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Sanwa Supply launched the 500-HD036 magnetic-connector HDMI cable, using a magnetized tip that snaps into place for quick, effortless connections.
The Ultra High Speed HDMI cable supports 48Gbps bandwidth, enabling video output up to 8K at 60Hz and 4K at 120Hz.
Available in lengths from 0.5m to 3m, prices range from ¥2,280 to ¥2,780 via Sanwa Supply’s direct online store.
From a signal-path purist’s perspective, the interesting part of this cable isn’t the convenience trick but how Sanwa approaches contact stability under HDMI 2.1’s FRL transmission. A magnetic interface introduces an extra junction, which typically raises concerns about contact resistance and micro-misalignment at multi‑gigabit speeds. Sanwa counters this with gold‑plated contacts and a fixed orientation at the magnetic joint, suggesting the connector is designed less like a loose pogo system and more like a guided dock. The fact that only one side is magnetic also hints at a conservative engineering choice: keep the most vulnerable device port protected, while avoiding unnecessary additional interfaces on both ends of the signal chain.
Where opinions tend to diverge is in the mechanical philosophy. Traditionalists argue that a rigid HDMI plug, once seated, is electrically and mechanically “done,” whereas magnetic systems trade ultimate rigidity for controlled failure. Sanwa’s approach clearly prioritizes strain relief and long-term port health over brute-force retention. In environments with frequent reconnections—AV racks that get reconfigured weekly, demo stations cycling sources, or ceiling-mounted displays—the nylon-mesh jacket and breakaway behavior form a system-level solution rather than a mere cable. It reads less like a gimmick and more like an attempt to adapt HDMI’s fragile physical layer to real-world handling, something audiophiles have long discussed when balancing theoretical signal integrity against practical longevity.
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