11/06/2019
I just got my hands on a new FIBBR brand 10-meter Pure 2 HDMI AOC fiber optic cable, so I thought I would try it out and write a brief review of my findings.
Who needs a fiber optic HDMI cable? With the advent of UHD/4K and HDR, consumer electronics are pushing more data through the HDMI cable than ever. Cable runs over 6 meters may experience dropouts using standard copper cables. Fiber is one solution for this issue. HDMI.org states that “HDMI over fiber is a highly robust solution, effective in cable runs up to 100 meters or more.”
Overview: The Pure 2 HDMI AOC fiber optic cable arrived in a sturdy box and was neatly coiled inside a foam ring. Supported bandwidth is 24 Gbps and resolution of 4K at 60Hz. It also supports the Audio Return Channel.
Construction: The cable diameter is thinner and more flexible than a copper HDMI cable. It has sturdy alloy connectors and a braided PET sheath. The connector is a bit longer than some, so consider the space available behind your gear. The cable is unidirectional with labels on each connector for the source and display. There are USB power inputs on both ends in case your equipment does not provide adequate power.
System Details: I tested this cable with my Oppo 203 UHD Blu-ray player and a Samsung UHD/HDR Display. I replaced my existing 4.5 meter 18 Gbps copper HDMI cable.
Connections: I attached the FIBBR cable source plug to the main HDMI Out of my Oppo and the display plug to my Samsung One Connect box. The connectors fit snugly so there is little chance of accidental disconnection. When I fired everything up, the image displayed immediately so I did not need the USB power inputs.
Performance: I watched some familiar content and everything looked excellent and true to the source. If you have not had your display professionally calibrated and you appreciate seeing a film or show as the director intended, it is well worth the investment. I used the cable on my system for about 20 hours of UHD Blu-Ray movies and streaming with no issues.
Overall thoughts: The FIBBR Pure 2 10-meter cable is the perfect solution for long cable runs. Even at more than twice the length of my copper cable, it performed flawlessly. At a 24 Gbps rating, it should be all the cable you need for the foreseeable future.
Joel Hollenbeck
PVA Certified Video Professional
Connected Audio & Video
