Long hdmi Run

[greg90]

looking for some pointers here. Need to run a hdmi that will support 4K 120hz. The run will be from my receiver to my tv and about 25-35 feet and some of it in wall as well.

 

[Todd Anderson]

You're going to want to buy an active High Speed HDMI cable, definitely.

Whatever brand you buy, make sure it's certified by the HDMI consortium.

Here's an option in the $300 range: https://www.pixelgendesign.com/thxinterconnect/longreach

Here's an option in the $100 range: https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=43328

Performance will be same, but build-wise the pixelgen is going to more durable.

 

[greg90]

You're going to want to buy an active High Speed HDMI cable, definitely.

Whatever brand you buy, make sure it's certified by the HDMI consortium.

Here's an option in the $300 range: https://www.pixelgendesign.com/thxinterconnect/longreach

Here's an option in the $100 range: https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=43328

Performance will be same, but build-wise the pixelgen is going to more durable.

Thanks for finding those. You think putting the cheaper one in cable sleeving would suffice?

 

[Todd Anderson]

I think you'll be fine. Perhaps years down the road, the chip in the Monoprice might fail before the one used by PixelGen. But, I think the Monoprice cable is worth a shot. Performance-wise, out of the box, I don't think there will be any measurable difference between the two. Just make sure you test it between your source and display before you pull it (and the cable will be directional, so make sure you pull the right head to the display!)

 

[greg90]

I think you'll be fine. Perhaps years down the road, the chip in the Monoprice might fail before the one used by PixelGen. But, I think the Monoprice cable is worth a shot. Performance-wise, out of the box, I don't think there will be any measurable difference between the two. Just make sure you test it between your source and display before you pull it (and the cable will be directional, so make sure you pull the right head to the display!)

Very informative. That’s a good call with testing it before it gets pulled. Does a hdmi wall plate have to be a certain type or anything?

 

[Todd Anderson]

I'm 90% sure the wall plate can be thought of as just a passthrough. I say 90% because I have two HDMI extender cables (that have one male and one female end) and those have tested to meet HDMI 2.1 requirements with the testing equipment I have (and they're old... as in 10 years old). The number of data channels in a 2.1 cable versus a 2.0 or 1.4 cable is the same... 2.1 chips use those channels differently differently.

So, I *think* you should be ok. Though, I would plug the active cable directly into a source, just to make sure you're getting a proper 5 Volts. The other end (display end) should probably work with a wall plate.

Again, that's something I'd test before installing. Your display likely has a settings mode that allows you to see what kind of signal it's receiving.

 

[greg90]

I'm 90% sure the wall plate can be thought of as just a passthrough. I say 90% because I have two HDMI extender cables (that have one male and one female end) and those have tested to meet HDMI 2.1 requirements with the testing equipment I have (and they're old... as in 10 years old). The number of data channels in a 2.1 cable versus a 2.0 or 1.4 cable is the same... 2.1 chips use those channels differently differently.

So, I *think* you should be ok. Though, I would plug the active cable directly into a source, just to make sure you're getting a proper 5 Volts. The other end (display end) should probably work with a wall plate.

Again, that's something I'd test before installing. Your display likely has a settings mode that allows you to see what kind of signal it's receiving.

Okay thank you. Much appreciated. I got a couple more hdmi questions that I can’t quite find a straight answer for. Now maybe there is a thread on this forum that explains this. I get there is ARC hdmi 2.0 and EARC hdmi 2.1. Is the difference that 2.1 can carry more or I guess higher quality data? (That probably isn’t worded correct) Then if my current tv is only ARC will I still be able to use atmos? Or is it worth upgrading TVs now instead of waiting until Black Friday lol

 

[Todd Anderson]

Yes, HDMI 2.1 is a specification that allows for up to 48gbps data. HDMI 2.0 allows for 18gbps.

Now, where it gets confusing is that some older passive HDMI cables are actually capable of carrying more than 18gbps of data... maybe even up to 48gbps. It really depends on the quality of copper that's in the cable. That said, you definitely want to have an Ultra High Speed (HDMI 2.1 Cable) if you're running longer runs... or if you're running a modern gaming rig to a TV with HDMI 2.1.

So that's one issue.

As for Atmos... if you're streaming a movie directly to your TV and dumping to a soundbar or a receiver capable of decoding Atmos, you can do that with a TV with HDMI 2.0 onboard. Yes, eARC is written into the HDMI 2.1 spec... but it can also be deployed under the HDMI 2.0 specification.

Confusing, I know.

The limiting factor will be whether or not your TV has received a firmware update that enables eARC. If it hasn't, then you're stuck with ARC. And, yes, if your TV only has ARC and you're streaming to an app on the television, then it won't dump Atmos out to your soundbar or receiver.

Does that make sense? If not, I can try explaining it in a different way!

 

[greg90]

Yes, HDMI 2.1 is a specification that allows for up to 48gbps data. HDMI 2.0 allows for 18gbps.

Now, where it gets confusing is that some older passive HDMI cables are actually capable of carrying more than 18gbps of data... maybe even up to 48gbps. It really depends on the quality of copper that's in the cable. That said, you definitely want to have an Ultra High Speed (HDMI 2.1 Cable) if you're running longer runs... or if you're running a modern gaming rig to a TV with HDMI 2.1.

So that's one issue.

As for Atmos... if you're streaming a movie directly to your TV and dumping to a soundbar or a receiver capable of decoding Atmos, you can do that with a TV with HDMI 2.0 onboard. Yes, eARC is written into the HDMI 2.1 spec... but it can also be deployed under the HDMI 2.0 specification.

Confusing, I know.

The limiting factor will be whether or not your TV has received a firmware update that enables eARC. If it hasn't, then you're stuck with ARC. And, yes, if your TV only has ARC and you're streaming to an app on the television, then it won't dump Atmos out to your soundbar or receiver.

Does that make sense? If not, I can try explaining it in a different way!

Okay that all makes sense now. Explained very nicely and in a tech language I can understand! I learned more off that one comment than all the time I spent on YouTube trying to get an answer that I comprehended. This is a great forum.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Ha!

Well, HDMI and most technologies associated with modern TVs are ridiculously complex. Manufacturers and the HDMI consortium have done a terrible job properly marketing to general consumers (which probably make up 95% of all buyers) It's way too confusing, it doesn't help that each manufacturer has a laundry list of its own technologies to throw into the fire.

HDMI has attempted to iron out the confusion by adding scannable labels and new category names to products. But, it's too little, too late... the cat was out of the bag years ago.

 

[greg90]

Ha!

Well, HDMI and most technologies associated with modern TVs are ridiculously complex. Manufacturers and the HDMI consortium have done a terrible job properly marketing to general consumers (which probably make up 95% of all buyers) It's way too confusing, it doesn't help that each manufacturer has a laundry list of its own technologies to throw into the fire.

HDMI has attempted to iron out the confusion by adding scannable labels and new category names to products. But, it's too little, too late... the cat was out of the bag years ago.

Yeah before this AV venture I just thought an hdmi cord was the same as the next and a port was just a port

 

[Todd Anderson]

Unfortunately, no

Once the pieces are laid out, it becomes a bit more understandable. But it suffers from multiple HDMI technologies spread across manufacturers, all looking to differentiate themselves from each other. And, let's be honest, your average person doesn't want to learn about HDMI... they just want it to work so they can watch content - totally understandable!

 

[steve138]

looking for some pointers here. Need to run a hdmi that will support 4K 120hz. The run will be from my receiver to my tv and about 25-35 feet and some of it in wall as well.

I had trouble connecting my JVC N5 through my new ANTHEM AVM-90 to my new Panny BD9004 and internet TV box. The HDMI cable installed by the builders from the front of the room where the Anthem is to the projector mount in the ceiling apparently wad t compat with 4K standard. I bought all new Fibreoptic HDMI Czbles from FIBBR and these all work fine for the short interconnects to the Anthem and a 10m from Anthem to projector. The 10m was only about €26 so it’s a good cheap choice with no resistive losses due to copper as its fibre optic