Review: Monoprice SlimRun & C2G HDMI Fiber Optic Cables
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Monoprice SlimRun HDMI Fiber Optical Cable
Monoprice SlimRun Active HDMI Connectors
Cables To Go Active HDMI Fiber Optic Cable
So after ten years of using an active Accell UltraRun 10.2Gb/s HDMI copper cable that supported 1080P60 4:4:4, to drive my projector, I needed to upgrade the connection to support full 4K UHD at 18Gb/s in order to drive my new JVC DLA RS640 4K projector from my new Oppo 203 4K UHD player. Unfortunately, I needed a cable at least 40 feet long and the current copper passive certified cables do not support this length. I therefore decided to go optical using the Monoprice SlimRun that is claimed to support 4K @ 60Hz, HDR, 18Gbps, YUV 4:4:4, but with no audio return channel (ARC), something that I do not use. It does not require any external power supply, drawing only 50mA from the display end HDMI connection. I also added a second 10.2Gb/s C2G fiber optic HDMI cable so that I could switch the two projector inputs between the 4K output of the Oppo 203 and 1080P output of my Denon AVP A1HDCI. Unfortunately my Denon does not support 4K and HDCP 2.0.
I tested the SlimRun cable at 4K, P24, 12 bit, 4:4:4 and 4K, P60, 8 bit, 4:4:4 and it worked flawlessly. I also checked both cables at 1080, P60, 8 bit, 4:4:4 and again not a sparkly in sight.
These active optical HDMI cables are simplicity to install, coming fully labelled showing which is the source and display ends. Drawing a very low current of 50mA to drive the optical system, all HDMI display connections should be able to drive these cables without any problems.
The SlimRun cable is very flexible and I suspect a little fragile, it is VW-1 not CMP rated, thereby not allowing its unprotected inclusion in fire rated walls. However, if contained within a steel conduit meets all required fire codes. Update: There is now a CMP version of this cable available.
The C2G cable is plenum rated, it is much more sturdy than the SlimRun and I felt more confident pulling it through my conduits and under my floor.
In both cases a lot of care was taken to ensure that no strain was put the connector/cable connections while the cables were being pulled, and their installation went without a hitch.
Using my Oppo 103 there was absolutely no difference in image quality between the old Accell active HDMI copper cable, the C2G and SlimRun active optical cables. Nor should there have been, see my earlier post on cables here.
However, per my review of the Oppo 203, its image quality over the SlimRun was noticeably better than that of my Oppo 103, or any of my three Denon HD Blu Ray players over any of the HDMI active cables. This can only be attributed to the outstanding video processing of the 203, certainly NOT the optical interconnect! Just to confirm this, and confirm my comments in my post on cables, I temporarily swapped between all cables, and guess what? Absolutely no difference. Both Oppos looked just the same no matter which cable was attached to them, with the 203 still providing the better image.
Based upon my current use of these cables I can whole heartedly recommend them both. For 4K users requiring a full 18Gb/s, the Monoprice maybe expensive, but it gets the job done. While for those needing plenum rating and only support for 10.2Gb/s the C2G cable worked perfectly. At no time did I ever have a HDMI handshake problem or a single sparkly from either of these active HDMI fiber optic cables.
Purchase the SlimRun series from here.
Purchase Cables 2 Go (C2G) series from here.
