What's new in HDMI version 1.3?

A lot of people are talking about HDMI Version 1.3. Version 1.3 is an improvement on earlier HDMI cables in terms of the amount of data and information they can carry. The benefits to you the user are quite a lot. The main benefit is that you are 'future-proofed' for a long while, i.e. you will not have to upgrade you cabling over the next few years regardless of advancements in the equipment you are using.

We've put together some more detailed information about the benefits of the improvements below for your perusal.

Higher speed: Even though all previous versions of HDMI have had more than enough bandwidth to support all current HDTV formats, HDMI version 1.3 increases its single-link bandwidth to 340MHz (10.2 Gbps) to support the demands of future High Definition display devices, such as higher resolutions, Deep Color and high frame rates. In addition, built into the HDMI version 1.3 specification is the technical foundation that will let future versions of HDMI reach significantly higher speeds.

Deep Color: HDMI version 1.3 supports 30-bit, 36-bit and 48-bit (RGB or YCbCr) color depths, up from the 24-bit depths in previous versions of the HDMI specification, for stunning rendering of over one billion colors in unprecedented detail.

Broader color space: HDMI version 1.3 adds support for “xvYCC” color standard, which removes current color space limitations and enables the display of any color viewable by the human eye.

Lip Sync: Because consumer electronics devices are using increasingly complex digital signal processing to enhance the clarity and detail of the content, synchronization of video and audio in user devices has become a greater challenge and could potentially require complex end-user adjustments. HDMI 1.3 incorporates automatic audio synching capabilities that allows devices to perform this synchronization automatically with total accuracy.

New HD lossless audio formats: In addition to HDMI’s current ability to support high-bandwidth uncompressed digital audio and all currently-available compressed formats (such as Dolby® Digital and DTS®), HDMI 1.3 adds additional support for new lossless compressed digital audio formats Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio™.

What products or applications will take advantage of new HDMI version 1.3 capabilities?

According to announcements by manufacturers, new high-definition DVD formats (HD-DVD and Blu-ray) and game machines (including the Sony PLAYSTATION® 3) will make use of capabilities added in HDMI 1.3. Digital televisions will be able to present images that are closer to real life than previously has been possible. These will include LCD TVs, plasma displays and rear projection microdisplays. The PS3 which is scheduled to ship in November 2006, will be the first source product to provide such high quality imagery to these displays. It is expected that hi-def DVD players will follow early in 2007 with HDMI 1.3 support. A/V Receivers that can decode DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD will start to show up early in 2007 as well.

We hope that we have been of some use to you in clearing up any questions that you may have had about Version 1.3 HDMI!

Kind Regards



& the HD Cable Shop eBay Team!