Root Beer 18 Optical: an active optical 18 Gbps HDMI cable up to 30 metres
Root Beer 18 Optical is an active optical HDMI cable meant for long runs, as far as 30 metres. The audio/video signal travels over optical fibre rather than copper, which removes several kinds of degradation that grow with distance.
Its 18 Gbps bandwidth is enough for video up to 8K at 30 frames per second (7680 x 4320 pixels), for HDR pictures and for the eARC channel. The cable suits televisions, projectors, soundbars and A/V receivers.
Quartz glass optical fibre
The A/V conductors are quartz glass optical fibres. Fibre neither picks up nor passes on induced radio-frequency noise, exactly as happens with Toslink cables: the audio/video signal is therefore immune to RF interference and galvanically isolated between the two connected devices.
Powered by the HDMI port
Converting between electrical and optical signals takes active electronics inside the connectors, yet these draw their power straight from the HDMI port. No external power supply is needed, a practical advantage when the cable runs through conduit or across a ceiling.
eARC and communication conductors
A few metal conductors remain alongside the fibres, those for the eARC channel and the communication lines. They are Direction-Controlled, that is, laid in the direction that keeps radio-frequency noise, harmful to active circuits, as low as possible.
Key features
- Active optical 18 Gbps HDMI cable: 8K/30 video, HDR and eARC
- Quartz glass fibres: RF immunity and galvanic isolation
- Draws its power from the HDMI port, no external supply
- Lengths: 5 m, 10 m, 15 m, 20 m, 25 m and 30 m
