Input signal hdmi v 2.0. Versions of HDMI cables: description and compatibility

At the moment, in the US market (the most "advanced" on the planet), a couple of dozen Ultra HD 4K TVs with a large screen are already being blown or will soon go on sale, but real support for the new, high-speed HDMI 2.0 specification is present only in one of them (Panasonic 65WT600 4K Ultra HD for $6,000 US) and two home theater projectors (from $25,000 each). Therefore, it will be very interesting to get acquainted with the answers of the main manufacturers to the question about plans to support HDMI 2.0, the possibility of updating / upgrading already released TVs and assessing the need for HDMI 2.0 in TVs, although "premium", but still household class, i.e. for personal use.

We have already reported that HDMI Licensing is releasing a new version of the HDMI 2.0 standard, replacing the previous version of HDMI 1.4 with improved resolution (clarity) and frame rate, but without replacing existing High Speed ​​HDMI Cable or High Speed ​​HDMI Cable with Ethernet. Most importantly, a significant increase in bandwidth up to 18 Gbps (that's the total, unformatted - raw - bandwidth, and for the payload, the bandwidth will be reduced by 20%, as for all previous HDMI specifications) to support new features, for example resolution (clarity) of 4K video at 50/60 Hz (2160p), which is four times higher than the previous value (1080p/60), as well as the addition of 32 audio (audio) channels, automatic dynamic synchronization of the dubbing sound track (dynamic auto lip-sync ) and new CEC control command extensions.

However, a TV with HDMI 1.4 inputs will not be able to run HDMI 2.0 video source at higher definition/frame rate settings. In other words, virtually all modern 4K UHD TVs are not compatible with the ultimate 4K UHD/HDMI 2.0 performance. Modern TVs with HDMI 1.4a ports and UHD clarity from Samsung, LG, Toshiba, and Sony support UHD or 2160p (3840x2160) resolutions, but only at 24 fps or less. This is sufficient for watching movies, but not enough for the already existing experimental 2160p TV broadcasts at 50 or 60 frames per second. To visualize the figures under discussion, you can simply multiply the number of pixels vertically and horizontally for UHD / 2160p: 3840 x 2160 = 8,294,400 pixels or 8.3 megapixels, i.e. equal to the level of a soap camera (about 8 megapixels) or two times less than the resolution of the main camera of a modern smartphone (about 15 megapixels).

To address the inconsistency between current TV models and the current standard, some companies are claiming a firmware upgrade that will supposedly convert HDMI 1.4 inputs to HDMI 2.0 inputs. Other manufacturers are honest about the need to replace equipment. To clarify the situation, let's compare the answers of the most famous manufacturers of Ultra HD 4K TVs to the question about plans to support HDMI 2.0.

LG company.

Technology support for Ultra HD is constantly evolving and LG leads the industry in native H.265 support in our new models. Of course, only one Ultra HD TV on the market today supports HDMI 2.0, as work on this specification has just been completed. We can't give an exact date, but future Ultra HD TVs (from LG and probably other companies) will get this opportunity for further development. In the interim, we assure buyers who believe in the new technology and purchase LG's first generation Ultra HD TVs that we will find a technical solution to deliver 4K content at 60Hz in the future." - John Taylor, Vice President, Public events and communications (Vice President Public Affairs and Communications).

When asked about HDMI 2.0, John Theiler knowingly talked about the H.265 codec, which was recently approved by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU, International Telecommunication Union, ITU) instead of the previous version of H.264. The new codec has another name: HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) instead of the official ITU-T H.265. Note that H.264 is currently widely used for recording, compressing and distributing high definition (HD) video, and is also one of the codecs supported on Blu-ray discs. However, the new H.265 codec will clearly become the standard for ultra-high definition UHD with 4K and 8K resolutions. But even for "regular" high definition HD, the file size is reduced by about 39-44% at the same quality as H.264 (by 51-74% according to subjective tests of viewers on several video samples). Of course, there are no miracles in the world, and for reducing the file size (and the bit rate of its transmission over a communication channel), you will have to pay with an increase in the computing power of video signal recovery microcircuits from a compressed form. Fortunately, at CES, Broadcom has already shown the 28nm BCM7445 Brahma chip with a quad-core processor capable of decoding four streams of 1080p30 or processing HEVC at up to 4096×2160 (4K) clarity.

Note that even in the HDMI 1.4 specification, the High-speed option (high-speed transmission) supported 4K x 2K or 4096 x 2160 pixels at 24 Hz (a slight difference from 4K UHD is due to the fact that directly for television / ultra-high definition video a slightly lower resolution of 3840 × 2160 pixels is required.

Samsung company.

High-end Samsung projectors already on sale have an external input block (see figure below) for connection to a TV with a special licensed (proprietary) cable from this company. The main advantage of this technical solution is that it is possible to replace only this input unit (with or without cable) to upgrade the entire apparatus. Technical details and prices are not yet known.

Samsung UHD TVs are the only TVs today with built-in connectivity and capabilities that ensure compatibility with future UHD standards. Through a hardware and software upgrade with Samsung's Evolution Kit, our Samsung UHD TVs will support new compression formats, new ways of receiving digital signals, and new methods of protection against unauthorized copying, which will be approved by film companies and television studios" - Dan Schinasi ), Senior Marketing Manager for TV Product Planning at Samsung Electronics America.

Sharp Company.

Now that the HDMI 2.0 specification has been approved, our engineers are working on implementing it into the chipset, which will be available in spring 2014 and will be implemented in new TV models as soon as possible. With the 70UD1 4K UHD 70-inch TV we are launching, we have seen the right way to play 4K 60fps (frames per second) content that may be available in the future. For a transitional period, our 70UD1 will accept any 4K content at up to 30fps without any modifications via any of the four built-in HDMI inputs, as well as upscale 1080p content to 4K pixel resolution via our licensed Revelation Upscaler box. to improve any reproduced signal. Similarly, we are also working on implementing support for the new H.265 encoding technology in future models and are working hard to provide a playback channel in already released products.

Sony company.

Sony is gearing up to support the HDMI 2.0 specification in our line of 4K Ultra HD TVs with a simple firmware update that will be available online by the end of this year." - Mike Lucas, Senior Vice President, Sony Home Entertainment & Audio Group Electronics (Senior VP of Sony Electronics" Home Entertainment & Sound).

The brevity of this answer is a little out of proportion to the complexity of the question. Sony is the first to announce the ability to upgrade already sold 4K TVs to HDMI 2.0 with a simple download from the Internet. But will it be full HDMI 2.0 support and how is that possible? There are no technical issues as HDMI 2.0 signals are electrically compatible with HDMI 1.4, just as HDMI 2.0 connectors are mechanically compatible with HDMI 1.4. The only question is HDMI 2.0 support in the input (port) chips of the TV / projector. If for the new 55- and 65-inch models from Sony it is quite possible to assume that support for HDMI 2.0 is currently blocked in the input microcircuits of the HDMI ports, or to hope for the processing power of these microcircuits sufficient to process the HDMI 2.0 video stream, then for older models (for example , for a VPL-VW1000ES projector or an 84" UHD TV) having a high-speed HDMI chip is very problematic and the only upgrade method would be to replace the entire input board (which according to rumors from HDTVTEST.CO.UK will cost in the UK "within a thousand, not hundreds pounds").

TCL (as a bright representative of budget products).

TCL will show HDMI 2.0 at this year's CES. Our 2014 4K TV models will also have HDMI 2.0 support.

Toshiba Company.

Toshiba's press statement about the new 4K models talks about an issue with HDMI 2.0. It quotes Scott Ramirez, Vice President of Marketing and Product Development, Visual Products Division, Toshiba America Information Systems Division, Digital Products Division (President of Product Marketing and Development, Visual Products, Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. , Digital Products Division), so the translation will have to use quotation marks in quotation marks, which is not very welcome in Russian.

While current products ship with HDMI 1.4 level capabilities, Toshiba will additionally provide a free firmware upgrade to HDMI 2.0 level from December 2013 to support 4K 60fps content. "Toshiba leads the industry in 4K Ultra HD technology," Romirez said. were able to appreciate the amazing picture quality at 60fps for 4K content.

Panasonic Company.

Panasonic said a long time ago that the company's first 4K TV would have HDMI 2.0 support, released that model, and hasn't released anything else on the subject.

Conclusion.

So, Sony and Toshiba are talking about the availability of a free firmware update in the future; Samsung decided to implement a licensed cable adapter; Sharp and LG have not yet decided on a technical solution, TCL plans HDMI 2.0 in new models, and Panasonic already has support for HDMI 2.0.

The question remains about the actual content (content) 4K for televisions on broadcast channels. Is it possible to view in 2160p/60 clarity next year? Probably not. And in 2015? Quite possible. In any case, marketing claims about television and television receivers with 4K clarity are not yet supported by generally accepted and widely used standards, so early buyers of 4K devices risk not getting the full capabilities of the then “full” version of 4K in the near future. Perhaps the average consumer would be better off opting for a clear transition from HDMI 1.4 to 2.0, without the hidden risks of upgrades and upgrades.

Sourced from CNET.COM, HDGURU.COM and HDTVTEST.CO.UK

Briefly about the main

High Definition Multimedia Interface (hereinafter: HDMI) cables are used to connect modern TVs with audio/video tuners, external cable TV tuners, media players, and Blu-ray players. They transmit audio and video signals over the same cable, making it easy to connect. It's not easy to choose the right one. Previous generation cables do not support current features. The latest version of HDMI 2.0 cables supports 4K TV and HDR (high dynamic range) TV. In this article, we will explain the difference between different versions of HDMI cables, including the latest version of the cable: HDMI 2.0a. You will also find out which HDMI cable you need for your 4K TV. And finally, we will look at questions about actually connecting HDMI cables, provide solutions and answers.

And now in detail

HDMI digital interfaces are the best way to connect HDMI-equipped HDTVs and home theaters to high-definition components such as Blu-ray players, PlayStation and Xbox 360 game consoles, HDTV satellite receivers, and cable TV receivers. Today, more often than not, HDMI is the only solution for digital HD connectivity. Despite the fact that most TVs are still equipped with a component input, it has practically disappeared on. Equipment manufacturers are phasing out the use of component video output. And now, after many years, disc makers have the option to put a "digital flag" on a Blu-ray disc, which will limit component video resolution to 480i. This is for those who like high definition pictures. - Who doesn't like them? - You will definitely want an HDMI connection on your equipment.

One cable is very convenient, but that's not all.

HDMI has the unique ability to carry both high-definition video and multi-channel audio over a single cable, but it has other great advantages as well.

Picture and sound of the highest quality: HDMI connections store audio and video signals in digital 1s and 0s, eliminating the reduced picture and sound quality caused by digital-to-analog and inverse conversion. HDMI supports video resolutions up to 1800p, which is important for 1080p HD TVs and Blu-ray players. (Only a few TVs can accept 1080p signals through the composite video input, which is a must for gamers, as PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles provide 1080p video output.) And HDMI audio capability supports up to 8 channels of 24bit 192kHz audio of very high quality.

Ability to transmit 3D video: HDMI is the only connection capable of transmitting 3D video signals from components such as a 3D Blu-ray player to your 3D TV.

More than just audio and video: The standard HDMI connector has 18 pins that carry not only audio and video data, but also 2-way control and identification information, even at the lowest voltage. HDMI cables labeled “1.4” or later can also provide an Internet connection between compatible devices.

Copy protection in industrial use: there seems to be more benefit for studio owners than for consumers, but it directly affects the quantity and quality of what we watch now and in the future. Widespread use of HDMI should satisfy most of Hollywood's demand for strong copy protection to eliminate privacy. HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) is present on almost all HDMI-equipped devices, although it is not officially part of the HDMI specification. Without HDCP, both the quality and quantity of high-definition content delivered to consumers would be severely limited. However, HDCP protection has its downsides. One of its functions is to "authenticate" the connection between two components through a "digital handshake" and problems associated with the process of such a handshake can result in loss or degradation of the image or sound.

Little Tips for Choosing an HDMI Cable

Some components already include an HDMI cable, but not all, so it's best to plan on buying one to connect your unit for the best picture and sound. You won't see a significant difference in picture quality between different HDMI cables. With analog video, you might see varying degrees of image quality on the display, while with digital video, you get a crisp image, or none at all. Although at times, we saw “flashes” (sparks) of the image due to a poor quality HDMI connection.
You still want to choose a high quality HDMI cable because of the length or indoor installation. Cables differ in the material from which they are made, as well as in the method of manufacture. Some are designed by the manufacturer to maintain maximum signal quality throughout the length of the cable. Some users experience interoperability issues when making HDMI connections, but this is almost never caused by the cable itself.

For indoor and commercial use, you will need a UL class CL2 CL3/FT4 cable such as .

Premium Cable Certification Program HDMI

High-quality, high-speed HDMI cables tested to deliver rich 4K/Ultra-HD content quality

The HDMI Premium™ Cable Certification Program includes additional and advanced cable testing, as well as an authentication and verification program for high-speed HDMI cables. The cables are tested to support the full bandwidth of 18 Gb/s from the HDMI 2.0b specification using an EMI test to verify the cable's ability to minimize interference from wireless signals.

The program is designed to give end users the confidence to purchase new HDMI cables for their 4K/UltraHD products, which may include features such as 4K @ 60Hz, BT.2020 and HDR. Members of the Premium Certification Program can advertise their ATC-tested High Speed ​​HDMI Cables as Premium High Speed ​​HDMI Cables or Premium High Speed ​​HDMI Cables with Ethernet by using a unique anti-counterfeiting mark on their products.

Members

Registered members of the Premium HDMI Cable Certification Program are called "HDMI Adopters" (HDMI Followers), and they are the only ones eligible to participate in the program. These Members may be branded on the market or supplied by manufacturers who enter the market with their own brand names. When scanning the Premium HDMI Cable Certification Label, the results will show the brand name that should appear on the packaging. Photo of a cable package certified by the Premium HDMI Cable Certification Program.

A complete list of HDMI Cable Certification Program members is available at hdmi.org

Trust the labeled cable

Certification ensures cables are genuine and certified throughout the supply chain. Each individual cable package will include a Premium HDMI Cable Certification Label. Each label is unique for each individual package.

Each HDMI Cable Certification Program label is unique to each individual package. The HDMI smartphone app will provide quick authentication.

This is the only HDMI cable test program:

• Administered by the HDMI Specification Agent
• Requires every length of every model line to test
• Requires each cable to be tested by an official authorized HDMI test center.
• Regularly checks cables for continuous compliance testing throughout the life of the product
• Requires a proprietary anti-counterfeiting label on every product
• Uses a proprietary level 2 mobile scanning mobile app available for Android and Apple, as well as the top 10 Chinese mobile app stores.

Development/evolution of the standard

HDMI is a universal connector for home digital equipment. The standard continues to evolve to meet the needs of high quality home theater equipment. Conversely, all versions of HDMI are compatible with previous versions, as well as with DVI through an adapter (however, DVI connection is only for video, not audio). Part of HDMI's built-in intelligence allows you to automatically forward high quality video and audio formats that are supported simultaneously. In other words, if you connect two devices, one with HDMI 1.3 and the other with 1.4, the system will be limited to 1.3. While you'll often see the HDMI version listed on the hardware specs, it's best to ignore it. You don't have to concentrate on a list of features to get specific details of the individual capabilities of audio and video components. By itself, the hardware version of HDMI does not mean that all the latest features will be included; it does not guarantee the existence of a particular set of characteristics. The reason for this is that the features listed for each HDMI version are optional, not required. Each manufacturer has the right to decide for himself what HDMI characteristics to equip this equipment with.

Do I need to worry about compatibility between HDMI versions?

Only if you're working with components equipped with the latest version of HDMI - currently 2.0a - and want to take advantage of certain new features from the new specification. However, each new version of HDMI is compatible with older versions, so components equipped with the old and new HDMI versions can work together. That is, if you use a 1.2 cable on a 1.4 set, or a 1.4 cable on a 1.1 set, you'll get great high-definition picture and sound.

So what is the difference between the HDMI versions? Take a look at our summary of the evolution of HDMI below:

HDMI 1.0 A: The original specification supported a single-channel digital audio/video connection with a bandwidth of 165 MHz and a maximum bit rate of 4.9 Gbps (sufficient for 1080p video). Only two-channel audio. Released in December 2002.

HDMI 1.1: Added multi-channel audio support for DVD-Audio (up to 5.1 channels). Released in May 2004.

HDMI 1.2: Added support for multi-channel single-bit audio formats such as SACD (Super Audio CD). Enabled support for HDMI connectors on personal computers. Required displays with HDMI 1.2 or later to support future low voltage devices. Released in August 2005.

HDMI 1.2a: Electronic control functions (CEC) and commands for remote control functions are fully defined. Longer cable lengths must be submitted by manufacturers for additional testing to meet specification. In order for a device to pass 1.2a testing, all of its HDMI connectors must be reviewed and approved by HDMI Licensing, LLC. Released in December 2005.

HDMI 1.3: increased bandwidth up to 340 MHz and maximum bit rate up to 10.2 Gbps (mainly for 3D video). Adopted Deep Color standard, which supports 10-bit, 12-bit and 16-bit color. Over one billion possible colors - previous versions were limited to 8-bit. (Note: Because color information is based on the three primary colors - red, green, and blue - you sometimes see 1.3x improved color depth, described as 30-bit, 36-bit, and 48-bit.) Added support for the xvYCC (also known as xvColor) wide color gamut color space standard, which supports 1.8 times more colors than existing HDTV signals. (Commercial video content does not currently use Deep Color or x.v.Color.) Added the ability to output new lossless compressed digital audio formats (Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio™) for decoding by a compatible A/V receiver. Built-in automatic "lip sync" control for perfect audio/video synchronization (sometimes there is a problem when the audio is sent to the receiver or surround processor, and the video signal is delivered directly to the display). A new mini connector has also been released for use with smaller devices such as digital cameras and camcorders. Released in June 2006.
The 1.3 spec was updated to 1.3a and then 1.3b. However, for consumers, there is no difference between versions 1.3, 1.3a, or 1.3b. These are minor changes that address production and testing issues and do not affect features or functionality.

Considering buying a 4K TV? Any quality HDMI cable labeled "high-speed" should be able to carry 4K video signals. (pictured above)

HDMI 1.4: Ethernet capability added. If you have one HDMI 1.4 device connected to your home network, it can share that connection with other Internet-ready HDMI 1.4 devices using an HDMI 1.4 cable. Note. As of 9/16, we are not aware of any components that support Ethernet over HDMI. Also included is the ability to send audio from your TV tuner back to your home theater receiver. HDMI inputs with this ARC (Audio Return Channel) feature are ideal for people who receive their high-definition programs over the air with an antenna and want to be able to enjoy surround sound through these TV shows. Released in May 2009.

The TV's standard HDMI inputs accept video and audio signals from sources such as a Blu-ray player. If your TV has an HDMI input with ARC (Audio Return Channel), it can also pass audio from the TV's built-in tuner and web apps back to an ARC-compatible A/V receiver or soundbar via a single HDMI cable. Thus, you do not need to connect a separate optical audio cable for sound.

HDMI 2.0: Increased maximum bitrate to 18Gbps to support new formats such as 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) HD video at up to 60fps. (Spec 1.4 also supports 4K video, but only up to 30 fps.) HDMI 2.0 also supports up to 32 audio channels, as well as dynamic auto lip sync and new extensions to the CEC control set. Released in September 2013.

HDMI2.0a: Added support for HDR (High Dynamic Range) video image. HDR delivers improved image quality by providing greater detail in both dark and bright parts of an image. HDR information is encoded as additional metadata in HDR content such as 4K streaming video from Netflix® or Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. HDMI 2.0a allows devices to send and receive this metadata. Released in April 2015.

HDMI 2.1: Higher video resolutions and faster refresh rates, including 8K60Hz and 4K120Hz for immersive viewing and smooth detail in fast movements. Resolutions up to 10K are also supported for commercial AV systems as well as industrial and specialty applications.

Dynamic HDR support ensures that every moment of video is displayed at its ideal depth, detail, brightness, contrast and wider color gamut - on a scene-by-scene or even frame-by-frame basis.

*for 2019

Do I need a special "4K compatible" HDMI cable?

Depending on how good and how old your HDMI cables are, it may be necessary to upgrade your "4K compatible" cables. Normally, HDMI cables use all their data transfer capacity to the maximum, and for processing 4K/60Hz video signals, HDMI 2.0 performance has increased to the maximum capability from 10.2Gbps to 18Gbps. Current HDMI cables labeled "high speed" are capable of handling an increased range of 4K signals up to 8 meters in length. If you need a longer cable, we recommend an "active" type of HDMI cable such as or

HDMI connection questions, solutions and answers.

Different versions of HDMI can lead to some interoperability issues, for example, you will generally not be able to get HDMI 1.4 performance when using equipment and cables that are not 1.4 versions.
Also, some problems may arise due to the fault of the manufacturer, who has insufficiently or incorrectly performed the manufacturing technology. The incompatibility issue can also be encountered with HDCP digital copy protection code handshake and HDMI-connected components, especially when connected via an HDMI-equipped AV receiver in a home theater. If such problems are found, the HDMI Standards Group will contact the manufacturer and ask for a solution. In some cases, a product may be subject to a recall.

In addition to the initiating "handshake", there are other reasons for incompatibility between components. At the beginning of the article, I mentioned that HDMI supports two-way communication between the video source and the TV. Part of this digital communication is called EDID (Extended Display Identification Data), and this data reveals the capabilities of the TV to the component source. The EDID information usually contains the manufacturer's name, product type, screen resolution, color depth. Thanks to EDID, two devices not only communicate with each other, but also know with whom they communicate. All this gives the possibility of auto-configuration, which simplifies the setup process.
With all this in mind, here are the most frequently asked HDMI connection questions by our customers, along with possible solutions and answers:

HDMI operation over long distances

We get a lot of calls about the performance of long HDMI cables in home and industrial audio/video systems. One of the newest and best solutions is high-speed technology. These high-tech cables deliver superb picture and sound quality, including 4K and 3D content, at distances up to 300 meters, far beyond conventional copper cables. High speed cables work by converting HDMI electrical data into optical cables inside HDMI fiber optic connectors. The signals are converted back to an HDMI electrical data stream at the connection to your TV or projector. Since the cable is fiber, no signal loss occurs even over long distances, and it does not react to interference from other devices, wireless devices and computers.

Obtaining HDMI 1.4 Specifications

No Audio Return Channel (ARC) from TV to AV receiver
Check if both the TV and the home theater AV receiver are equipped with HDMI 1.4 components and that they both support Audio Return Channel (ARC). It may surprise you, but most TVs with HDMI 1.4 inputs only support Audio Return Channel on one of these inputs. Next, make sure you are using an HDMI 1.3 or 1.4 cable. (Slightly confusing, hardware version 1.3 and below does not support the new HDMI 1.4 features; however, HDMI 1.3 cables do support some of them, namely Audio Return Channel.)

HDMI and 3D TV

When I turn on the 3D Blu-ray player to watch a movie, the TV display goes blank.
The problem seems to be that one of the components on your system does not support 3D video. For example, if you try to watch a movie through a 3D Blu-ray player on a TV that doesn't display 3D, the TV doesn't know what to do with the signal and its display goes blank.

The same can happen if you are trying to send a video signal through a 3D Blu-ray player to a home theater AV receiver that does not support 3D. The AV receiver is unable to transmit 3D video to your TV and the screen will be blank.
When you insert a Blu-ray disc, many 3D Blu-ray players require you to choose between 2D and 3D. If you select 3D, the player switches to 3D mode, you have very little time to confirm your choice. If you don't confirm, the player assumes you can't see the image and reverts back to 2D.

When I try to watch a regular 2D movie, my 3D TV screen goes blank.
If your TV is set to 3D video only, it will not receive a regular 2D signal. Enter the TV display menu, select “AUTO” (or something similar), which will instruct the TV display to accept incoming 2D or 3D signals, not just 3D.

Common HDMI Handshake Issues

No sound and picture when using HDMI from DVD player to TV
Some video components are shipped from the factory with the HDMI output setting turned off. You can turn it on through the settings menu, or in some cases by pressing the HDMI button on the front panel or on the remote.

No sound when using HDTV HDMI input
Most TVs lack built-in Dolby Digital decoded audio and DTS surround, and can only play 2-channel audio. But many HDMI-equipped video components come from the factory set to forward multi-channel audio. Usually changing the component's audio setting to "2ch (PCM)" will solve the problem.

No picture when connecting cable box to HDTV
This is usually the cable box's fault, as some cable vendors may not be upgrading customers' equipment with new software and cable boxes that are fully compatible with HDMI-equipped TVs and AV receivers. Buyers should report problems to local cable suppliers. Thus, when HDMI connection issues arise, one effective solution is to use component video connections and coaxial digital audio connections.

No subtitles on display when using HDMI connections
Unfortunately, the HDMI specification does not include the need to perform subtitle data transmission. Therefore, if you connect a component such as an HD cable or satellite receiver or DVD/Blu-ray player to your HDTV using HDMI, you will not see subtitles. If you want to see subtitles from your cable or satellite box, use the component's video connection and you'll get both subtitles and a high-definition picture.
An indirect problem may also be that most DVDs and Blu-ray discs are simply not encoded with HDMI compatible subtitles. In fact, a growing number of content providers are using some form of captioning called "Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing" to help people with hearing disabilities. Even if not all discs are subtitled, usually all DVD and Blu-ray players are able to decode subtitles if they are.

No multi-channel audio when connecting an A/V AV receiver to a video source and HDTV.
We've already mentioned HDMI's two-way intelligence tying components together, but sometimes this adds up to a system connectivity issue. Typically, the display shows the video and audio capabilities of the video source. Virtually all televisions are limited to 2-channel audio playback*. Since most A/V receivers use a "duplicate" type of HDMI switch, the AV receiver simply passes 2-channel information to the source, unlike the capabilities of a multi-channel receiver. Thus, the player only sends 2-channel audio to the AV receiver, not high-quality surround sound.
One easy solution might be to just use a separate optical or coaxial cable for the audio. Unfortunately, most HDMI-equipped components are designed to disable digital audio outputs when using the HDMI output. We've found that some models do this and some don't (even those made by the same brand), and going forward, we hope to see more models that disable digital audio outputs.

Another issue with HDMI audio related to the AV receiver: Some older HDMI-equipped AV receivers are not designed to carry audio over HDMI connections, they only pass through video. To receive multi-channel audio from these AV receivers, you need to connect an optical or coaxial digital cable from your video source to the receiver. Few entry-level AV receivers still have this limitation, you just need to be aware of it.

Trademarks Premium HDMI Cable Certification Program, Premium High Speed ​​HDMI Cable, Premium High Speed ​​HDMI Cable with Ethernet, the Premium HDMI Cable label, and the Premium HDMI Cable logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing Administrator, Inc.

* As of 2019.

To date, more than two dozen ultra-high-definition (UHD) TVs have already been released or will soon appear on store shelves. The only problem is that of these, only two more projectors are fully compatible with the recently adopted HDMI 2.0 standard.

How do companies producing Ultra HD TVs intend to support the new standard in already released video equipment?

A small digression for those who are not yet familiar with this problem. HDMI Licensing has recently officially unveiled the next version of the HDMI standard. Today's main digital media interface HDMI 1.4 is being replaced by a new version 2.0. It allows you to completely replace the current version of the interface. The main advantages of the new version are the increase in the bandwidth of the digital channel, which allows you to increase the resolution and frame rate of the transmitted video, while using the same cables for HDMI 1.4.
You can read more about this in "HDMI 2.0: What you need to know."

Although the new version of the HDMI interface does not require the replacement of cables, the system for processing digital input signals in TVs and other video and audio equipment will have to be changed. If your TV has HDMI 1.4 inputs, it simply won't run at the higher resolutions and frame rates that are available with version 2.0.

In other words, almost all current UHD TVs are completely incompatible with ultra-high definition video content. This is not a major problem yet, but with the advent of 4K video available to buyers, it could seriously limit the capabilities of UHDTV models sold today.

Some companies claim that with a simple firmware update, they can fix this problem by updating the interface capabilities of HDMI 1.4 inputs on released Ultra HD TVs to support version 2.0. Other manufacturers offer to simply purchase an additional set-top box to work with HDMI 2.0. And someone obviously has not yet fully decided on the preferred solution to this problem.
Let's look at what specific solutions for upgrading the HDMI interface to version 2.0 in previously released TVs have been chosen by manufacturers of models of popular brands.

LG
Last year, LG offered customers its first Ultra HD TV, only Japanese Toshiba was able to get ahead of LG with the introduction of ultra-high definition TVs to the market.
John Taylor, Vice President of Communications and Media at LG, said: "Using cutting-edge ultra-high-definition technologies with support for the new efficient H.265 standard for digital video compression, LG is the market leader. Of course, there is only one right now. The UHD TV (Panasonic WT600) has an HDMI 2.0 interface built in, but that's because it's recently released, we can't give an exact date when this will happen, but the new generation of UHD TVs from LG and probably other manufacturers will also include At the same time, we assure customers who have already purchased models from the first generation of LG UHD TVs or are about to do so that a solution for processing 4K video at 60Hz will be provided in the future."

Samsung
High-end Samsung TVs today are sold with an external interface module that connects to the TV via its own cable. The advantage of this method is that Samsung can update the interface capabilities in software or hardware without doing anything with the TV itself.

Dan Schinasi, Senior Manager of TV Product Marketing and Planning at Samsung Electronics America, said: "Samsung's new UHD TVs use external interface and functional solutions, they ensure compatibility with future UHD standards. Samsung UHD TVs are updated with the replacement of the Evolution Kit module hardware and software to support new compression formats, digital signals, and studio and broadcaster copy protection requirements."

Sharp
“Now that the HDMI 2.0 specification is fully developed and released, our engineers are developing new chips for TVs based on it, which should be available from spring 2014. For our current 70UD1 70-inch UHD TVs, we are looking into 4K 60fps video content that may be available at a later date. Our 70UD1 series models now play any 4K video content at up to 30 frames per second through all four HDMI connections and upscale 1080p to 4K with our patented Revelation technology that enhances picture quality to enhance everything you watch today.

In addition, we are working on introducing new technologies such as H.265-enabled encoding into future products and will also strive to provide the same good playback for previous products."

Sony
Mike Lucas, senior vice president of Sony Electronics' home entertainment business, succinctly states, "Sony is ready to support the HDMI 2.0 specification in its UHD TVs with a simple firmware update that will be available online by the end of this year."

This short answer doesn't match the real complexity of the problem. Sony is one of the few manufacturers that claims to be able to upgrade existing UHD TVs to HDMI 2.0 with a simple automatic download and firmware update process. Will this be fully compliant with the HDMI 2.0 standard? You can learn about the features of the new version of the interface from.

Meanwhile, two of Sony's latest UHD projectors already support HDMI 2.0. Sony also says that the company's very first UHD products, namely its 84-inch UHD TV and first UHD projector, will require hardware upgrades to meet HDMI 2.0 requirements.

Toshiba
Toshiba has published a press release explaining the solution to the problem of upgrading to HDMI 2.0 of previously released UHD TV models. Here is a quote from Scott Ramirez's post, quite possibly the longest title in the AV industry: "Vice President, Marketing & Development, Visual Products, Digital Products Division, Toshiba America Information Systems"

This is how Toshiba's current generation of UHD TVs are rated in the press release: "While these models ship with HDMI 1.4 level interface capabilities, Toshiba will also provide a free firmware upgrade to reach HDMI 2.0 level. As of December 2013, Toshiba's previous UHD TVs will support 4K video at 60 fps Toshiba is a leader in UHD technology," said Ramirez. "While many manufacturers are doing only the first UHD developments today, we are already offering the second generation of our CEVO 4K video processing system. Now we are adding capabilities to them HDMI 2.0 interface, so users can enjoy superb 4K video quality with up to 60 frames per second refresh rate on Toshiba TVs.”

Panasonic
Panasonic has already made the world's first UHD TV with HDMI 2.0 support. Moreover, it introduced a series of LCD Ultra HD TVs almost immediately after the official approval of the version of the HDMI 2.0 standard. Apparently, being one of the founders of HDMI Licensing (the international structure that maintains the HDMI standard), however, like Sony and Toshiba, the company had unofficial information about the future requirements for the HDMI 2.0 version.

Click on the picture to enlarge it

Conclusion

Sony and Toshiba are promising to upgrade their previously released UHD TVs to HDMI 2.0 with a free firmware update in the near future. Samsung says it's choosing a method with an external interface box upgrade (which will probably not be offered for free). Sharp and LG's promises are much more vague. And only Panasonic believes that HDMI 2.0 support in UHD TVs is needed now.

So if you are already going to buy an Ultra HD TV this year, be careful. Find out if it can handle the ultra high-definition video signals already available from some media, and if it can do so when 4K video becomes more mainstream. Will 2160p/60 video be mainstream next year? Probably not. Maybe in 2015? Maybe. If you're looking to have the latest TV and don't mind upgrading your home video system every few years, this is your choice. Those who are simply looking for the "best" TV at the moment should be aware that the current moment of uncertainty may continue for some time. UHD TVs are currently in a situation where standards cannot keep up with production, and you run the risk of purchasing a model that does not fully support the true potential of ultra-high definition video signals.

If you belong to the layer between these two groups of buyers noted above, you can safely choose from the products of companies that have presented possible options for upgrading the HDMI 1.4 interface to version 2.0.

Not too long ago, the HDMI Forum, the organization responsible for this ubiquitous audio/video connection, announced version 2.0. Then HDMI 2.0a, HDMI 2.0b and most recently HDMI 2.1.

So what does this mean for us?

At one level, the HDMI versions shouldn't matter. In fact, many manufacturers do not list the HDMI version used on their TVs, video players, and other devices. You are generally confident that the new 4K HDR TV you buy will work with the new 4-channel HDR video player and deliver the best quality signals available to each. You can also safely use cheap HDMI cables (for now).

However, when trying to connect equipment that is not new, the HDMI version can make a big difference. This is because older HDMI devices cannot transmit the latest video formats, namely 4K and HDR, or the highest quality versions of each. If you're worried about this, you should check the HDMI version of the device you're buying.

What is behind the version numbers.

What's more, every part of your AV network requires HDMI 2.0/HDCP 2.2 to function. So if you have an HDMI 2.0 4K player and an HDMI 2.0 TV, but an older HDMI 1.4 soundbar or AV receiver... you're out of luck.

Version 2.0a was a minor update, adding support for high dynamic range (HDR).

Most of the "b" is a port from versions "a" and "_" to version 2.0 with some refinements, most notably Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG). This is another way to deliver HDR content, next step.

For now, don't worry about it. So far, there is no support for HLG anywhere. The only reason 2.0b is worth mentioning is that this version is used on 2017 TVs instead of HDMI 2.1. This brings us to...

Long jump in 2.1.

This huge jump requires new cables, but only if you want to deliver higher resolutions and frame rates. These new cables are part of the new specification. Cables are marked "48G" in their markings, they are a much larger "pipe" for passing such a data stream.

Here is a table comparing the possibilities of the formats.
Comparison of HDMI versions.

No new cables...maybe.

• You are only using "regular" resolutions such as 4K/60 or less (i.e. virtually all content and TVs).
• Your current cables are fully compliant with the high speed specifications laid out years ago.

The second part is harder to define. If you bought an HDMI cable a few years ago, no matter the price, it's possible that it will handle 4K resolutions. This also may not be. The only way to say something is to try it. If you are not receiving an image or the image is clipped, your cable may not be able to handle the resolution and/or frame rate. If so,
you will probably need a new cable (although it shouldn't be expensive).

What version do I need?

The question arises: is it possible to update the TV through a firmware update to become "a", "b" or ".1"? Answer: maybe yes, maybe not. HDMI Forum - The people behind the HDMI standards are understandably reluctant to discuss what manufacturers can do. However, we can understand a few things.

Most HDR compatible devices will probably be released from the factory with 2.0a. Since HDR is something that requires some serious hardware, there's no point in adding the ability to read HDR data on a non-HDR TV. So the only products that might need 2.0a but don't ship with it are slightly older (about 2 years old) devices. Theoretically, you can add it? In some cases, probably yes. Companies don't like to update old devices with new features because they want to sell more of their products.

A change from 2.0a to 2.0b is much more likely as these are minor changes. As mentioned, this is not a change you need to worry about right now.

Going from anything to 2.1 is highly unlikely. The problem lies with the chips inside the TV itself, which must be able to process a lot more data. Remember that even if your TV can only display 4K/60, and to comply with "HDMI 2.1", HDMI chips must be able to handle 10K/120. It would be like Toyota putting racing tires on your Camry right from the factory. This is one of the reasons why 2017 devices may have 2.0b but none of them will have 2.1. Another reason is that the final specification for 2.1 is not yet complete (as of today).

Will your next TV have HDMI 2.1? Maybe next year. 2019? Probably. For now, don't worry about that. And of course, all versions are backwards compatible, so you can connect an HDMI 1.4 Blu-ray player to an HDMI 2.0b TV and you shouldn't have any problems doing so.

"Shouldn't" is the key phrase when it comes to HDMI.

The abbreviation HDMI can be encountered when understanding the nuances of digital television broadcasting and digital data transmission. Its decoding is as follows: High Definition Multimedia Interface, in translation - a multimedia interface with high definition. The name roughly reflects the essence: this is the standard for transferring uncompressed data (the first, unchanged and, so far, the only one). The numbers after the abbreviation indicate its "version". The most popular is HDMI 1.4, as well as its successor, HDMI 2.0.

The main function of HDMI is to transfer of multimedia of different configurations(video and audio) between devices using one cable. The quality of the received data is also important: the sound must be undistorted, the image must be realistic, without interference.

Because the HDMI standard is exceptional and universal, it integrates, connects any source devices and data playback devices (audio, video). You can connect digital TVs, projectors and monitors to computers, digital TV decoders and A / V receivers, as well as broadcast data from DWD players, home theater systems. Almost all (from "beginners" to the most famous) digital technology companies (over 7 hundred companies in total) support / use the HDMI standard.

What can be HDMI?

The HDMI standard has the following characteristics (data transmission features), which vary significantly in different HDMI "versions":

1. Bandwidth, measured in units of Gbps per second. It ranges from 4.9 Gb / s to 18 Gb / s (for example, in "later" models: HDMI 2.0).

2. Differences in configuration:

• Cable length (standard limit - 10 meters, extended - up to 30 meters).
• Installation of repeater amplifiers (built-in and external).
• Installation of other "doping" for the quality of data transmission: repeaters, equalizers - to amplify the signal, ferrite rings - to reduce interference, video senders - to increase the distance, the maximum possible for high-quality data transmission.

What was good about HDMI 1.4 (specs)?

Format 1.4 (and "additional" 1.4 a, 1.4 b), applicable in HDMI since 2009, had many advantages over previous standards (1.1 - 1.3). You can add to them:

1. High supported resolution (up to 4096×2160).
2. 3D image support.
3. A reverse audio channel is used - ARC technology.

What's different about HDMI 2.0?

Of the innovations in the functionality of the HDMI 2.0 standard, it is worth highlighting such significant ones as:

• Resolution support (video/audio format) Full HD 3D.
• Support for up to 8 audio channels.
• Increased audio frequency performance up to 1536 kHz.
• Possibility of transmission/broadcasting of two streams of video image to one reproducing device (monitor, TV).
• Transferring more than one stream of audio data.

Why is HDMI 2.0 better than its predecessor HDMI 1.4?

In addition to the main competitive advantage of HDMI 2.0 - its bandwidth increased to 18 Gbps - it has the following features that distinguish it from HDMI 1.4 (other previous formats):

1. Transmission (without quality degradation) of video having a frequency of up to 60 frames displayed per second.
2. 20% reduction in payload bandwidth.
3. Support for 32 channels of audio signal transmission.
4. Implementation of Full 4K (4096×2160 resolution, 21:9 aspect ratio) and Ultra HD 4K (3840×2160 resolution, respectively 16:9) format.
5. "News" in CES - new extensions of commands in this department.

In addition, HDMI 2.0, against the background of earlier versions (1.4 and other early ones), has been improved with such a useful feature as dubbing audio track sync which happens automatically. It also solves the problem of supporting modern laptops, projectors with high video and audio quality (that is, HDMI keeps up with the latest in the "high technology" market).

And the disadvantages of HDMI 2.0, comparable to HDMI 1.4 - can be attributed to its not absolute versatility. Most modern TVs are equipped with connectors (input) for HDMI 1.4 version. Therefore, an HDMI 2.0 source will not be able to fully (maximum frequency and frame clarity) transmit an image. Individual companies provide an opportunity to eliminate this inconsistency. This is done through firmware and a kind of upgrade, turning the HDMI 1.4 input into the required HDMI 2.0 input.