Today's Show:
We received a question from a listener regarding HDMI and it's various versions. That led us into a full discussion on everything from what all the various versions are capable of, how they inter-operate, backward compatibility issues, you name it. Today it's all about the HDMI.
HDMI (quoted from
Wikipedia):
Versions
Devices are manufactured to adhere to various versions of the specification, where each version is given a revision number. Each subsequent version of the specification uses the same cables, but increases the throughput and capabilities of what can be transmitted over that cable. The need for a new HDMI cable if you already have one really depends on the cable (which also has a HDMI rating). The main thing to consider is if any current cable would be able to handle the increased bandwidth—for example the 10.2 Gbit/s that comes with version 1.3. Cable compliance testing is included in the HDMI Compliance Test Specification (see TESTID 5-3), with "Category 1" and "Category 2" defined in the HDMI Specification 1.3a (Section 4.2.6).
A product listed as having an HDMI version does not necessarily mean that it will have all of the features listed under the version classification, indeed some of the features are optional. For example in HDMI v1.3 it is optional to support the xvYCC wide color standard. This means if you have bought a camcorder that supports the wide color space (which for example is branded by Sony as "x.v.Color") you have to specifically check that the display supports both HDMI v1.3 and the xvYCC wide color standard.
HDMI 1.0 - Released December 2002.
- Single-cable digital audio/video connection with a maximum bitrate of 4.9 Gbit/s. Supports up to 165 Mpixel/s video (1080p60 Hz or UXGA) and 8-channel/192 kHz/24-bit audio.
HDMI 1.1 - Released May 2004.
- Added support for DVD Audio.
HDMI 1.2 - Released August 2005.
- Added support for One Bit Audio, used on Super Audio CDs, up to 8 channels.
- Availability of HDMI Type A connector for PC sources.
- Ability for PC sources to use native RGB color-space while retaining the option to support the YCbCr CE color space.
- Requirement for HDMI 1.2 and later displays to support low-voltage sources.
HDMI 1.2a - Released December 2005.
- Fully specifies Consumer Electronic Control (CEC) features, command sets, and CEC compliance tests.
HDMI 1.3 - Released 22 June 2006.[6][7] Increases single-link bandwidth to 340 MHz (10.2 Gbit/s)
- Optionally supports 30-bit, 36-bit, and 48-bit xvYCC with Deep Color or over one billion colors, up from 24-bit sRGB or YCbCr in previous versions.
- Incorporates automatic audio syncing (Audio video sync) capability.
- Supports output of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio streams for external decoding by AV receivers.[8] TrueHD and DTS-HD are lossless audio codec formats used on HD DVDs and Blu-ray Discs. If the disc player can decode these streams into uncompressed audio, then HDMI 1.3 is not necessary, as all versions of HDMI can transport uncompressed audio.
- Availability of a new mini connector for devices such as camcorders.[9]
HDMI 1.3a - Released 10 November 2006.[10]
- Cable and Sink modifications for Type C
- Source termination recommendation
- Removed undershoot and maximum rise/fall time limits.
- CEC capacitance limits changed
- RGB video quantization range clarification
- CEC commands for timer control brought back in an altered form, audio control commands added.
- Concurrently released compliance test specification included.
HDMI 1.3b - Testing specification released 26 March 2007.
