HF-X-NCF ULTRA HIGH-SPEED HDMI V2.1 CABLE BY FURUTECH

BRIGHTER AND MORE
VIVID COLORS, UNEQUIVOCALSOUND IMPROVEMENT !
By GEORGE DE SA

These days, I’ve been around the house morethan ever. It’s winter in Canada and also theprecautions of COVID have demanded it.
The good side is that I get more time for myhobbies; music and movies being includedin those. With more of my leisure now time
in-front of a screen, I’ve been interested inimproving that experience and getting themost I can out of my home entertainment
system. I have my Samsung 85” UHD TV, aPlayStation, a UHD cable box, 4K A/V receiver and full speaker setup. I’m satisfied with
where I am with all the components, so now
I’ve turned my attention to the dressings, theloom or cabling that is. Since all the audio
and video signals in my home theatre arechannelled through HDMI, I was interested if
upgrading my HDMI cable(s) might yield any
benefits. Would there be a noticeable difference and more importantly, if any, would it
be positive?
Furutech released its HF-X-NCF Ultra High-Speed HDMI v2.1cable in September 2021. It is the latest and greatest HDMI
cable produced by the esteemed Japanese audio productmanufacturer. A company specializing in high-end audio/
video cable and connector manufacture, as well as audio products. As the name indicates, this is an HDMI cable designed tomeet the most current HDMI version specifications, allowing
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you to take advantage of all the bandwidth, connectivity, andimage capabilities that the format allows. For those of us who
have dropped some significant cash on upgrading our components, be it a TV, projector, gaming system or A/V receiver,the Furutech HF-X-NCF HDMI aims to deliver that signal unimpeded, in fact, optimally. But aren’t all HDMI cables the same?
This has been the source of some heated debate. Many argue
that all HDMI cables are the same, I won’t take on that argument
here… I’m a lover not a fighter.
However, what I can say is that there have been technicalchanges to the HDMI standard over time, with definite different versions implemented over the years; let me summarize
them. In 2002, we had HDMI 1.0 (1920 x 1080 60p / 4.95 Gbps),
then in 2013, there was a leap forward with the introductionof HDMI 2.0 (4K/60p / 18 Gbps). Most recently in 2017, theHDMI 2.1 format (4K/120p, 8K/60p / 48 Gbps) was introduced,
giving us the 8K capability for truly impressive giant screenshere now for some and hopefully soon available to the many.
Depending on the video signal you are running, you might getaway with HDMI 1.4 cables today; however, if 4K content is what
you ensure you have optimized then you might want to consider the version of your HDMI cables. This can be a rabbit hole,and I’m not here to end the debate but perhaps, if you spent
thousands on the new 4K HDTV and additional money on yourA/V receiver and video source, you might want to give somethought as to whether its time to replace, if not to upgrade yourHDMI cables. Personally, I lean to matching the manufacturer
stated version of HDMI cables to the highest version that any of
my components in my system is capable of, be that TV, source,or A/V receiver. With that in mind, let me now tell you about
the Furutech HF-X-NCF HDMI cable, a cable designed to deliver without reservation, on the full potential HDMI 2.1, 8K/60poffers.

What seems to separate Furutech
from other brands
The new HF-X-NCF Ultra High-Speed HDMIutilizes Furutech’s proprietary Nano Crystal²
Formula (NCF). The company holds that their
NCF formula utilizes a crystalline material
with two primary benefits; first, it generates
negative ions to eliminate static and second,
it converts thermal energy into far infrared(I’d read this as heat dissipation). Furutech
goes on to explain that their NCF is combined with nano-sized ceramic particles
and carbon powder, given their ‘piezoelectric effect’ damping properties. This Nano
Crystal² Formula, Furutech believes is theultimate electrical and mechanical damping
material; eradicating vibration and static
noise, and thereby improving sound, picture
resolution and colour vividness, with blacker
backgrounds.
Technical Information
about this specific cable
The Furutech HF-X-NCF HDMI cable is rigidly
built, while preserving flexibility. It is constructed with a 26 AWG silver-plated µ-OFC
main conductor. Contacts have a thick gold
plating and double layer aluminium foil

shielding is used for each twisted conductor,
together with a third copper braiding layer,
to prevent static, EMI, FFI, RFI, and thereby,eliminate noise and crosstalk. The damping
and insulation materials include special
grade high-density, foamed polyethylene.
An anti-resonance sheath is used to further
reducing electrical and mechanical resonance. Finally, all the metal parts undergo
Furutech’s trademark two-stage α (Alpha)two-step cryogenic and demagnetization
process, to ensure optimal performanceand the company’s goal of ‘pure transmission’. The HF-X-NCF Ultra-High-Speed
HDMI version 2.1 and capable of 8K/60p;
4K/120p/48Gbps, the claim to fame on
this is its 8K capability, which offers somefuture proofing. It is UL/CL3 flame resistantand RoHS compliant, with a diameter of
8.5 ± 0.2mm and comes in finished lengths
of: 1.2 M (3.9 ft) / 2.5 M (8.2 ft) / 3.6 M(12 ft) / 5.0 M (16 ft), with prices on thesebeing US $228 / C $268; US $347 / C $408;
US $449 / C $527 and US $577 / C $678, respectively, as of Jan. 2022.
Looking at the cable itself, I found the build
quality to be very good, with finished ends
feeling solid and hardy, and apparently highquality gold plating on terminations. The
cable, though relatively thick was admirably
flexible and also would hold the shape ofa bend. The overall appearance and feelthough was nothing more than ordinary,
which I expect is a necessity to ensure its UL/
CL3 rating.
Listening conditions
I auditioned the cable in my main hometheatre with my Samsung 82” 4K UHD TV,
Anthem MRX 740 AVR and Bell Fibe 4K
cable box. I also had a friend run it in his
home theatre to compare results. I used theFurutech HF-X-NCF HDMI between my cable
box and TV to evaluate video and thenseparately, between my HDTV and A/VR toevaluate audio. All video evaluations weredone with streamed 4K source material andin comparison, to a generic HDMI 2.0, as well
as a Monster 4K HDMI 2.0 cable, serving asreferences.
Let’s get started with the evaluation
To evaluate the video performance of theFurutech 4K HDMI cable, I began withsome well-watched Netflix content thatI’m very familiar with. I first put pulled up
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HF-X-NCF ULTRA HIGH-SPEED HDMI V2.1 CABLE BY FURUTECH

the fabulously beautiful Our Planet nature
documentaries, for its 4K video content.
My family and I are mesmerized by thevisuals and like most, hooked on David
Attenborough’s deliberate and entrancing
narration. Something that immediately
struck me, was an increase in color intensity when using the Furutech HF-X-NCF
HDMI cable. Colours had a more vibrant andstriking appearance, while not crossing into

over-saturation. The grass looked greener…
and it wasn’t even the neighbour’s; however,the HF-X-NCF remained within the boundaries of naturalness, nary a hint of exaggeration. In fact, the colours seemed natural, lessmonotone, having additional complexity.
The overall brightness of the image remained the same as far as I could see, withthe result being an image that was moreengaging and lifelike. Looking at a massof pink flamingos, the overall hue seemedunchanged, yet the variations in the pinkishorange tones seemed have more pop.
More than colour, there was apparently
some reduction in noise in the images withthe Furutech HF-X-NCF HDMI in use. Fine
details such as the downy fluff of the chicks
had just a touch more clarity and definition.
Also, referring again to that large flock offlamingos, there separation of the massed
elements was increased. The flamingo flock
looking less like a coral-coloured blanket
with the individual movements of the birds
being more apparent.
Another film I watched was the 2013 sci-fi,Gravity. Though this was 1080p rather than
4K content, I wanted to see if the Furutech
cable might make a difference, when justhandling HD rather than UHD content.
About twenty minutes into the film, on
the scene where the hero, Matt Kowalski(George Clooney) first picks up the heroine, Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) in tow,
there is a move from the backdrop of theblackness of deep space in the backgroundto that of our friendly planet Earth. Viewing
this scene with the HF-X-NCF cable, there
appeared to be a very slight increase in
the visibility of the faintest stars on theblack background, providing improved
depth. During the close-up on the astronaut’s white glove, the fabric appearedslightly more vibrant with the HF-X-NCF
versus the comparison cables. The differences / improvements here were small andmore apparent in the 4K content evaluation.
With a friend, we watched some 4K
Reference content on YouTube. There issome stellar video content there, which isperfect for back-to-back comparisons. In
short, similar perceptions, with increased
colour vibrancy, some noise reduction
lending to a slightly greater perception ofdetail. Looking for improvements in blacks
and shadow details, there was nothingthat could be seen at least with the content / setup used.
The audio aspect of this cable
Next up, was the evaluation of the Furutech
HF-X-NCF’s sonic performance. Using musicfrom YouTube via the HDTV and into my8 tedpublications.com/en May - June 2022

A/V receiver, I connected my Grado
SR325e headphones to the headphone
output, allowing me to listen for audible
differences. Listening to Halie Loren’salbum, Heart First, and the track A
Woman’s Way, it was apparent that thebrushes across the drum skins wereclearer with the Furutech HF-X-NCFcable. The Furutech HDMI, rendered therecording with more air and openness
and a greater sense of the recordingspace. Instrument separation was also
improved with the Furutech HDMI, inplay. Halie’s voice had additional vibrancy; it was more lifelike and less veiled.
The bass was denser and more dynamic
and there was greater texture revealedwith the Furutech HF-X-NCF in place.
Listening to the accordion and the guitar playing together, along with the upright bass, I could hear a clear improvement in instrument differentiation.
Whereas the comparison HDMI blurredand commingled the instrument, inparticular the guitar and accordion,
the Furutech HDMI maintained theirseparation and timbral individuality. It
was easy to hear these improvementsthat Furutech HF-X-NCF brought totone, timbre, texture and clarity. Werethese differences small? Individually yes,
however in sum, the Furutech HF-X-NCF
HDMI revealed the music in a more realistic, intricate, and engaging manner.
Moving to the track, Black Crow, byAngus & Julia Stone, I heard similar
results. Improved bass texture, crisperand clears cymbals, denser kick drumwith reduced overhang as well as greater reverb. I also found that with theFurutech HF-X-NCF, the raspy texture ofAngus’ vocalizations was more audible.
General conclusion
So, there you have it, my impressionof the Furutech HF-X-NCF Ultra HighSpeed HDMI v2.1 HDMI cable. Its an
example of a well engineered andconstructed HDMI cable that has been
designed and tested to meet the mostcurrent HDMI standards, while delivering optimized performance not onlyin video but also in audio. If you have a 4K
or even 8K setup, you would do well to consider the Furutech HF-X-NCF HDMI. Moreso, if HDMI audio is something you use foryour music listening, the Furutech HF-XNCF HDMI may be a cable you just can’t livewithout.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Price : 1,2 m (3,9 ft) : 228 $ / 268 $ CA ;2,5 m (8,2 ft) : 347 $ US / 408 $ CA ;3,6 m (12 ft) : 449 $ US / 527 $ CA ;5,0 m (16 ft) : 557 $ US / 678 $ CA
Warranty : 12 months for any manufacturing
defectDistribution : Furutech Canada,
T. : 1.416.704.0105,
https://www.furutech.com/distributors/america/canada/Mediagraphy
Video
Netflix, Our Planet, 4K ;Gravity, 4K format, Warner Bros. ;YouTube, 4K format contents
Audio
YouTube films ;TVHD format contentes ;Halie Loren, Heart First, Justin Time,JTR 8573-2 ;Angus & Julia Stone, Black Crow, Nettwerk
Productions
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