DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF HDMI By Bernadett Horvath, Canford, Audio & Video Engineer
HDMI in all of its forms can be a baffling subject, and following the recent HDMI 2.1 specification announcement we thought it was about time to review its evolution, debunk some miss-truths and tell you everything you need to know as HDMI enters its twelfth edition. HDMI is a hardware update, where the version numbers mirror its competency. Put simply, the various specifications simply denote compatibility with source and display hardware such as screens. All HDMI versions are backwards compatible. Version 1.0
Version 1.4
2.1
• Single cable connection for digital audio and video with maximum 4.9Gbps
•A dded audio return channel
• Supports up to 165Mpixels/sec video (1080p at 60Hz or UXGA)
•A dded support for Ethernet over HDMI
• Up to 8 channels of PCM audio @192kHz/24-bit
•A dditional colour spaces for digital photography and computer graphics
• Improved video resolution, frame rate and audio return channel
•D efined input/output protocols for major 3D video formats
• Game Mode Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) to enable more fluid and better detailed gameplay
• S upport for UHD-1 @ 24, 25, 30 Hz and DCI 4K @ 24Hz
• Increased 48 Gbps bandwidth
Version 1.1 • Support for DVD Audio
Version 1.2 • Support of 1-bit audio format up to 8 channels used for Super Audio CD’s • Requirement (1.2 and later) to support future low-voltage sources • Added support for a variety of new formats (720p@100 and 120 Hz) • HDMI type A connector for PC sources and displays with full support for PC video formats • Availability of the widely-used HDMI Type A connector • Ability to let sources to use their native RGB colour space while maintaining the support the YCbCr colour space
1.2a • Specifies Consumer Electronic Control (CEC) features, command sets and compliance tests
Version 1.3 • Added support for lossless compressed digital audio formats
•A dded data channel for high-speed bi-directional communication
• I ntroduction of the new micro (D) and automotive (E) HDMI connections
Version 1.4a
• Support of Deep Colour: 10, 12 and 16-bit (RGB or YCbCr) colour depths • Increased colour space and support for xvYCC colour standard
• Added 3D format for broadcast content
• Introduction of a new mini (C) connector for portable devices
• Enabled 3D 1080p video at 120Hz
Version 2.0 (HDMI UHD) • Up to 32 audio channels for multi-dimensional audio • Up to 1536 kHz audio sample frequency • Multi-stream audio deliver up to 4 users • Same screen dual video streams • Added support for the wide angle theatrical 21:9 video aspect ratio • Increased bandwidth up to 18 Gbps • 10 and 12-bit colour depth • Frame rate support up to 60fps (UHD-1)
42 | Source Material by Canford
2.0a
• Introduction of the new 48G cable will be required for the high video resolutions (such as 8K@60 or 4K@120)
Standard (category 1) HDMI Cable and Standard HDMI Cable with Ethernet is aimed to handle most domestic appliances up to 720p or 1080i (75 MHz to 2.25Gbps). Ethernet enabled cable offers a dedicated data channel for device networking only if the items are HDMI Ethernet Channel-enabled. The High Speed (category 2) HDMI Cable and High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet is able to transmit video resolutions of 1080p and over (340MHz to 10.2Gbps), moreover it provides support for advanced display technologies such as Deep Colour, 4K, and 3D. Just as the previous the Ethernet enabled offers a dedicated data channel for device networking only if the items are HDMI Ethernet Channel-enabled. Standard Automotive (E) HDMI Cable supports up to 720p/1080i for automotive system since they might require more internal relays these cables are required to send a stronger signal than other cables types. The Premium High Speed HDMI Cable and Premium High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet are designed for 4K and advanced features (higher frame rates, 4:4:4 Chroma sampling and High Dynamic Range)
Active or passive HDMI
• Added support for High Dynamic Range (HDR) with static metadata
• Added support for Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG)
•A dded support for dynamic HDR
HDMI recognised the customer’s confusion regarding the cables, therefore it introduced a 6 tier uniformity to help the buyers choose the right cable.
Version 1.4b
2.0b
•A dded support for advanced audio signal control capabilities including device auto-detect
What about the cables?
• Added auto audio sync • Increased 10.2 Gbps bandwidth HD@120Hz and WQHD@60Hz
• Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) for object-based audio support
These terms only refer to the cables in use. How far a cable can go depends of the manufacturer as well on material being sent. On average the length of a passive copper based cable is able to run up to 10 metres. Active Optical HDMI cables, such as the Lusem OxLinx use on-board electronics which enable the cable to reach much further, up to 100m. These cables require +5V power which is typically available from the connected HDMI port.
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