Monoprice Active HDMI Cable, 40 Feet

Key specifications

CL3 in-wall rating is the standout here: the cable jacket is flame-retardant and tested to the CL3 standard for use in and through walls in residential buildings. That makes it relevant for a more permanent setup, not just a cable laid across the floor.

This is an active High Speed HDMI cable rated for 18Gbps, with support for 4K and YCbCr 4:4:4. Its chipset regenerates and balances the three video signal elements, allowing longer-distance transmission with thinner conductors than a passive HDMI cable. The 40-foot length is useful when the display and source are far apart, though the active design comes with an important compatibility caveat noted below.

A braided nylon covering helps resist nicks and cuts while retaining flexibility. Zinc alloy connectors are intended to improve durability and help protect against electromagnetic and radio frequency interference. The cable is gray.

Who it’s for

This cable suits a home theater, video surveillance setup, or commercial display where the source device cannot sit near the screen. For example, you could route it through a residential wall from an equipment shelf to a television on the other side of the room, keeping a long cable run out of sight. Its CL3 rating is relevant to that installation approach, it does not, by itself, establish that every installation detail will suit your particular wall or setup.

Compared with a basic passive HDMI cable, the active chipset is the reason to consider this one for a longer run. If your equipment is close together, a shorter or passive cable may be a simpler choice. It makes sense if you need this length and want a braided jacket for a routed or frequently handled cable. You may want to skip it if your system depends on newer HDCP 2.2-enabled devices, since the product information warns that this previous-generation 18Gbps chipset may cause compatibility problems with some of them.

Everyday use

The length gives you room to position a display away from a receiver, source, or surveillance equipment, while the braided exterior is designed to take more knocks than an ordinary plastic jacket. It remains flexible, but a long cable run still takes planning: decide where the source and display will sit before routing it, especially if you intend to pass it through a wall. From the way it is set up, this cable is aimed at installations where reach and a protected jacket matter more than choosing the newest chipset generation.

Before you decide

Is it intended for in-wall use? The jacket is CL3-rated for use in and through walls in residential-class buildings.

What does the active chipset do? It regenerates and balances the video signal elements to support longer-distance High Speed HDMI transmission than a passive cable using thinner conductors.

Could it have trouble with HDCP 2.2 equipment? Yes. The product information says this earlier-generation chipset may cause compatibility issues with some newer HDCP 2.2-enabled devices.

Should you buy it?

Choose the Monoprice cable when a 40-foot active HDMI run, 4K support, and a CL3-rated jacket fit the job—particularly for a home theater or display installation where routing matters. The key tradeoff is its older chipset: if you are building around newer HDCP 2.2 equipment or already have connectivity problems, this cable may not be the right fix. For a shorter, straightforward connection, a basic passive option may be all you need.