HDMI 1.3: New Features — and Confusion?

In coming months, you’re going to hear a lot about HDMI 1.3, the latest version of the now-standard digital high-def connector that acts as an electronic umbilical cord between DVD players, A/V receivers and HDTVs. Short for High Definition Multimedia Interface, HDMI can send both audio and video signals via a single cable. It also supports HDCP, the Hollywood-approved copy-protection scheme for HD. One reason there’s a lot of buzz around HDMI 1.3: it has twice the bandwidth of its predecessor (HDMI 1.2), giving it the potential to dramatically improve the audio and video experience beyond what we currently get with HDTV (for a description of some of the new HDMI features, see below). The bad news, though, is that while devices with HDMI 1.3 are capable of these kinds of features and enhancements, there’s no guarantee those features will actually be implemented. Manufacturers can pick and choose which HDMI 1.3 features they want to include. That’s a situation likely to cause a lot of confusion among would-be buyers of high-def DVD players, A/V receivers and HDTVs, who must try to determine which features have been activated on any given product. Things could become even messier if companies use proprietary terms to describe various features — such as Samsung, for example, calling HDMI’s Deep Color function “ColorMax,” while Hitachi promotes it as, say, “VelvetVision.” And even beyond these issues, there is only a limited amount of content that can take advantage of these improvements — a situation not likely to change substantially in the near future.

Possible Solutions

At a recent DisplaySearch conference, HDMI Licensing president Les Chard proposed that the industry adopt various HDMI “branding” requirements, so that customers will clearly know what they’re buying. For example, given that feature implementation is optional, Chard would like to prevent manufacturers from marketing devices solely by the HDMI number (for example, no “HDMI 1.3 Ready!” labeling). Instead, companies would have to spell out specifically which features they’ve implemented, using consistent industry terms (Deep Color, Lip Sync, etc.) rather than proprietary ones. Another suggestion was that packaging be clearly marked — possibly using a standardized checklist — to indicate what features have been implemented. He also recommends the use of “minimum feature marks” (such as HDMI Pro) and logos that would guarantee consumers a minimum set of features. Chard suggested that these efforts could be augmented by the creation of an accessible product database for each model, which would list the activated HDMI features, along with the level of testing (interoperability compliance, HDCP, etc.) that had been completed. One reason for the concern is simply that HDMI 1.3, with its greater bandwidth, enables a sizeable number of possible picture and sound improvements that companies are likely to promote aggressively. For example, Deep Color increases the maximum number of colors — from millions to billions — that can be displayed in the current color TV space, which will eliminate “banding” (the visible lines that can result in transitions from one color to another) and improve contrast. HDMI 1.3 also supports a new, next-generation color standard, called xvYCC, which can support almost twice as many colors as current HDTV signals, and render them more accurately. Other new features include Lip Sync, which automatically compensates for the lag between audio and on-screen action, which can look like bad dubbing, and support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, new high-quality “lossless” compressed digital audio formats. While all these enhancements sound exciting, the reality is that there are still relatively few HDMI 1.3 devices available currently, and there’s virtually no content (except for a few video games) that take advantage of any of these potential improvements. And it’s unlikely that broadcasters and movie studios, which have just migrated to 1080i and 1080p, will rush out to embrace an even newer format. Still, HDMI 1.3 could be viewed as a way of future-proofing your investment. But be aware that in order to fully enjoy the new HDMI 1.3 features, every single device in the signal chain — source components, your receiver and the display — will not only have to have support HDMI 1.3, but also implement each of the specific features.

— James K. Willcox

Comments

[Homer Gonzalez]

There are many Monster HDMI cables. Models 500, 700, 800, 1000 amd 1,200. The prices are really expensive. Do I really need a 140 dollar cable? What is really the difference?

[Dave T]

I'm getting a Samsung PN50b650 plasma tv. I previously had a crt tv with a JVC rx 8030vbk receiver and a dvd and vcr and speakers attached.

My receiver has analog and digital connections. The receiver has four digital in terminals (one digital coaxial terminal and three digital optical terminals and one digital out (optical) terminal

My intended plasma has one composite video input, one digital audio optical output, two component video inputs, and four hdmi inputs.

Help! Can I connect the two and use the tv cable company input, the receiver for DVD, VCR and the speakers?

[Dave T]

I'm getting a Samsung PN50b650 plasma tv. I previously had a crt tv with a JVC rx 8030vbk receiver and a dvd and vcr and speakers attached.
My receiver has analog and digital connections. The receiver has four digital in terminals (one digital coaxial terminal and three digital optical terminals and one digital out (optical) terminal.
My intended plasma has one composite video input, one digital audio optical output, two component video inputs, and four hdmi inputs.
Help! Can I connect the two and use the tv cable company input, the receiver for DVD, VCR and the speakers?

[Jocelyn]

I am part of the crowd of confused consumers seeking clarity on the HDMI cable mystery. I have a 52 inch Samsung LCD HDTV with HD service and a PS3. I purchased a pair of $10 HDMI 1080p cables from the local CircuitCity when it went out of business...cables they had used on floor display TVs. One cable works perfectly. The other worked great for a couple of months. Then I noticed audio lag when watching HD hockey games on Versus. The cable finally died today and I'm still left wondering if I should get another cheap cable or mortgage my home for a Monster cable.

[Bill Burch]

I have had good success using HDMI with new technology, however:
I have only 2 HDMI inputs in the back of my TV but need 3. What HDMI switches can you recommend to address this problem? Do switches reduce signal quality?

[Mike Herbstreit]

I recently purchased several Certified 1.3a, Category 2 HDMI 3' cables from MyCableMart.com for $5.50 each. Reading much before purchasing, I thought this would work. I used one of the cables on my new 26" 720P 60Hz Panasonic. The cable seems to work fine. I then connected another cable to my new 46" 1080P 120Hz Samsung. This is when the real problems surfaced. After several minutes, a screen message would appear about a weak signal. The picture would go blank for several seconds, then return. I contacted my cable provider to see if it was a signal strength issue. They recommended component cables instead of HDMI. In search of component cables, I found a Belkin's HDMI 8' cable at Sam's for $19.00. Curiosity getting the best of me, I purchased the cable to try. The Belkin cable works great! No video problems and the High Def is incredible. I read today at another tech site that you should avoid the $5 cables for 1080P sets. The cheaper cables work great on 720P and 1080i sets, but they recommended the higher priced $20 - $30 cables (Walmart) for the 1080P sets.

[Randy F Price]

How about an answer to Joe's question?

I purchased a "kit" from Costco of WireLogic HDMI cables. New Sony FW 190 Laptop and KDL40W4100.

Playing a DVD 720 or 480, I notice a jagged line across the TV during certain motion sequences but not on the laptop that is displaying the movie simultaneously.

Is it the cable? I play a movie from Hulu (wirelessly) and no issue. Confusing at best when both devices are state of the art and brand new.
Thoughts or suggestions?

Cable is 6 ft.

[Joe]

I'm planning on buying an HDTV soon and I have been hearing mixed messages about HDMI cables. Can you do something on them? I heard a 6-ft Monster cable is around $200, but you can go to monoprice.com and buy one for $20. They carry a digital signal, so some people say that there's no difference.

[Becky]

Can anyone tell me about the HDTVWS Insignia sold mainly at Best Buy. I'm wanting to buy a 32" and they seem to be $100 cheaper than other brands. Does anyone know if they are any good?

[AngelArs]

Isn't 1.3 just a software update? The hardware side of it hasn't changed. So shouldn't consumers be able to upgrade their firmware from 1.2 to 1.3?