One of the most important connections in the home theater today is definitely the HDMI connection. It helps us connect various media sources to our TV or projector and provide maximum audio and video quality.
Since the beginning of this century the popularity of HDMI connection has increased rapidly, putting the SCART and other analog connections far behind. Not only does it allow transport of high-definition video and audio signals, but it also can transport many different control signals. You have to admit that having one remote to control and switch your media devices connected to the AV receiver is a much better option than having to do it manually or using several different remotes.
All the entertainment devices we are using today like Blu-ray players, streaming devices or game consoles can work at their full potential thanks to the HDMI connection. For that reason, it is important to get an AV receiver that has several HDMI ports making it the heart of every home theater system. Of course, the number of HDMI ports is not the only criteria, but it is always better to have one or two extra ports in case you need to upgrade your system in the near future.
Now, let’s see what we can expect from the new HDMI standard.
Was a new HDMI version necessary?
While the previous version, the HDMI 2.0b, supported many amazing features like Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, and HDR which drastically improved the video experience, and the 32 audio channels and ARC support for a much better audio experience there was still room for some improvements.
With the rapid development of technology and the new features being introduced, the data transmission technology needs to adapt quickly in order to support these features. These requirements lead us to the HDMI 2.1 which is a standard that ensures better audio and video as well as a better gaming experience.
HDMI 2.1 will take your experience to a new level
Today we are eager to experience the 8K videos, as well as HDR 10+ and Dynamic HDR. As the name implies the 8k video format has twice as many pixels as the 4k videos that are popular today. It also introduces very high frame rates, about 120 per second. This will definitely make a change in how the motion effects in sports and gaming are going to look. They will definitely be much sharper and smoother than today. Of course, this frame rate and amazing resolution will require a data transfer of more than 40 Gbit per second. Since the previous versions of HDMI were not able to support this data transfer the new HDMI version was introduced to the world.
It definitely found its place in the gaming industry where gamers really appreciate when they can play without experiencing any lagging or stuttering and tearing while they are playing their favorite games. With the introduction of HDMI 2.1 every gamer’s dream came true.
Some of the latest HDMI 2.1 AV receivers today are ready to support the 8K resolution but unfortunately such TVs and media devices are pretty expensive and rare. However, investing in such an AV receiver will make you prepared for what is inevitable, and the best thing is that you will be able to switch to the new resolution with just one click of a button. So, if you are just starting to build your home theater and gaming system, make sure to keep this in mind. It won’t take long until the 8K becomes more affordable and available. And when that happens you will be ready for the upgrade.