Frequently asked questions about product

• What makes Kordz R.4 48Gbps Passive HDMI Cable a rack and marine optimised HDMI cable?

  Kordz R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable is engineered for environments where mechanical stability, airflow, safety compliance and long-term reliability are essential. Its full metal internal casing and class-leading 95% copper braid shield provide enhanced EMI control for dense racks, while the slim cable profile improves routing and airflow. For marine use, the 2kg retention die-cast connector resists vibration and the complete LSZH cable construction meets IEC60332, IEC60754 and IEC61034 fire safety requirements. These combined features make R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable highly suitable for installations where performance and reliability cannot be compromised.  

• What does DPL Enhanced 48Gbps Reference Standard certification mean and why is it important?

  The DPL Enhanced 48Gbps Reference Standard is an independent compliance programme that verifies a cable’s electrical performance across the full 48Gbps bandwidth required by HDMI 2.1. It assesses not only data rate but also interoperability, ensuring the cable performs reliably with a wide range of source, sink and intermediary devices. For integrators, this certification confirms that Kordz R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable operates within the performance envelope needed for uncompressed 8K formats and advanced HDMI 2.1 features such as eARC, (enhance Audio Return Channel), VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and QMS (Quick Media Switching). 

• Do I need a 48Gbps cable even if the system is not using 8K today?

  Often, yes. Many installations rely on HDMI 2.1 features that require the full 48Gbps bandwidth even when using 4K displays, particularly for higher frame rates, gaming modes or professional switching environments. If long-term system stability or future-readiness is required, specifying a 48Gbps-rated cable avoids time consuming rework when the system adds new devices or formats. 

• Does using the Kordz R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable improve image quality on existing 4K or 8K systems?

  A cable cannot enhance the native image quality of the source, but it can ensure the signal is transported without bandwidth-induced format reductions, such as lowered bit depth or subsampling. Kordz R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable provides the necessary data headroom to maintain the full format the source is capable of outputting, ensuring the installation does not become the limiting component. 

• What installation factors should integrators consider with the Kordz R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable?

  The Kordz R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable is engineered for rack builds and marine applications where precision routing, airflow and mechanical stability are important. Its compact connector assembly and slimmer cable diameter allow clean dressing in dense racks, while the 0.3m length increments support accurate cable selection. Marine integrators benefit from the die-cast connector’s 2kg retention force, designed to resist movement and vibration. The LSZH cable meets IEC60332, IEC60754 and IEC61034 requirements for low smoke and zero halogen performance in applications where enhanced fire safety is required. 

• How does the Kordz R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable help AV installations stay future-ready?

  With full 48Gbps bandwidth and compliance to the DPL Enhanced 48Gbps Reference Standard, the R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable supports uncompressed 8K formats and the broader HDMI 2.1 feature set. By ensuring the cable exceeds the electrical demands of current devices, it reduces the likelihood of cabling becoming the performance bottleneck as equipment evolves. 

• How does the Kordz R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable compare with active or optical HDMI solutions?

  The Kordz R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable is a passive copper HDMI cable designed for short-length, high-bandwidth runs commonly found in racks and local device interconnects. It requires no external power and supports the full HDMI 2.1 feature set within the 48Gbps bandwidth profile. Active and optical solutions offer longer distance capability but introduce electronics that ultimately cannot match the absolute reliability of a passive cable. The Kordz R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable provides a robust alternative where passive performance, mechanical stability and installation efficiency are priorities. 

• Is the Kordz R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable backwards compatible with older HDMI equipment?

  Yes. As with all passive 48Gbps-rated HDMI cables, the Kordz R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable operates normally with earlier HDMI versions. System performance remains dependent on the least capable device in the chain, but the cable will not restrict compatibility with legacy hardware. 

• Can the Kordz R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable be used with AVRs, soundbars and matrix switchers?

  Yes. The Kordz R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable supports eARC and all HDMI 2.1 feature requirements. It is suitable for direct connections between AVRs, soundbars, switchers and displays, provided all equipment in the chain supports the desired resolution and data rate. The compact connector assembly and secure retention make it well suited to high-density rack switchers, compact AV equipment and wall mounted televisions.  

• Why am I not getting 48Gbps performance in my system?

  HDMI systems will only operate at 48Gbps if every device in the chain supports the required bandwidth. Even with a DPL Enhanced 48Gbps Reference Standard certified cable, the final format is determined by the least capable device. If the source, display or any in-line equipment do not support the necessary resolution or data rate, the system will negotiate a lower format. Device settings such as colour sampling, bit depth or frame rate can also restrict the output. In most cases, the limitation is elsewhere in the system rather than the cable. 

• Is the Kordz R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable directional?

  No. The Kordz R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable, as its name suggests, is a passive HDMI cable and can be installed in either direction. There are no in-line electronics, and all conductors are symmetrical, allowing full bidirectional use.

• What is the difference between LSZH jacket and LSZH cable?

  An LSZH jacket means only the outer sheath is made from a low smoke, zero halogen compound. In contrast, an LSZH cable specifies that all applicable material layers throughout the cable’s construction use LSZH compounds, including internal insulation and structural components, not solely the outer jacket. The Kordz R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable is built as a complete LSZH cable, ensuring its entire construction meets IEC60332, IEC60754 and IEC61034 requirements for fire safety and suitability in marine and other compliance-driven environments.