HDMI - The Facts

October 28, 2:24 PMPhoenix Home Theater ExaminerMatthew Menck

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The ‘High Definition Multi-Media Interface’ (HDMI) cable has become the standard connection for full 1080p devices and displays. HDMI is found on all current high definition consumer products, from televisions to blu-ray players, and a/v receivers to gaming systems. The HDMI cable can simultaneously transmit uncompressed digital video and audio signals, creating an extremely convenient method of connection. 

HDMI cables have numerous benefits over other HD cable options. A major benefit of HDMI is convenience. The ability to transmit video and audio through a single cable allows for faster installation of HD components, and greatly reduce cable clutter. HDMI will transmit the 1920x1080 progressive video signals to a full HD resolution display. This is a benefit because there is no need for the TV to de-interlace the signal; in turn, reduces the amount of processing and benefits the overall picture quality. A blu-ray player will have two HD connection options: component video (green, blue, red outputs) and HDMI. The component video signal transmission is limited to 1080i, it will not deliver a 1080p signal; also, it does not carry an audio signal and will require separate cables for sound. 

HDMI will greatly reduce 'cable clutter', (image courtesy of www.hdmi.org)

The audio benefits of HDMI may have the biggest impact on overall system enjoyment. Blu-ray players offer a vastly improved movie viewing experience, but it is not limited to video quality improvements alone. There are new audio formats that offer unparalleled sound quality and are only available with blu-ray. Blu-ray discs have much more storage capacity than standard DVD discs. The extra space on the disc allows for more audio and video information to be utilized. This added information is how blu-ray offers full HD resolution and higher quality audio. There are three HD audio formats found only on blu-ray discs: Dolby Digital True HD; DTS HD High Resolution; and DTS HD Master Audio. Additionally, Dolby Digital True HD and DTS HD Master Audio are ‘lossless’ audio formats. The ‘Lossless’ formats deliver audio that is bit-for-bit identical to the studio master recording; simply put, the best possible sound. HDMI is the ONLY cable that can transmit lossless audio formats.

The highest quality and most convenient method of connection         (image courtesy of www.hdmi.org)

HDMI technology offers continued features of convenience and quality enhancements with each new version. The most current version of HDMI is version 1.3, but don’t worry, the newest versions are always backwards compatible with all older versions. The version itself has little to do with the actual cable, and more to do with the features offered by the device that is connected. The HDMI version is the ‘language’ that devices use to communicate to each other via the connection; which allows the more current features to be used via HDMI.  The current v1.3 can transmit Lossless Audio, Deep Color (much greater color depth), higher bandwidth, lip syncing and more. Any HDMI cable will transmit v1.3, no matter what is printed on the packaging, as long as the terminations are the same as the input on the device and display. For more information regarding HDMI (and there is much more) visit my site HERE, as well as the official HDMI technology website.

For more info: the official HDMI website - www.hdmi.org and www.superiorht.com/tech101