Why do the HDMI cables used in some events look different from ordinary ones? Do these differences really matter?

[KingsleyAurora]

While attending a friend's event recently, I noticed that the HDMI cable they used seemed a little thicker than normal. Some say this is because they are armored fiber optic cables, but I'm not quite sure what that means. What is the difference between such a cable and an ordinary HDMI cable?

 

[highfigh]

While attending a friend's event recently, I noticed that the HDMI cable they used seemed a little thicker than normal. Some say this is because they are armored fiber optic cables, but I'm not quite sure what that means. What is the difference between such a cable and an ordinary HDMI cable?

If they were extremely long, they may be fiber- Copper wire HDMI cables have limits on the distance when full high resolution is used/required.

OTOH, some typical HDMI cables are thicker.

 

[LumiLinkSeeker]

The different, thicker looking HDMI cables you mention are most likely Armored 8K Fiber HDMI Cables. Compared with ordinary HDMI cables, these armored cables use fiber optic technology to transmit ultra-high-definition 8K video and audio signals more efficiently. Their performance advantages are particularly significant when faced with long-distance transmission, because optical fibers can avoid signal attenuation, ensuring that picture and sound quality are always at a high level.
Additionally, the "armor" design of these cables is an additional layer of physical protection that better resists environmental interference, abrasion, or accidental stepping on them, which is important when hosting large events. If you are interested in these technical differences, you can check out this article Armored 8K Fiber Optic HDMI Cables VS regular Fiber HDMI. This might help you better understand why event organizers choose such cables!