The QED HDMI Active Optical Cable is designed for professional and custom installation environments where cable runs far exceed the limits of passive copper. Sitting within QED's professional range, it extends the same hybrid fibre-copper technology used in the Performance Optical Ultra High Speed HDMI to lengths of 30, 40 and 50 metres — well beyond the 20m ceiling of the consumer range. This makes it suitable for commercial AV installations, conference rooms, home cinema builds with long projection throws, and multi-room systems where the source and display are separated by considerable distance.
Active Optical Technology
QED's Ultra High Speed Active Optical Technology uses a hybrid fibre-copper construction. Four of the nineteen cores are replaced with OM3 optical fibre, handling the high-frequency data lanes that are most susceptible to degradation over distance. The remaining copper conductors carry the lower-frequency signals, power, and control channels. This approach delivers the full 48 Gbps bandwidth specified by the HDMI 2.1 standard, supporting uncompressed 8K video at 60Hz and 4K at 120Hz. The OM3 fibre also substantially reduces EMI and RFI emissions compared to an all-copper cable, making it less likely to interfere with surrounding equipment in an installation environment. No external power supply is required — the cable operates entirely from the HDMI port's +5V rail.
Certification and Compatibility
The cable is HDMI 2.1 certified and backward-compatible with HDMI 2.0 and 1.4b devices. Supported features include eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel), HDCP 2.2 content protection, HDR, HEC (HDMI Ethernet Channel), CEC, and DDC. Audio pass-through supports up to eight PCM channels, DTS-HD Master Audio, and Dolby TrueHD. Dual video streams to compatible displays are also supported.
Installation-Grade Construction
Built for permanent installations, the cable jacket is LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen), meeting EN 50575:2014 fire reaction requirements at Class CCA-s1, d0 — compliant with commercial and residential fire regulations. Zinc alloy HDMI connectors provide mechanical durability and resistance to repeated connection cycles. The cable is rated for operating temperatures between −40 and +70°C, and triple shielding protects against external interference throughout the run.
| Cable Type | Active Optical HDMI |
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| HDMI Standard | HDMI 2.1 (Ultra High Speed certified) |
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| Backward Compatibility | HDMI 2.0, HDMI 1.4b |
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| Bandwidth | 48 Gbps |
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| Video Resolution | 8K@60Hz uncompressed; 10K@120Hz with DSC |
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| Audio Return Channel | eARC |
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| Audio Formats | Up to 8-channel PCM, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD |
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| Content Protection | HDCP 2.2 |
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| Additional Protocols | HDR, HEC, CEC, DDC |
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| Cable Construction | Hybrid fibre-copper (OM3 optical fibre) |
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| Connectors | Zinc alloy HDMI |
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| Shielding | Triple-shielded |
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| Jacket | LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) |
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| Fire Rating | EN 50575:2014 (Class CCA-s1, d0) |
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| Operating Temperature | −40 to +70°C |
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| Length | 40m |
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| Also Available As | 30m, 50m |
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