HDMI 1.3 not living up to its promise?
By Steven Kim 
posted Aug 23rd 2007 10:24AM
posted Aug 23rd 2007 10:24AM
One of the benefits in going from HDMI 1.2 to 1.3 is support of Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio streams. The idea goes something like this -- you get your HDMI 1.3 compliant player (HD DVD or Blu-ray flavor), hook it up to your new HDMI 1.3 processor/receiver, and bask in the glory of reference quality audio. The reality? Not so clear. It turns out that at least some standalone players don't support the HDMI 1.3 specification fully, and skimp on streaming these formats either naively or in a PCM format, just like PS3 owners found for DTS HD. Technically, that's fair - manufacturers are not required to implement the full HDMI 1.3 specification to wear the HDMI 1.3 badge. But wasn't HDMI supposed to reduce confusion among consumers? The HDMI Learning Center suggests that "... consumers should ensure that their playback device ... is capable of decoding these new lossless Dolby & DTS audio formats ..." Caveat emptor, friends.
And, not to mention, there is no benefit is decoding in the receiver over decoding in the player. With the absence of Deep COllor and ultra HD material and displays, HDMI 1.3 is a non starter for those with HDMI 1.1 or those with 7.1 analog inputs.
Marshall
---------
The Real HT Info
Podcastrealht.inforealhtinfo
at gmail.com
Marshall,
Thanks for your comments, but if you put links in your comments they are likely to be automatically deleted as comment spam. Just leave out the http:// part, I'll edit this one for you.
Even if players were full spec 1.3 compliant that doesn't guarantee you can send the signal to a receiver for decoding, as this that can only be done if the DVD (BluRay or HD-DVD) discs were mastered in Basic mode. If they contain interactive features, they're in Advanced mode, so that's ALL HD-DVDs and as so will BluRay once they adopt (Profile v1.1) interactive.
Which means 'HDMI Learning Center' were right to advise that you should make sure your player can do the audio decoding.
HDMI has been a confusing mess from the get go. And it seems like little has changed.
even if the hdmi 1.3 out from a source(players, terminals) doesnt implement the full HDMI 1.3 specification, you would still need a receiver with HDMI 1.3 in that can process Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio for your surround systems and then that can output 1080p to your HDTV
those receivers cost a legs
to fully appreciate HD, you need 1080p...
a expensive receivers that can receive/output 1080p
and process Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio...
a 7.1 speaker set to fully use that HD sound stuff
HDMI cable
optical cable
am no HD expert but man, its expensive haha
The HDMI spec failed upon its first revision.
See the bluray/hddvd thing for reference. I'm scared to buy a bluray player because of the changing spec.
If you want hardware to be simple, you can't change the spec mid stream. You can do this with software that automatically updates, but there's no automatic updating of the clock rates and bandwidth in your TV, receiver, and disc player.
Here's the thing though, you don't. Get a player that decodes True HD and outputs LPCM or Analog, and pair it with any receiver that plays lpcm over HDMI 1.1 or analog over RCA jacks, and you're set on the audio side.
On the video side, run you video straight to your tv, leave your receiver out of the loop. Too mnay button presses to switch TV inputs for you? Get a harmony remote. $100 is cheaper than a new receiver.
HD is only as hard as the manufacturers make it. Mere mortals like you and me should just seek the path of least resistance.
I cover much of this in my latest podcast.
Marshall
The Real HT Info Podcast
website: realht.info
email: realhtinfo@gmail.com
In respone to coplice:
"even if the hdmi 1.3 out from a source(players, terminals) doesnt implement the full HDMI 1.3 specification..."
HD DVD and Blu-ray titles that are authored with “Advanced” content will flag the player to decode the audio itself. The player will decode the audio and mix in the dialog. The receiver gets a multichannel PCM audio stream from the player. Receivers with HDMI versions lower than 1.3 can handle the PCM just fine. Almost all HD DVD titles are authored in advanced more, and most Blu-ray discs are as well. HDMI 1.3 doesn't really matter.
HDMI officially is a bust now.
What is the *$(&!@#!! point of having a "Standard" where only part of it can be implemented that can cripple the usage? How many people raved and anticipated new devices with 1.3 only to find this out?
don't forget you have a HDMI 1.3a as well. what ever that is. we need a true standard and not a standard with if, then.
OK, so why doesn't somebody here list the equipment that is totally compliant with HDMI 1.3? Whenever a new piece of equipment is released, receiver, display, DVD player or anything else, the reviewer should rip the mfg. if the equipment does not meet all compatibility standards.
HDMI needs to DIE! It was never good to begin with. It hasn't improved, in fact it just keeps getting worse. I'd like to see maybe "DisplayPort" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort be used Instead. HDMI SUCKS the big one.
Display port is a crock. Its basically the same damn thing as hdmi, but w/out having to pay the licensing on hdmi to have it on pc products.
I really don't have a problem with HDMI. The system auto-negotiates to be compatible, if you have two devices at different versions of the standard, then the version used is the one that both devices understand. I'm even using a 50ft HDMI cable, something that's supposedly doesn't work, but it's working fine.
I think DisplayPort was meant for computer monitors, but it doesn't support display resolutions higher than what dual-link DVI already supports without going to an entirely different standard. I think they should have thought that one through because I don't think it's a good idea for high end display makers to have to use two ports of a supposedly better standard just to suit their needs.