Are all HDMI cables cut from the same cloth? Most consumers would argue that they send a digital signal from your digital video sources to your television or soundbar and nothing could possibly differentiate one from the other. But is that really the end of the story? Over the years, we’ve tried and purchased HDMI cables from a number of brands and there were some discernible differences when it came to construction quality, durability of the connectors, and stability of the signal over very long runs; in the range of 50 to 100 feet behind walls in your home and in close proximity to power cables. Does it end there? Or is it all just marketing?
Any cable that meets the HDMI 2.1 specification should deliver 48Gbps to 8K or 4K TVs (8K@60Hz or 4K@120Hz). Such cables are labeled Ultra High Speed HDMI Cables. However, we have learned THX has created its own cable certification program and the first THX certified HDMI cables are now available.
Pixelgen Design Inc. has introduced two of the world’s first THX Certified 8K HDMI cables that are available in long-reach or short-range versions. The PXLGLASS 8 hybrid optical fiber/copper HDMI cable is designed for long runs of up to 50 feet. The Series 8 Ultra High Speed HDMI Cables are available up to 6.6 feet (2m) in length.
Both HDMI cables meet the HDMI 2.1 spec for 48Gbps bitrates including support for 4K/8K displays, HDCP 2.3, eARC, and CEC. Gaming features such as VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), QFT (Quick Frame Transport), and QMS (Quick Media Switching) are also supported through both cables.
Why THX is Certifying Cables?
“With long-haul full bandwidth HDMI, problems have historically popped up in the field. When developing an HDMI cable, our priority is to ensure that we receive backing from HDMI as technology standard through their HDMI Complaince test center for the obvious areas of failure, including Eye diagrams (Jitter), Skew, Insertion loss for example. THX Certification tests explore key areas of failure that commonly arise, most notably in Active HDMI cable,” said Jack MacDougall, founder of Pixelgen Design.
“THX has designed a test program that ensures its certified cable devices are using 100% uncompressed high-speed delivery techniques using Source to Display pixel-by-pixel, frame-by-frame analysis. Moreover, THX enforces real-world live HDMI 2.1 system validation with live testing of low-speed signals such as eARC, CEC and HDCP handshaking events. THX also puts focus on live fitness-to-application tests that include power sequencing, hot plugging, and interoperability (areas that can often put cables into unexpected states and fail). Another key area of THX differentiation, is time lapse burn in with pixel error analysis, building confidence that the interconnect will not incur momentary pixel errors, or video dropouts through a longer duration of time. Having both HDMI and THX certifications, provides as close to a guarantee as possible for a long-reach HDMI cable.”
Price & Availability
SERIES 8
- 0.5m/1.6ft – $42.00 USD at pixelgendesign.com
- 1.0m/3.3ft – $46.00 USD
- 1.5m/4.9ft – $50.00 USD
- 2.0m/6.6ft – $54.00 USD
PXLGLASS 8
- 7.6m/25ft – $389.00 USD at pixelgendesign.com
- 10m/33ft – $469.00 USD
- 15m/49ft – $539.00 USD
Related reading: SVS SoundPath HDMI Cables Now Available
