HDMI 1.3 Needs All-New Cables?

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.hdblog.net/2006/06/20/hdmi-13-needs-new-connectors/' target='_blank'>http://www.hdblog.net/2006/06/20/hdmi-13-needs-new-connectors/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"You know what it means to assume. But I assumed anyway, and I may have done that in error. What’s that? Well, I knew that the new-fangled HDMI 1.3 was coming down the pike, and that it would allow Dolby True-HD, DTS-HD, and higher bit-depth video. I assumed, maybe incorrectly, that this could all be done inside the electronics components. That is, I thought that the HDMI cables themselves, and their connectors, would remain the same."</i><br /><br />It's looking like we're going to need a new type of HDMI cable in order to comply with the 1.3 spec. Given how expensive HDMI cables are, that's not a good thing. :?

[ChrisL01]

You might need a new cable to get the upgraded bandwidth, but most of whats needed is in the chipsets in devices handling HDMI. TO take full advantage of HDMI 1.3 every device in the chain would need to be HDMI 1.3 certifed. So, if you go HD DVD PLayer ---> AVR ---> Display then everyone of those devices needs to be HDMI 1.3.

As for the price of HDMI cables, they are only expensive if you pay retail. Why people think they need to spend near $100 for a Monster or AR cables I will never know. See monoprice.com for cables that are the same quality (if not higher) then retail brands and a 1/10 of the price. I just bought 10 cables (2 HDMI, 3 Component, 2 S-Video, 2 SPDIF, and 1 DVI) for just above $65. At Best But a single AR 3' HDMI is above $70. Not only did I get 9 more cables for the same price, but my HDMI cables where 10' and 6'.

Don't pay retail.

Chris

[Jason Dunn]

Yeah, I tend to shop on eBay for pretty much all my cables, retail prices SUCK.

[Doug Johnson]

Try cablewholesale.com too. Just got an HDMI cable for $9, and it works just fine.

[jdepew]

HDMI 1.3 will NOT need a new cable and does NOT require a new connector. The quote on the linked website is misleading when it says "the new connector offers the potential for enhanced..."

The use of the word 'connector' is very misleading in this context as it refers to the HDMI standard not the physical adapter.

There is a great interview with Steve Venuti, Director of Marketing for HDMI Licensing LLC that answers many of the common HDMI questions.
http://www.electronichouse.com/info/specials/hdmi_basics.html

That said, HDMI is completely backward compatible with previous HDMI and DVI standards. You can connect a HDMI 1.1 device to a 1.3 device without any problems using any standard HDMI cable or vice-versa. Any newer features ENABLED (not mandatory, but available) in the newer version, if supported by the device, will not be available to the older device. Example - a new HD DVD player that supports HDMI 1.3 and can pass the new Dolby TrueHD to any device that supports it. But, if you connect it to a receiver or TV that only suppports v1.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1, you will be able to transfer DD5.1 instead.

The new physical connector that everyone is confusing this with is a new "mini-HDMI connector" http://hdmi.org/resourcecenter/mini.asp
http://hdmi.org/images/HDMI_andMiniConnector.jpg
This new connector is analagous to the mini DVI connector found on many Apple laptops or the mini USB connectors on cell phones, cameras, etc... There is no difference in the standard, but rather a smaller form factor connector that allows for integrations onto smaller devices such as camcorders, portable dvd players, etc... Its use will be no different than a Mini-USB to USB cable. The announcement of this new physical interface just happens to conincide with the announcement of the HDMI 1.3 standard and could very well be integrated into devices that utilize previous versions of the standard as, again, version standards are backward compatible and there is no difference in the connector pin out other than being shrunk.

USB - http://www.meditronik.com.pl/doc/mini/usb-kabel-mini%3Dfoto%3Dcanon.jpg

Hope this clarifies some of the confusion - of course, that was the point of HDMI - single cable connection that takes the guess work and clutter out of connecting digital devices.

Short story - No new physical connector or cable is mandatory or even in existence for HDMI 1.3. It is a new standard for available features. The new Mini HDMI connector is compatible with all current HDMI implementations and is simply for smaller implementations similar to Mini USB connectors.

Cross posting this over at HDBLOG.net (the target of the news article)

James Depew
www.linksysinfo.org - 3rd Firmware, Hacks, and Support for Linksys wireless routers.