When it comes to cables, one of the most common mantras is, It either works, or it doesnt. If you're looking to hook up ceiling-mounted projectors or building a home movie theatre with the media stored far from the eventual display, you'll need a relatively lengthy and hefty HDMI cable for the job. HDMI is the most common connection for TVs, gaming consoles, and home theater equipment, but how much does an HDMI cord cost? Heavier insulation also helps. Its unclear what the maximum range of fibre optical HDMI cables is because most merchants sell them in specific bundles, from 3-ft to 200 ft. Technically, fibre optic cables can run for miles, maybe 40 to 60 miles, but most manufacturers wont make HDMI cables in those lengths. Unfortunately, this isnt always the case either. An HDMI signal converter, or balun kit is a small box (more like a mini router) that will extend your HDMI cable by converting it to a different signal. While there are many pros to using fibre optic HDMI cables, there are also some downsides too. Soundbar Size Guide: What size Soundbar for Your TV This article contains incorrect information. So, how long is too long? If you run the required tests and the cable meets those specifications, its an HDMI cable. Other than that, if you need the longest and most stable HDMI cable, I would pick a fibre optic cable. Generally, for media-watching, its not a problem. Known as the "Tech Guru", he's an expert of current and trending technology. In that case, youll need to use something other than HDMI. A little longer than this, and you just might ruin your own viewing and listening experience. At 300 feet, youll only be able to get a 1080p signal. The longer the cable, the higher the chances that it will encounter signal interference. Though HDMI cables may be the best choice, they may not be possible in all circumstances. That said, you only rarely get snow over an HDMI cable. These are very durable and resist kinking. Gold is a soft metal so it does wear faster making for a poor connection. One other thing I noticed on the older cables is reseating the connection temporarily helps. A fiber optic cable and HDMI cable can both allow the transfer of digital signals and deliver them to your display devices. Now that youre aware of the HDMI max length, our team will now answer the question of whether or not it is possible to extend the length of an HDMI cable. Do you sell a cable that supports 4k/60fps (10-bit 4:2:2 or 8-bit 4:4:4) over a 50ft distance. They will give you the distance you need to have good AV quality on long runs. There are some alternatives that end in different headers, like VGA, or DisplayPort, which have their own limitations on resolution and refresh rate, outside of the HDMI specifications. This is the latest standard, and you really shouldnt accept anything less. The HDMI cable is connected to CAT5 or CAT6 so it can reach a long distance. Linking two six-foot cables together most likely wont get you a functional 12-foot cable. If you dont need a cable this long, then its wise to stick to shorter HDMI cables. HDMI Cable Length Here Is Everything You Need To Know! If you absolutely have to use multiple HDMI cables, you need an HDMI signal booster. Secondly, almost all fibre optic HDMI cables are one-way. The HDMI signal is greatly affected by the cable length. So i need a HDMI connection for pretty exactly 20m (65.6ft) anyone got ideas? There are different types of HDMI that will deliver the digital signal to your connected devices. If you need anything 20ft or more. If you're just looking to buy a passive HDMI cable, then your realistic maximum range is around 25ft. The effectiveness of the repeaters varies, but it usually falls within 10 to 15 meters. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); They call me TechGuru. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. What about Active Fiber Optic HDMI cables? Whats the maximum length? They have an HDMI input and output, and an external port for power, usually micro-USB.

You'll see weakened signals causing instability and screen flashing, alongside other image degradations. Otherwise, you can use separate HDMI cables connected through HDMI repeaters.

In other words, your cable might work fine at first, and slowly start developing issues. Regular copper HDMI cables have a number of limitations, such as the distance signals can transfer without losing data. Since 4K resolution needs a lot of bandwidth, it should only run in short lengths. This is what other more expensive brands are taking advantage of. I've been writing about the industry now for over 10 years - first as an editor of various magazines before branching out to work on my own blog. One other thought about the gold plated connections. It also helps if you find a cable thats rated for 4K. This happens when individual pixels dont get transmitted correctly. Whichever one you opt for though, 25ft is about the maximum length you can use without seeing a degradation in signal quality due to attenuation. While these two methods can easily give you better signal transmission, you have to gauge if they are worth it. . I'm a technology columnist and tech blogger, with a love for video games, gadgets, home entertainment and personal technology. Although passive HDMI cables can support distances more than twice that in theory, the environment would need to be practically perfect to not experience severe negative consequences of such a long cable without some sort of active power to counteract the signal degradation. In sum, if you find yourself asking How long can an HDMI cable be? then it may be time to consider an HDMI extender. Gold is used for its anti corrision properties. Standard cables are certified up to 720p resolution, while high-speed options can support 4K and HDR. Please update your article. But how far can an HDMI cable go? Older Cat 5 and Cat 5e cables will not be able to provide a signal at 300 feet. Best Budget Projectors: Top Picks And Reviews The important thing is to use a cable thats rated to meet your needs. HDMI extenders offer ranges up to 300 feet and compress the HDMI signal to send it over a lengthy Ethernet cable instead. HDMI extenders can solve that problem. Cable Matters sells a wide variety of options in that category. The HDMI signal will be converted to either CAT 5e or CAT 6 which has a cable length maximum of 100 meters.

The latest type is the use ofwireless HDMI kits. Youd be surprised at how the second option is the better one because you dont have to buy a longer cable or a kit just to transmit the HDMI signal over a long distance. Silver oxide is the only oxide (that we know of) that is conductive. This is because HDMI uses a technology called transition-minimized differential signaling (TDMS).

Without getting too far into the weeds, this keeps the individual data packets flowing in the correct order. to transfer the data from the source to your TV. For example, your cable jack might be in one room, but your TV is in another. Here at NerdTechy, he makes tech easy to understand for the average person.

Serial Digital Interface (SDI) is another useful Ethernet alternative. An SDI to HDMI converter can be used the same as an HDMI Ethernet extender. Conversely, a thinner cable wont have as strong a signal, and will lose strength faster over distance. When setting up your home theater system, it is very important to choose how long the HDMI cables you are going to choose as it will greatly affect the audio and sound quality that you will perceive. TDMS uses an advanced encoding and decoding algorithm to cut down on interference. TLDR: Most standard high-quality HDMI cables have a maximum length of 50 feet. This is good news. For example, a lot of cables have braided cords. Our team of experts did the tests and identified the HDMI max length that you can use for an optimal viewing experience. The original signal will be converted to a new one that doesnt have the same length limitations. Though this removes the need for most cables, the HDMI signal works best when the distance is shorter between electronics. I dont wanna spend too much, so i am not gonna buy a glass fibre or similar, its kind of temporary. These signals can boost the usable distance of cables. In fact, a $5 HDMI cable and a $100 HDMI cable are not very different from each other, especially when they have the same specification requirements. As far as manufacturers are concerned, they can create a cable that can be longer than 50 feet just in case someone has to connect a player and a TV across the whole house. Other words like high-speed and advanced mean literally nothing. Theyre just marketing terms, and you should ignore them. Lastly, an SDI to HDMI converter will reach runs of up to 425ft. With so many technical specifications and acronyms, our goal is simple-to help you understand all there is about tech without making it difficult or daunting. But whether or not a cord is braided has zero impact on the signal quality or maximum range. All Right Reserved. Of course, a lot of this depends on video quality. So you have a TV thats right across the room from your Blu-ray player, do you need a longer HDMI cable? Get notified when a new post is published. If you need a cable longer than that, you can go for either an HDMI signal converter or a wireless kit. Please consider sharing: Samsung UBD-K8500 3D Wi-Fi 4K Blu-ray Player Review, Is Kaico the Best Open Source Scan Converter? The devices strengthen the HDMI digital signals. At the end of the day, you have to test which will be the best cable for your home theater setup. The visuals might be okay but you could encounter input lag and other issues. While there are many different types of HDMI cables, most of them start to encounter signal degradation around the 15-meter mark (50 feet). But like any other kind of cable, an HDMI cable can only be run so long. shall i use a repeater and 2 "25ft" cables? In this article, well explore the maximum length of an HDMI cable and what factors influence it. Why 20 feet? Better wire technology could allow longer lengths in the future, but we havent seen that yet. There are a number of ways to do this. Make sure that your cable is no longer than necessary when connecting sources like a Blu-ray player to your TVs. However, if you have videos of lower resolutions and video quality is not the priority, then longer cables can be used. Soundbars: 2.1 vs 5.1 Which is better, differences? Slim HDMI cables, premium HDMI cables, HDMI cables with 90-degree headers, and even retractable ones for making sure you only let loose as much cable as you absolutely need. An Ethernet extender is a set of a transmitter and receiver, with a set of inputs and outputs. HDMI over CAT is another type. However, a consensus among manufacturers is that 20 feet is considered to be the maximum length of an HDMI cable if you want to retain the quality of the audio and the video. . What these devices do is, in simple terms, add more power to the cable, to boost the digital signal. As their Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. For example, lets say you run a sports bar with a huge video screen, and a small monitor in the back office. We want each day with technology be clear, simple, and easy as possible! Have you ever been offered a $100 HDMI cable and felt that it was too much? These methods are used to help extend the cable without affecting the sound and video quality. The slightly longer answer is that cable quality matters the longer your cable gets. HDMI ARC vs Regular HDMI: Are They the Same. My understanding is they can be used for much longer runs without the need for an HDMI repeater. The maximum resolution it can support too is just 1080p. Though the HDMI max length is 25 feet, it is recommended to use shorter ones. For starters, theyre a bit more expensive than regular HDMI cables, especially certain brands. Disclosure Statement: Dont be fooled by cables that say HD. All HDMI cables are HD; its part of the standard. For example, a thin cable won't be able to transmit a 4K signal as long as a 1080p signal.

6 Best Outdoor Projectors Which one to 8 of The Best High Refresh Rate Monitors 6 Best 4K TV Projectors For Theatre, Gaming How Electronic Ink Will Be Everywhere In The Kindle Unlimited Vs Amazon Prime Reading: Which One NOOK GlowLight 3 Review: A Good EReader But E-Readers Vs Tablets : What Are The Differences? If you're looking to install a display in a public setting too, you can use the extender to connect to a local, as well as a remote display, making it easy to see what's being viewed on the main display from a backroom or office.

You dont really need a long cable to connect your devices. Another thing to keep in mind is that sharp bends can degrade the signal further. That's where you'll run into problems with standard, low-cost HDMI cables. Cable Matters Inc. All rights reserved. If they have passed the specification requirements, then both will work just fine. The lower a cable's AWG rating, the thicker its gauge and the better equipped it is to deliver a high-resolution signal over longer distances. Then, you use an Ethernet cable to connect the transmitter to the receiver. High-quality HDMI 2.0 extenders can transmit 4K resolution at up to 60Hz up to 164ft without difficulty. Another thing to consider is the type of Ethernet cable youre using. In some cases, a long cable will just be unreliable. If active fiber optic cables are one-way, then what about Ethernet support? For longer cables, you need something more robust. ), he sound and video travel through the HDMI cable, lot of brands out there selling their HDMI cables at an obscene amount. You have two options to ensure that signal transmission goes well - an HDMI signal converter and a wireless HDMI kit. These methods are not entirely cheap, and you have to decide if its better for you to buy a kit or just to move your TV and input source together. While this cable solved the problem it only lasted approximately 6 months and the problem returned. What that means is one side (the appropriate ends are usually labelled as Display and Source) needs to be connected to the item on the label. The WiredShopper is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.co.uk and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. Lets say you want to run your video signal for a very long distance. Different converters will and cables will support different ranges and qualities. But the longer your cable is, the more the type of HDMI cable you buy can have a real impact on the eventual quality of audio and video you hear and see at the other end. One option would be to buy a small device called an HDMI signal booster, also known as an HDMI repeater. Lets talk about both of these formats, and what theyre capable of. So, read on to learn everything you need to know about HDMI cable length! Hello dear. As you can see, HDMI cable length is not as straightforward as you might expect. While HDMI cables are pretty popular these days, their types and lengths are not things people normally know about. Learn More, Home | About Us | Disclosure | Privacy | Contact.

Theyre great if you need them, but they have absolutely nothing to do with the signal range. After researching the solution was a bad HDMI cable. On the other hand, more expensive cables are not entirely bad, especially if they have other features included in the HDMI cable. Today, HDMI cables can reliably run up to about 50 feet (15 meters) before signal degradation becomes an issue. This is the type of cable traditionally used in the film industry, and provides very high-quality video. They strengthen the HDMI signal by adding power to the cable, hence can work on extended cable distances. Hence, it would be best to use cables of maximum 3 meters. Thats just one reason you might need a longer HDMI cable. Some technology needs to be replaced over time so you may be wondering, Do HDMI cables go bad? While there is no set lifespan for HDMI cables, they may eventually break or become obsolete. Each type of cable has its own strength and will depend on your specific needs. The HDMI signal is greatly affected by the cable length. If you want to make things neat and tidy, why not consider running your lengthy HDMI connection to a dedicated wall plate? Updated. Your answer will be used to improve our content. Again, this maximum is considered the optimal length to ensure proper signal transmission. Well, its definitely long if you have a small room. Active Fibre optic HDMI cables (AOC) can carry digital information much further than copper HDMI cables, and they have great protection against outside interference too. Before you go ahead and buy a fibre optic HDMI cable, there are a couple of things you need to know. If youre sure the length is causing signal degradation, then there are a few steps you can take to boost the signal distance. Hi Amit,yes our cables support eARC as well! We already mentioned that HD is redundant. You use one at the transmission end, and another at the display end. On the other hand, we know the answer to the question, How long can an HDMI Cable be? is theoretically as long as you want- just keep increasing the wire gauge. Learn More, What is recommended cable for 50ft audio only transfer via hdmi does one need active cable for this as audio will be true HD 8 channel with Atmos. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. To guarantee the best audio and video signals, choose HDMI cables that are labeled high-speed and backwards compatible. We should also point out that you can use a fiber optic extender to send a signal up to 1,000 feet. Thanks for the suggestion. 60 Experts Share The Top IoT Trends Of 2022 (Fascinating Insight! The same goes for control features like CEC. One tip to remember is you need to add them to a section where the signal is still clear, it wont be able to boost a low-quality signal. Some have more heavy-duty connectors which are really important for durability purposes. In short, the HDMI signal converter really just converts the HDMI signal in order to extend it for optimum video and audio transmission. Their maximum resolution is 1080p. Yes, the length of the HDMI cable affects the quality of the display. A second HDMI cable connects the receiver to your TV or monitor. Because various devices respond differently to signal loss, its impossible to predict whether a 50-foot cable would function; all we can say for certain is that it will with most gadgets. Thanks! Youll find lengths ranging from 10 to 30 meters (close to 100 feet) for these cables. Using this method, you can run up to a 300-foot Ethernet cable, considerably extending your range. If you want to run a cable halfway across the house, youre going to have to invest in a high-quality cable. What now? Aside from that, problems with its refresh rate make it not suitable for gaming. But who would want that? How long can an HDMI cable be? If you really have to transmit through a long distance, then look for a kit that is both affordable and durable. Gold pins are great, but making the entire connector out of gold only jacks the price up. Its important to know that HDMI cables have no limits. Say, for some unknown reason, you need an HDMI cable that is beyond 20 feet. You don't need to be concerned about a loss of features or quality over more reasonable distances, though. Theoretically, these types of cables will give an additional 1000 feet but users rarely need this. Unlike regular HDMI cables, theyre not backwards compatible, so you need to make sure you plug them in the right direction. Other things like CEC/DDC is a low I2C bus usually so can be transmitted by integrated copper wires inside AOC, but not sure about other limitation like Ethernet link. This means that any cable being sold bearing the HDMI logo, regardless of length, is tested to ensure it meets the performance specifications for an HDMI cable. This means that the length being sold with a certification logo (see below) has been tested to pass the HDMI 2.1a features including uncompressed 8K at 60Hz 4K at 120 Hz and bandwidth capability supports up to 48Gbps. Another reason people prefer these HDMI cables is that the wires are more flexible, so theyre easier to install and cable manage. In fact not all wires in such cable are from fiber but usually just high speed TMDS lines need it. Its a little tricky to get working and you need two long-distance Cat cables, but it can work. As it stands, the maximum functional range of the highest-quality HDMI cables is around 50 feet. On the other hand, if you want to compress the signal over about 300 feet, then you can use HDMI extenders. Lets take a closer look at HDMI cable length, and talk about some ways to extend your range. You could use the Ethernet cable to connect to the big screen out in the bar. Its pushing through 1s and 0s but sometimes not all the packets can make it to the end-point. This option isnt the best because you need two Cat cables to transfer the signal from one HDMI cable. For more interesting topics, we have these recommended pages for you: Address: 1828 Lightning Point Drive Memphis, TN 38110 | Phone Number: +1 (307) 746-1215 | Email: contact@theproductanalyst.com, The Product Analyst All rights reserved 2022, If you buy something through our posts, we may get a small commission. An HDMI cable can still work over long distances, but you might run into graphical artefacts, a loss of brightness, input lag, a low refresh rate, and other issues. Alternatively, using an Ethernet to HDMI extender will send HDMI signals up to 300 feet. A 4K cable, on the other hand, will have significantly better data transmission. 5+7-THREE = The captcha value you provided is incorrect. You can even get HDR at those distances, if youre using the right extender. Need some help or have a suggestion? The Secret Behind The Popularity Of Fantasy Football. These should be rated for HDMI 2.1, which is a more robust standard. If youre one of those who have completely no idea what HDMI cables are, youre in the right place. There are a few solutions to that problem. Updating this so you can use it for 4K resolution would be expensive.

Since longer cables have length limitations, then an active fiber optics HDMI cable is the key. Here at NerdTechy, we try to make tech simple for the everyday person. Soundbar Size Guide: What size Soundbar for Your TV, How to Connect Soundbar to a TV without HDMI, you can run a 15-meter cable from your computer to repeater, connect another 15-meter cable to that repeater, and finally to a display, How to Set Up and Control Lights With Alexa, TV Sizes Guide: Calculate and Convert TV Dimensions. This solution works okay for outdoor projectors or digital signage. What can it do? This can give you a maximum range of 100 feet. Hence, if you have a high resolution, it will work best for short distances. That is why our team recommends using cables no longer than necessary. Thankfully, the price of fibre optics has come down a lot in the past few years, it used to be well out of the average persons budget. I had problems with my TV screen going black randomly. They cost at least $300, and the video quality that they give is not exactly high. In theory, any cable with the HDMI imprint on it should work fine, regardless of its length. Our team listed the different types below: The standard HDMI cable can deliver a good quality signal for a maximum distance of 20 meters. Note: At no extra cost to you, we may earn a commission for purchases using our links. You forgot to mention them. Read more. I saw ARC mentioned but what about eARC, do your cables support that? Samsungs Crystal UHD VS QLED : Which One is Better? Learn more by checking out our about us page. For the ordinary customer, this is confusing. i just wrong buy HDMI cable for my UHD TV. When youre setting up a new TV, game system, or set top box, you need to figure out the wiring situation. In short, if youre planning to run an HDMI cable through your home, the end result might be either a completely blank screen, or a low-quality image. This is what the experts recommend. Privacy Policy, This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. If you want a resolution near 4K, then the HDMI cable should be at most 3 meters or 10 feet in order to preserve video quality. This is the most expensive type as it delivers the highest image quality.

If that's still not enough for you though, there are ways to double, or even triple that range. This article does not have the information I am looking for.

Sometimes, its not that simple. It seemed to happen only during certain broadcasts, the channel made no difference (failure due to not being able to handle the amount of information?). In a nutshell, yes, the length of the cable affects the audio and the video quality. If youre only sending a signal six feet, pretty much any cable will do. In general, there is no specific length that tells you that the HDMI cable is too long or too short. Using an HDMI Signal Booster will let you daisy-chain HDMI cables together, but not without drawbacks. A cinephile, he has made it a personal quest to achieve the awesomest home theater possible. Instead of using a long cable to transmit signals from one end to another, all you need to do is place a wireless product by the TV and place the other wireless box near the video/audio source. But use the same wire gauge, material, and construction for a 30-foot cable, and you might have issues. Another thing to keep in mind is that cables can wear down over time. So, why might a particular cable fail the tests? However, this type still works best if the signal distance requirement is shorter. This is mainly because of the fluctuating signals as the sound and video travel through the HDMI cable. What about fiber optic HDMI cables.

Though this removes the need for most cables, the HDMI signal works best when the distance is shorter between electronics. At the end of the cable, there is another box that will convert the CAT 5e or CAT 6 back to HDMI. Overall, the consensus for the optimal length of an HDMI cable is 20 feet. SDI converters provide exceptional quality, but they can be pricey. Using SDI, you can extend your range as far as 425 feet, which is an exceptional distance. Basically, what happens is the cable sends the information that it can, which isnt always the information that youre expecting to receive. Unless you want to run coaxial cable across the house, youll need to run an HDMI cable from the cable box. As the signal travels down a longer and longer cable, it will eventually degrade. The thicker the cable, the stronger signal youll get, especially over long distances. The main reason theres so much confusion about HDMI cable length is that theres no hard and fast limit. Another option is to use a wireless HDMI kit. Or is it just going to produce terrible signal? The typical consumer probably wouldnt buy it. Was this helpful? It would be best to test which type will give you the best digital display. The rule here is that the shorter your HDMI cable is, the better the sound and video quality. Instead, they come out as white, which creates a classic snow pattern. Can a single HDMI cable be used to connect CCTV NVR output (video), @ 1080p or 720p resolution, to a TV screen located two rooms away? Our experts did the testing to avoid lowering signal quality. In practice, unless youre a professional videographer, youll probably want to stick with Ethernet. One way is to use a small device called HDMI repeaters. Meanwhile, you could connect to the back office monitor via HDMI. The captcha value you provided is incorrect. You may also see a flicker or strobing effect. HDMI cables are a popular way to connect devices for high-definition video and audio. Are they really needed for indoor use? However, the main difference is that fiber optic cables cannot accommodate high-resolution audio data while an HDMI cable can do it with ease. Hence, if you have a high resolution, it will work best for short distances. This is the HDMI max length you can use for optimal display with no signal interference. You use one HDMI cable to connect your video source to the transmitter. What you do is plug the signal booster into a power source, and then plug an HDMI into either end. Please contact us if so. What is a Good FPS for Gaming?

You need to decide the correct reach as the longer HDMI cable you have, the higher the signal degradation. Use an HDMI signal booster, or an Ethernet or SDI extender instead. A lot depends on how far youve overextended. Built-in infrared cables ensure that any commands you send to that local display can also be mirrored on the remote one too. Some devices best work over a range of only 1 to 2 meters. Thank you for the explanation, Scanning the tag took me to this site, https://www.hdmi.org/spec21sub/ultrahighspeedcable To maximize your range, you need to use a modern Cat 6 cable.

Manufacturers designed these wires to be thinner and more flexible, thus becoming more expensive. You probably already guessed which one can transfer data further. The technology is quite different. If you want to buy the more expensive one, know that this can end up being an excessive buy since you can buy the same quality for a cheaper price.