HDMI cables have been around for a few years now, but the full potential of HDMI has yet to be realised. With the release of the 1.4 HDMI cable specification, greater image and sound functionality plus more flexibility with networking capabilities is introduced to your home or commercial AV setup.

HDMI 1.4 is better! Here’s why…

1. HDMI Ethernet Channel

Perhaps one of the most important (and most useful) of the new improvements is the HDMI Ethernet Channel. This is a data link that enables high speed, bi-directional communication. This means that a source can send data to a display and at the same time a display can send data to the source. Compatible devices can send a receive data using 100Mb/sec Ethernet – this makes them instantly ready for any IP-based application. The HDMI Ethernet Channel allows internet-enabled HDMI devices to share and Internet connection using the link, with no need for a separate Ethernet cable. With more and more devices utilizing Internet based features, this cable feature will reduce the number of cable’s needed to make your devices work to their full potential importantly ease the cable clutter. It also provides the platform that will allow HDMI-enabled components to share content between devices. Compatibility includes TCP/IP, UPnP, DLNA and LiquidHD.

To utilise this feature a new type of HDMI cable is required to be used. This new cable is called either a High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet or a Stadard HDMI Cable with Ethernet.

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2. Audio Return Channel

Another welcome addition to the new HDMI spec, this feature reduces the number of cables required to deliver audio from the TV to an AV receiver for processing and playback. This is a very useful new feature because many TVs now have an internal content source such as a Freeview or Freesat tuner built-in – the Audio Return Channel on the HDMI allows the TV to send data to the receiver using the HDMI cable and removes the necessity for a separate audio cable such as an optical cable.

3. 3D over HDMI

Everybody is talking about 3D at the moment and the new spec defines common 3D formats and resolutions for HDMI-enabled devices, enabling 3D gaming and other 3D video applications. The new spec standardises the connection for a 3D home cinema system, facilitating 3D resolutions up to dual-stream 1080p (that’s 3D 1080p basically).

4. 4K x 2K Resolution Support

If you think 1080p is awesome, imagine it four times sharper! Support for 4K x 2K allows the HDMI cable to carry the digital content transmission at the same resolution as the most state-of-the-art Digital Cinema systems used in many cinemas. Formats supported include 3,840 x 2,160 pixels at 24Hz, 25Hz & 30Hz, and 4,096 x 2160 pixels at 24Hz. Forget 1080p, think 4096p!

5. Expanded support for Colour Spaces

This feature means that Digital Camera Pictures and still images should display more accurate colours on displays with the upgraded format capability. If you’re into your photography you will be familiar with sYCC601, Adobe RGB and Adobe YCC601. If you are not, then put simply your holiday snaps should look even better!

Make sure you make the right HDMI cable purchase, make an investment for the future. Choose infinius High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet. Indisputably top-spec, its the perfect future-ready cable partner for your set-up.