Wednesday, August 30th 2023

THX Ltd. Announces New THX Interconnect Cables to Elevate Home Theater Entertainment

Press Release by
TheLostSwede
 Discuss (73 Comments)
THX Ltd., a world-class high-fidelity audio and video tuning, certification, and technology company, today announced it is launching THX Interconnect, designed in partnership with Pixelgen. THX Interconnect are a family of Ultra High Speed HDMI 2.1 cables capable of delivering 100% uncompressed 48 Gbps signaling to optimize the fidelity and reliability of nearly any sized or configured home theater system. THX is also relaunching its popular home theater installer THX Certified Training series. Both will be highlighted in early September in Denver, Colorado at the CEDIA Expo.

"The THX mission is to empower high-fidelity entertainment, regardless of where and how consumers want to enjoy movies, music and games," said Jason Fiber, chief executive officer, THX Ltd. "The THX Interconnect cables ensure all home theater components work in harmony at the highest resolutions, regardless of the length. We are pleased to bring home theater enthusiasts around the globe this cost-effective and incredibly reliable new solution. We also look forward to reintroducing the THX Certified Training program which has been dormant for a few years but is back due to overwhelming demand from the home theater installation industry."
THX Interconnect cables are ideal for everyone who enjoys movies, music, gaming, sporting events, and streaming content at home over their TV, projector, or personal computer display. The cables come in nine lengths to meet the needs of nearly any setup, home theater, or private cinema. Utilizing Pixelgen's PXLGLASS Hybrid Fiber/Copper technology, the THX Interconnect cables maintain the smallest cable diameter possible regardless of length when crossing over from copper to long-reach optical fiber requirements, making installation and management easy and effective.

"The weakest home theater cabling link has the potential to bring down an entire system, and the end users viewing experience with it," said Jack MacDougall, founder, and chief executive officer, Pixelgen. "THX Interconnect cables have been tailored to give everyone optimal system stability, total HDMI 2.1 functionality, and the maximum 48G bandwidth passing through their system."

THX Interconnect Ultra High Speed HDMI cables support the maximum 8-10K resolutions at 60 frames per second, and include:
  • THX Interconnect (Copper) short-range cable for six sizes: 0.5 m (1.64 ft), 1 m (3.28 ft), 1.5 m (4.92 ft), 2 m (6.56 ft), 3 m (9.84 ft), 5 m (16.4 ft); and
  • THX Interconnect (Copper + Optical Fiber with embedded PXLGLASS Technology) long-range cable for three sizes: 7.6 m (24.9 ft), 10 m (32.8 ft), 15 m (49.2 ft).
THX Interconnect cables are thin, flexible, and robust. With any signal transmission method (0.5-to-5 m copper-based or 7.6 m-to-15 m PXLGLASS Optical), each cable provides the following:
  • 100% uncompressed high-speed signal delivery up to 8K60 48 Gbps.
  • Total HDMI 2.1b Protocol Functionality including Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC), Consumer Electronics Control (CEC), Dynamic HDR (High Dynamic Range), HDCP (High bandwidth Digital Content Protection) 2.X as well as all new gaming-centric features, VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), QMS (Quick Media Switching), ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), and QFT (Quick Frame Transport).
  • Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable Certification (HDMI 2.1b Category 3 for Optical lengths) with scannable official UHD label affixed to packaging.
  • Internally validated to THX Certified 8K Interconnect Standards; maximized 8K HDMI equipment interoperability, in-system reliability, stringent fitness-to-application testing, hot-plugging, power sequencing and time-lapsed pixel error testing.
  • Smallest cable diameter possible, ensuring minimal bend radius and encouraging maximum flexibility without compromising reliable signal delivery.
Full product specifications are available here. Pricing ranges from USD $39.99 to $399.99. Products are expected to ship in late fall 2023.
Source: THX

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73 Comments on THX Ltd. Announces New THX Interconnect Cables to Elevate Home Theater Entertainment

#26
lexluthermiester
Wait, THX is engaging in "Snake-Oil" tactics? WTAFIT?
TheLostSwedeActually, HDMI 2.1 at full speed is limited to max 5 meters for copper.
What about the gold/silver/copper hybrid wires? In all seriousness, I've read(no I can't remember where) that the blended metal wires actual do better with signal integrity over distance. Is this what they're using in these cables?
Posted on Reply
#27
trsttte
FeratherOptical is indeed a massive improvement
It either meets the spec or it doesn't, it's easier to meet the spec with optical cables but they're also unidirectional so it only makes sense if you need the distance.
L'Eliminateurleaving aside the ridiculousness of the price, it's a fact that there's a MASSIVE quantity of extremely dodgy and shit HDMI cables that don't adhere to standard/dont pass certification even from "known" brands, and that's without the newer 2.1 and up versions.
I believe with the HDMI2.1 they have to have the sticker and pass HDMI forum tests to get it, no dodgy coin flip if you look for the sticker when buying.
Posted on Reply
#28
80251
Just a new way for THX to make money. I doubt they'll be directly involved in fabricating any cable themselves. A standard invented to make profit.
Posted on Reply
#29
Wye
HDMI 2.1 released 6 years ago.

Good to know the THX brand means snake oil, I'll stay away from it.

"THX Certified" = ewww
Posted on Reply
#31
TheLostSwede
News Editor
eldon_magiI need 15 meter (49.2126 feet) DisplayPort cables, because i run my baremetal desktop, and desktops vm's with pcie passthrough GPUs in another room. I only need 4k@60, and i have been looking at those optical cables from china, but yet to find any good review, do they really work? And if they work, will the optics run for years?

Does anyone have any insight about these. Alternativelly, could i run 4k@60 over 15 meter quality copper cables, like Lindy i think was a reputable manufacturer? Thankful for any insights..
I'd steer clear of xinese brands, but there are some Taiwanese companies that make them. Note that optical cable are directional. But yes, they work and they work really well.
Posted on Reply
#32
bonehead123
mechtechCan I get 10 of the $400 ones??
No you can NOT, 'cause I already bought every one of them everywhere all at once, but I'll let you know when they arrive, so you can make me a reasonable offer...hehehe :) /s
80251Just a new way for THX to make money. A standard invented to make profit.
"greed is eternal" - Quark
Posted on Reply
#33
L'Eliminateur
TheLostSwedeActually, HDMI 2.1 at full speed is limited to max 5 meters for copper.
Ah i did not know that, this certainly explains a lot on the offered lengths for the fiber one.

Also, someone said that the optic hdmi cables are unidirectional.... not really in a signalling way, proper ones should behave no different from copper cables for CEC, ethernet and ARC.
If by unidirectional you mean that both ends cannot be swapped then yes, they can't (they have a source ank sink side).

This THX stuff might be overpriced, but i'd love to see a price comparison with properly certified HDMI 2.1 of other brands in copper AND fiber.


This is certainly not the same as those "oxygen free copper" audiophools BS cables, a quick re-read of the article does not give me a snake oil vibe as they simply state the HDMI bragga of standard 3-letter acronyms they support, in no place they mention that the cable will have "better video quality"
Posted on Reply
#34
Legacy-ZA
Can't speak to these cables, but quality audio cables do make a difference.
Posted on Reply
#35
TheLostSwede
News Editor
L'EliminateurAh i did not know that, this certainly explains a lot on the offered lengths for the fiber one.
Just like USB 3.2 Gen 2 and Gen 2x2 cables are limited compared to USB 3.0 cables.
L'EliminateurAlso, someone said that the optic hdmi cables are unidirectional.... not really in a signalling way, proper ones should behave no different from copper cables for CEC, ethernet and ARC.
If by unidirectional you mean that both ends cannot be swapped then yes, they can't (they have a source ank sink side).
Yes, this is because there's a conversion chip in each end. One from Digital to Optical and one from Optical to Digital.
L'EliminateurThis THX stuff might be overpriced, but i'd love to see a price comparison with properly certified HDMI 2.1 of other brands in copper AND fiber.
Well, depends on the brand you go for.
L'EliminateurThis is certainly not the same as those "oxygen free copper" audiophools BS cables, a quick re-read of the article does not give me a snake oil vibe as they simply state the HDMI bragga of standard 3-letter acronyms they support, in no place they mention that the cable will have "better video quality"
Most modern cables rely on "oxygen free copper", it just comes down to the purity and it doesn't really matter after some point.
Legacy-ZACan't speak to these cables, but quality audio cables do make a difference.
Analogue vs Digital signal.
Posted on Reply
#38
Steevo
SCP-001What in the heck did I just read?
There are also audio rocks you tape to the ends of your speaker cables too.


There is no limit to the elitist BS in A/V. Literally none.
Posted on Reply
#39
Franzen4Real
L'EliminateurThis THX stuff might be overpriced, but i'd love to see a price comparison with properly certified HDMI 2.1 of other brands in copper AND fiber.
I buy Monoprice cables exclusively. No marketing jargon, no frilly packaging, and priced fairly. They are all certified cables and have some nice build quality.
Posted on Reply
#40
SCP-001
SteevoThere are also audio rocks you tape to the ends of your speaker cables too.


There is no limit to the elitist BS in A/V. Literally none.
I know literally nothing about A/V but even I can tell that a rock ain't gonna do anything for a wire, unless it's a magnet lmao. Idk how people can fall for this stuff so easily. It's gotta be some kind of placebo effect right?
Posted on Reply
#41
Ferather
Don't forget EMI, anything conductive can and will act as an antenna, picking up any type of wireless signal, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mobile phones and so on.
I remember the days TV made noises due to mobiles. HDMI runs on TDMS which is meant to reduce EMI (see here).

What reduces EMI to none? Not using conductive methods, and instead optical. A design + data can be found here (using PowerDAC's).
With optical we are talking kilometres with minimal loss of signal, and a very low latency.

84 GBd (168 Gbit/s) PAM‐4 3.7 Vpp Power DAC in InP DHBT | An Ultrahigh-Speed Low-Power DAC Using InP HBTs


I single HDMI connector can have an optical transmitter and receiver, and be bi-directional, but still specifically one end as main out.

0.5ms response GPU > 1ms Cable > 0.5ms response display device = ??

Optical is superior to conductive, end of.

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Posted on Reply
#42
natr0n
basic hdmi cable with a gold silkscreen logo that probably costs a bit more to print
Posted on Reply
#43
LabRat 891
FreedomEclipseTHX also forgot to add that they have a bridge they can sell you with every cable purchase.
Wait... don't they literally have a DRM/Repeater 'bridge' chip in the cable?
Or, am I a bit dull; and that *was* the joke?
FeratherDon't forget EMI, anything conductive can and will act as an antenna, picking up any type of wireless signal, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mobile phones and so on.
I remember the days TV made noises due to mobiles. HDMI runs on TDMS which is meant to reduce EMI (see here).

What reduces EMI to none? Not using conductive methods, and instead optical. A design + data can be found here (using PowerDAC's).
With optical we are talking kilometres with minimal loss of signal, and a very low latency.

84 GBd (168 Gbit/s) PAM‐4 3.7 Vpp Power DAC in InP DHBT | An Ultrahigh-Speed Low-Power DAC Using InP HBTs


I single HDMI connector can have an optical transmitter and receiver, and be bi-directional, but still specifically one end as main out.

0.5ms response GPU > 1ms Cable > 0.5ms response display device = ??

Optical is superior to conductive, end of.

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Correct.

I thought there were only extremely expensive options, like Corning's...
www.corning.com/oem-solutions/worldwide/en/home/products-solutions/active-optical-cables/thunderbolt-optical-cables.html

www.corning.com/oem-solutions/worldwide/en/home/products-solutions/active-optical-cables/usb-optical-cables.html

But, apparently 'optical' HDMI cables are, and have been 'a thing'. HDMI2.1 Optical cables seem to have recently hit the market.

www.amazon.com/Cable-FIBBR-48Gbps-Compatible-Blu-ray/dp/B09KZ435N6/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=HDMI%2BFiber%2BOptic&s=electronics&sr=1-4&th=1
Posted on Reply
#44
Ferather
My Father got 4 of the Fibbr optical HDMI 2.1 cables, at the time the only version by the brand Fibbr, and about £14 (GBP) each. Now they have a new 56GBps version.
FIBBR Website (fibbrtech.com) | I am not sure why THX put out those prices, far too high. Same for DisplayPort optical prices, too high.

Plastic is cheaper than copper to my knowledge, the transmitter and receiver are also cheap to make.

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Still got this old image of Fibbr on my alternative Lubuntu PC, for some reason they pulled out of USB and DisplayPort, no idea why.
The Fibbr HDMI optical cables are rated [lossless], no other type of quality badge is required.


Posted on Reply
#45
trsttte
L'Eliminateurbut i'd love to see a price comparison with properly certified HDMI 2.1 of other brands in copper AND fiber
Don't know about fiber but copper can be had for pretty cheap.

www.amazon.de/dp/B084RFQPSP
Legacy-ZAbut quality audio cables do make a difference
Not with digital signals like hdmi or spdif ;)
FeratherHDMI runs on TDMS which is meant to reduce EMI (see here).
Not anymore, 2.1 (real 2.1 that is) uses Fixed Rate Link
FeratherPlastic is cheaper than copper to my knowledge, the transmitter and receiver are also cheap to make.
It's not that simple, plastic fiber can't run particularly high bandwidths (as exemplified by the zombie TOSLINK) and as cheap the transducers can be they are still an extra part that copper just doesn't need.
Posted on Reply
#46
mrnagant
eldon_magiI need 15 meter (49.2126 feet) DisplayPort cables, because i run my baremetal desktop, and desktops vm's with pcie passthrough GPUs in another room. I only need 4k@60, and i have been looking at those optical cables from china, but yet to find any good review, do they really work? And if they work, will the optics run for years?

Does anyone have any insight about these. Alternativelly, could i run 4k@60 over 15 meter quality copper cables, like Lindy i think was a reputable manufacturer? Thankful for any insights..
I have a 50ft fiber HDMI cable that does 4k120hdr w/ vrr just fine. They may offer a DP version. Stouchi is the brand. Picked it up on Amazon for $60.
Posted on Reply
#47
Ferather
@trsttte, Still 3 channels and a clock, it has mostly just switched to fixed data rate from varying data rate correct? And backward compatible.

www.ipasslabs.com/ezfiles/830/1830/img/1120/HDMI01.jpg
i.ytimg.com/vi/5acgSK0kWTE/maxresdefault.jpg

Still has EMI issues. HDMI 2.1b Specification Overview.

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If we are talking TOSLink then yes up to 125mbps based on the transmitter-receiver, which is more than enough for just audio.
Otherwise the limits in terms of bandwidth, I am not so sure they have really reached a limit with optical.

5 Reasons Why IT Professionals Choose Fiber Optic Cables Instead of Copper

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1536k total samples max. 8 x 192k = 1536k, 32 x 48k = 1536k. Certainly not 125mbps.
125mbps can do 108 x 48k or even 27 x 192k @ 24 bit, more than HDA can handle.
Posted on Reply
#48
trsttte
FeratherStill 3 channels and a clock, it has mostly just switched to fixed data rate from varying data rate correct? And backward compatible.

www.ipasslabs.com/ezfiles/830/1830/img/1120/HDMI01.jpg i.ytimg.com/vi/5acgSK0kWTE/maxresdefault.jpg
Still has EMI issues. HDMI 2.1b Specification Overview.
You're interpreting that wrong, FRL uses the TMDS clock pairs for a 4th lane since it doesn't require a clock. Certainly still has emi issues though given the much higher bandwidth.
FeratherOtherwise the limits in terms of bandwidth, I am not so sure they have really reached a limit with optical.
Not all fiber optics are built equal, I just taking a jab at your mention of plastic because they're particularly bad, "real" fiber optics made from glass fibers are another deal where yeah, sky is the limit.
Posted on Reply
#49
Ferather
Does it still transmit audio frames between video blanks (data island period)? If so, have they addressed delays? And-or limited audio bandwidth due to smaller blank periods?

I would prefer to see dedicated audio-video-data channels, with fixed bandwidth, in that manor. If its still within blanks, shared.
Posted on Reply
#50
AsRock
TPU addict
2 things came to mind...

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