Prime 5.1 Speaker / Sub System: audioadvice.io/3JZJOt5
Polk R700 Tower Speakers: audioadvice.io/3C0TK2B
Heco Aurora 700: bit.ly/HecoAurora700spks
Heco Aurora 1000: bit.ly/Aurora1000
Klipsch RP-8000F Tower Speakers: audioadvice.io/3445l4A
Sony SSCS5 Speakers:audioadvice.io/3td2O0w
SVS Prime Elevation Surround: audioadvice.io/35aZCdR
Audioholics Recommended Cables:
250ft CL2 12AWG Speaker Cable: amzn.to/2vwS9QH
50ft 10AWG Speaker Cable: amzn.to/3DeMTT5
Locking Banana Plugs: amzn.to/2ZQt15x
9ft 4K HDR HDMI Cables: amzn.to/2WiIXeD
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#HDMI #4K #Gaming

[@gregheard6024]

awesome video. Based on this video was able to have Steve from AVPro come visit and look at setup with current Axion 8x8 and identify some items with these test units shown in the video. Hope to get to meet Jason next spring with the Grimani theater to be done by then soon. Great products and great support. Thanks Gene for having them on!

[@dlorde]

I upgraded from a basic HD projector to 4K UHD, and with the old HDMI cable, the 4k UHD signal from my Marantz preamp didn't make it the 10m to the projector. So I bought a new cable, supposedly 4K UHD spec, but although the projector saw a signal, it couldn't make sense of it - possibly the cable, or maybe the preamp couldn't drive it. In the end, I took the plunge and bought a 10m active fibre cable that worked first time, and still works every time. Sometimes it's worth paying a little extra...

[@adamjj85]

Great stuff Gene and Jason! I'm building a theater now and ran fiber HDMI cables as well as conduit everywhere for futureproofing and 2 additional zones of video.

[@Lifegoeson654]

Thanks

[@wober777]

instead of using cables that will eventually be obsolete, pipe it in conduit so you can pull whatever you want in the future. I would probably run Smurf but I haven't wired a house in 25 years so there is likely something better by now.

[@kahuna1247]

A conduit was my first thought as well. Seems like common knowledge.

[@tonycipps8443]

Lol I was just going to post the same thing.

[@robertbaird7001]

@@tonycipps8443 I commented as soon as they said about fitting two cables for redundancy. It is crazy to fit cables like this and have to trash the place to replace them when you can just pull a new one with the old like he said later. But today it's just how fast you can install it that matters.

[@victorpulos823]

Good information

[@maxpower78-15]

This one should be helpful for many. Cheers and happy memorial day to Gene and Co.. just added two more speakers to my home theater and now have 11.2 channels. Preparing for Top Gun Maverick on 4k Bluray. Tested w blade runner 2049 and mad max fury road. Really put the system through its paces. Just glorious

[@festivaljapan]

great. I'm your fan.

[@2gnospam]

Thanks!

[@haukurorsson833]

I have a conduit from the AVR to the projector. About a 10 meters run. Had an Amazon basics copper cable which worked fine for my old PJ (1080p). I upgraded to a 4K projector and had some issues with the signal. Would not always sync at 4K/60 for example. Replaced the cable with a RuiPro Gen3 fiber HDMI cable and it has worked flawlessly.

[@AngelDavila386]

Great video Gene, I have a quick tip, the Apple tv also can test your HDMI cable.

[@Tidbitkid]

Do the runs in Condit and have access points. Have a few pullstrings and do best practice of the time leave the pullstrings for future use to pull latest and greatest in 10-15 years when you need to update major components or noticing major Performance issues.

[@adityabharadwaj1195]

Great video Gene, thanks. I have a bullet train AOC for my projector run, and was desperate to see reviews about a year and a half ago. I bit the bullet (train) and got it nonetheless. Have been very happy with the Bullet Train AOC as well as copper core cables.

[@lbudt29]

I worked at a hospital, and we planned 10 years out. Get it done while you are at the site.

[@bobulatorul]

What’s the name and model of the fiber cable you have installed? I am looking to install fiber in a residential build but I’m confused as there are so many different types, etc.

[@jeffboettler2569]

I just moved my new Anthem 740 into a closet and needed to run a 40-50ft HDMI from my Sony A80K OLED TV to the receiver using the eARC connection. However, I kept getting a popping sound when transitioning into or out of videos on the apps on the TV. I've tried the Monoprice 50ft fiber optic HDMI eARC cable, a different 50ft fiber optic cable from amazon, and then a regular 40ft HDMI cable. All of them give a popping sound. It seems when Anthem gets a signal on or from an eARC source and there is a change from stereo to surround or vice-versa, the Anthem is trying to turn on or off amplifiers but the handshaking gets in the way which results in a popping. Is there a way to confirm that the Bullet Train cable will not have the popping? Or is converting to CAT6a a better guarantee ?

[@jamesmay1241]

What speakers are those. Very cool looking.

[@wagonet]

Just got a fiber hdmi cable that is 150 feet long. I'm impressed. And the cable is so thin

[@brucenator930]

Wish I could go back and prewire for fiber. Anyways I have gone through several long runs with high end $100+ HDMI cables (Ruipro HDMI Cable 40ft) with failures after about a year. Found on KZbin Doug Johnson Productions videos that use SDI to HDMI convertors with coax that answered my problems. Maybe you can make a video on how to use them. They work great.

[@Chewster84]

I have been looking at the Celerity Technologies Universal Fiber Optic HDMI cable that is 40 foot long and able to do 8k video at 60 Hz. Question that I have is this fiber optic cable better or about the same as Bullet Train cable for its reliability.

[@williamkramer9069]

I'm using a 10 meter passive copper bullet train HDMI for my Epson 6050. Works well and has all the certifications on the jacket for inspection/safety.

[@paul8926]

I use the same Belkin HDMI cables to connect each line, I believe they should all match !

[@Knarf14]

Any recommendations on hdmi cables that are only 15ft or so or is anything off amazon ok ?

[@ernie548]

I am pretty sure its a bit less about the cable these days and more about the transmitters and receivers. Your TV or AV Receiver, DVD/BD/4K players transmitters will only be able to push so much power in addition to their primary purposes. Not every transmitter a company makes will handle long distance transmission power needed and maximum signal strength at the highest rates as that is not each components primary role. As you noted, Fiber is the way. Fiber is not sending electrical power, which normally takes bigger and bigger cables. A big plus is it is not subject to interference (in a small home/business) like EMI from electrical connections are. Its just better. Look at a Toslink cable compared to all your audio cables today with all their shielding needed how large the diameters are, which is a fair relative example. One note I would consider that was mentioned , is cutting and resetting the end of a cable. True it can be done physically, but for electrical the exact length of a cable matters relative to its wave form, as where a signal start/stops should be at a peak of a wave and not in between. That is part of what cables get certified for. Do not allow an installer to say otherwise and in the digital computer world where I have worked (Silicon Valley) we ensure any install gets tested and category certified *after it is installed*. You can end up with weird problems that are really hard to troubleshoot (reflections and retransmissions). All of this is expensive though, more beyond most of us home pro-sumers and getting to the outer edges of commodity consumer electronics.

[@aussie8114]

A very interesting subject but also a complicated one. Expert advice is definitely needed. I need to do a simple thing of running a USB cable from an iPad to my amp for best audio quality, the length is 8 metres. I’ve ordered a Supra USB cable because they say their USB cable will go up to 15 metres. Hopefully 8 metres will be ok and the audio quality will sound very good. I can’t measure the quality so I will just have to judge it by my old ears.

[@wendellprice7220]

Very informative piece. That said, I am still having a video & audio drop out problem. System consists of a Anthem MRX 540 AVR, Ruipro 8k fiber optic cable, 20ft, with doggle installed, Epson Home Cinema 1080 Projector, with a 4k Roku. I am at a loss as to why I am still having this issue. Is there any particular HDMI cable, or babble amplifier that will resolve this issue. 19:46

[@rezenclowd3]

The Ruipro cable is the best worst cable you can buy...Just get the bullet train AOC 48Gbps one.

[@asfbi]

any way to go from my 3090 to my 4k 120hz hdr tv 40-50 feet for less than $500? tried a "fiber" hdmi from amazon and no luck that bullet trains crazy expensive

[@fugrr]

i have avpro edge AC-EX40-444 with 10meters of cat7shielded between them from my denon 8500 to a samsung qnfn.there is a video delay of 10 to 15 seconds when switching devices,its annoying.im thinking of using some bullet train optic hdmi cables if it would cut the video switch delay time at least by half.whats your thoughts?

[@fugrr]

with the samsung one connect box and extended fiber cable everything switched faster but i moved things because i plan to replace tv in the near future.

[@VBS-India]

GreatContent

[@ChrisDaytrader]

i use cat 8, why not just use that, any reason why not ? awesome video as usual, thx guys

[@markulrich3016]

Okay for 4K, but not 8K. Fiber cable is smaller in diameter, much more flexible and capable of supporting much more than 48Gbps.

[@desmondgillam112]

hi, jean optical cable to projector no proplems .

[@mlchemwolf]

this is nice, what about AV over IP, would that also be a solution

[@rezenclowd3]

No, IP is too slow, requiring too much overhead needed for the timings.

[@hank1938]

My TV just started getting these grey-black lines across it. Gonna have to buy a new TV now...

[@michaelsa892]

I ran conduit in the wall and ceiling

[@Glasher1]

I'm running an older desktop with an Intel Core i7 4790K 4.0GHz and an Asus GeForce GTX 980 4GB STRIX. I need to tie it into an older flat screen TV. The only hitch is that I need 40' of cable to do this. Suggestions?

[@JohnDaniels]

Good video thank you I wish I would also talk in feet and not just meters I don't know if you are in the US or Europe

[@brucerider8361]

Please clarify: Gene has consistently spoke of installing Cat6 cables in the new smart house. Jason consistently said his company recommends installing Cat6A as a minimum. Neither discussed the difference between these two cables standards. I installed Cat5e when I built my home 17 years ago. Now I need to run a couple of new cables. I’ve opted to use Cat6A. Can Jason please explain why he suggests Cat6A and will Gene please explain why he used and suggests viewers use Cat6? I know the main topic was HDMI, but this discrepancy jumped out to me. I want to know if I’m going in the right direction! Thanks!

[@donaldlee6760]

I believe that cat 6 is older, slower, and not as easy to purchase. Last month I bought a bulk roll of cat 6a from monoprice (in-wall fire rated) and terminated myself..inexpensive and easy DIY. [correction on Feb 20, 2023 - I actually purchased fire rated Cat 6, not fire rated Cat 6a]

[@donaldlee6760]

@Slim_Savage - I think there is confusion between Cat 6 and Cat 6a. I decided to upgrade my home to Cat 6 because it only cost $140 per 1000 feet, is typically thinner and more flexible, and I did not need to go further than 120 feet. If I needed to go further than 120 feet then I would have spent the extra money ($260 per 1000 feet) for Cat 6a cable and did the extra work to snake fatter and stiffer cables in my wall.

[@srinivasanhariharan6489]

Hi Friend. I have EPSON LS11000 laser projector. From their I have connected a HDMI Cable ( iBirdie 4K Fiber Optic HDMI Cable 100 Feet Full 4K60Hz (4:4:4 RGB HDR10 HDCP2.2) 1440p 144Hz 18Gbps High Speed Ultra HD Directional Active Cord). My projector has EARC, so I had purchased a Bose sound bar and to connect their earc. The length of the HDMI cable from projector to the sound bar is 130 feet. 100 feet from projector and 30 feet from soundbar. (Note: Now I cannot remove or add any connection now) . Now I need a way to connect both the ends. The video is coming fine but the audio is not coming fully. it is getting loss for every 15 seconds. I need a way to connect this without any loss. Advise how to achieve. Is there a way i can reach you by phone or email. Expect your expert advice.

[@combat_fighter1]

wireless hdmi extenders could be an easier options even for long distances of close to 100m

[@rgarc514]

Well that's what I was just going on right there I leave internet the orange stuff and I have that tied off and I always when I pull the cable I always have jetline and I'll tie on another piece at the end so that way I'll leave another one in place. To my new Samsungs and LG TVs they both requested the cat 7s so that's what they've got going to them. And that other video were your terminating the fiber right before you leave it with you get us those alcohol pads and the alcohol should be the above 70 it should be in the 90 so that way it doesn't leave any streaks on the glass

[@infirmux]

why not put plastic flexible electrical conduit pipes? Then you can replace cables any time not much hassle.

[@WindomRettes]

Lookin' Buff Gene.

[@marvinabugov4579]

So Cat6a only provides up to a 10G signal BUT av receivers and projectors can provide up to 18 G media. How does this work? Am I missing something?

[@fl3shgordon]

Signal is compressed from 18 to 10G. Some forms of compression are better than others but still compressed.

[@marvinabugov4579]

Thx but still confused. So the av receiver gets a 10 gig signal, so does the av receiver “uncompress” the signal to give the projector an 18 gig signal or whatever it can take?

[@fl3shgordon]

You need a pair of adaptors. One at the source that converts from HDMI to CAT 6 and compresses and one at the other end that converts from CAT 6 to HDMI and uncompresses the signal. It’s lossy compression but what they are saying is you can’t tell the difference vs just using an HDMI cable. I suspect this depends on the size of your screen and viewing distance. So this is good for people who don’t have conduit in the walls but do have Ethernet cable in place. 11:30 in the video is where they cover this solution.

[@marvinabugov4579]

@@fl3shgordon Ok thx for this! I will take another look at the video. Very much appreciated! 👍🥳🍾

[@rezenclowd3]

At this point in time, I would install Cat 8 (skip Cat 7, it was never certified). Cat8 is 25Gbps or 40Gbps. In my house I run OM4 fiber for multimode or OS2 for singlemode. I prefer singlemode, and I do plenty of runs because much of my stuff won't work over IP, so it is direct connection, or if possible to a splitter/matrix. Basically overbuild and put in IP based stuff as well as direct.

[@joes3800]

So no recommendations for wireless? I still appreciate this video, but I was hoping to have a wireless solution that has been tested and subsequently recommended.

[@blackpietto]

My epson only does wireless in 1080p. Wireless 4K at this time has to little bandwith.

[@ChrisDaytrader]

But do you get input or delay over these long runs ?

[@haukurorsson833]

Nope. The signal travels at the speed of light (or about). A few feet/meters of additional cable length will not cause any delay, not a chance.

[@ChrisDaytrader]

@@haukurorsson833 Ok thx.

[@humanitysonlyhope]

I am using a fiber optic HDMI cable to run 4k 120hz games from my PC with an RTX 3090 to my LG C9 OLED tv but it was a pain to find one that would work. I bought and returned 3 different cables from Amazon until I found the one I am using now. I wish I would have seen a vidoe about the Bullet-train cable a year and a half ago.

[@whatever_12]

What cable end up working for you? Looking to do a similar setup but for a ps5.. At the price the bul.. Is, i might just get another ps5 instead

[@nstern2]

It took me far longer to get a 25ft 4k hdr that actually could push full 4k hdr with proper audio than I care to admit. I hope this video can prevent others from the headache that I had.

[@robertbaird7001]

Never directly plaster or concrete cables in walls or floors!!. Builders in uk do this all the time. conduit cost a few buck and its nothing to install compared to ripping out walls and decor to change, faulty or damaged cables. A friend of mine's a (spark) did this very thing with a HDMI cable and 11 months later it packed up and he was pi**ed. TV was on a feature wall, wallpaper and all.

[@gm2543]

Why cat6 when cat7 and cat8 out now ?? Thats bit less upto date 😢😮

[@davidelmquist8670]

Supras hdmi 10 m no loss!

[@michaelsa892]

I have to go 40’ on the hdmi

[@asfbi]

you found one that works? 0 luck at 48gbps 4k120

[@michaelsa892]

@@asfbi yes I got a fiber optic hdmi cable a little pricey but works great no problems

[@michaelsa892]

@@asfbi fiber command

[@NeonShores]

White balance.

[@Audioholics]

Vintage

[@falvegas511]

I GREW UP WITH STANDARDS, ANSI. ASME, IEEE, MS XXX ETC. SOooooo, I HAVE about 8 Older HDMI Cables most 2.0 & a few Earlier --HOWEVER --NOT ONE OF THOSE FRAPPIN CABLES HAS A PERFORMANCE TYPE OR SPECIFICATION labeled on them. EIA and CEA are under ANSI Standards Institute----WHERE THE HELL ARE THE ##'S ON THE CABLES??? Should Be Law!!

[@pjcdm]

4k cables? That's future proof?

[@Audioholics]

Watch again and read the damn title.

[@pjcdm]

@@Audioholics at 12:19: " that's for 4 k?" "Ya!"

[@Mayday73]

The better answer is that HDMI cables come in different specs. The Bullet Train brand mentioned here (there are several brands to choose from) come in two specs. At the 18GBPS spec a cable is good for 4k/60hz with HDR and at the 48GBPS spec a cable is good for 4k/120hz or 8k/60hz(?) with HDR. It should also be said that this video was focused on long runs where a AOC fiber cable becomes necessary. For shorter (say 2 or 3 meters) runs you don't need active cables.

[@k1ortia]

Done this over 8 years ago. Simple. Use cat 6 Ethernet cable with HDMI connection. Thank me later

[@JohnDaniels]

Intresting, what model do you use?

[@asfbi]

4k 120hz hdr 10 bit??

[@HomeCinemaJunkie]

Getting all warm and fuzzy hearing americans using the metric system :)

[@Novilicious]

Ok, super dumb question: Why wouldn’t you just get an Apple TV and a separate set of powered speakers or avr/speakers in all 5 or 6 areas of your home. Why would you put all those wires in?

[@donaldlee6760]

In my case my wireless signal is slightly weak downstairs so I ran a cat 6a cable to my downstairs nVidia shield pro. It also helps if all 3 kids and my wife are simultaneously using wifi for video zoom or movie or other high bandwidth usage. The cat 6a cable doesn't have to fight the shared wireless bandwidth. Lastly I stream some super large, uncompressed 4K movie files with Plex and wireless is noticeably struggling to keep up.

[@Tuings]

Literally the worst termination of a fibre connector I've seen. Could you have not just refilmed it after he cut it too long?? Know it's not the premise of the video but still.

[@christofferjonsson]

Conduit? Everything Electric, ethernet, av, fiber etc. Has been run in conduit for atleast 50 years. Nothing in a home is not run in a conduit. Why is it not standard in usa? Seems really stupid. Just something simple as Electric, if you want to update the cabling after 30 years (new standards and so on) just pull in the old cables with the new, or with a "feather" as it called here.

[@rgarc514]

Hey I'm a fiber guy . Telecommunications B4 my kids were born my youngest boy is already in the Army 🪖.