What is HDMI?

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is the first industry-supported, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface. HDMI provides an interface between any audio/video source, such as a set-top box, DVD player, and A/V receiver and an audio and/or video monitor, such as a High definition digital television (HDTV).

HDMI supports standard, enhanced, or high-definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on a single cable. It transmits all HDTV standards and supports 8-channel digital audio, with bandwidth to spare to accommodate future enhancements and requirements.

The new HDMI digital interconnect provides superior, uncompressed digital video and audio quality along with a simple, user-friendly connector that replaces the maze of cabling behind the entertainment center.

HDTV uses less than 1/2 of HDMI's available 5 Gbps bandwidth. With capacity to spare, HDMI can incorporate new technology advancements and capabilities long into the foreseeable future.

There are several advantages of HDMI over existing analog interfaces such as composite, S-Video and component video. HDMI transfers uncompressed digital audio and video for the highest, crispest image quality.The all digital connection ensures rendering of video without the losses associated with analog interfaces and their unnecessary digital-to-analog conversions. HDMI provides the quality and functionality of a digital interface while also supporting uncompressed video formats in a simple, cost-effective manner.

HDMI also supports multiple audio formats, from standard stereo to multi-channel surround-sound so combines video and multi-channel audio into a single cable, eliminating the cost, complexity, and confusion of multiple cables currently used in A/V systems.

HDMI supports communication between the video source (such as a DVD player) and the DTV, enabling new functionality.

HDMI is also fully backward-compatible with DVI using the CEA-861 profile for DTVs. HDMI DTVs will display video received from existing DVI-equipped products, and DVI-equipped TVs will display video from HDMI sources. Currently there are TVs with DVI-HDTV inputs available from a variety of manufacturers. Those devices will be compatible with future HDMI-equipped products.

HDMI has the capacity to support existing high-definition video formats (720p, 1080i, and even 1080p). It also has the flexibility to support enhanced definition formats such as 480p, as well as standard definition formats such as NTSC or PAL.

HDMI technology has been designed to use standard copper cable construction at long lengths. In order to allow cable manufacturers to improve their products through the use of new technologies, HDMI specifies the required performance of a cable but does not specify a maximum cable length. Cables are expected to be lengths of up to 15 meters. As semiconductor technology improves, even longer stretches can be reached with fiber optic cables, and with active cable technologies such as amplifiers or repeaters.

Comments

[Tom]

If you have a hdmi cable from you dvd recorder do you not need a scart lead as well to your tv?.

[Tim Cross]

Hi Tom,

HDMI carries both Video and audio so there should be no need to use any other cable to the TV.

Tim

[Greg]

Does HDMI auto switch as SCART ( pin 5) ?

[JayTee]

At present I utilize an Amp for ALL sound purposes (TV,DVD, etc) I am about to fit Sky HD+ - will the sound still eminate from the Amp ?? or do I require some other piece of equipment as well

[Tim Cross]

Hi JayTee, Yes the Sky HD box has the option of outputting all the audio through its HDMI cable or you can use the optical out to transfer sound in 5.1 to your amp.

[kelvin]

what is top ten key benefits of using a hdmi cable rather than a scart cable.

cheers
kelvin x

[Tim Cross]

Well I dont know about ten benefits but the main benefits for using HDMI over traditional analog connections are as follows -

Improved Sound and Video Quality - HDMI transmits uncompressed digital audio and video thereby producing the highest quality video image and sound quality.

Reduction of cable clutter - One HDMI connection replaces 3 video connections for high definition video and 6 audio connections for high-resolution audio.

Cost - A good quality 6 foot HDMI cable can be purchased for £10 versus up to hundreds for good quality analog cables.

HDMI is backwards-compatible with the single-link Digital Visual Interface (DVI) commonly found on older HD televisions and set top devices through the use of a suitable adapter or cable, but the audio and remote control features of HDMI will not be available.

[Nathan Ball]

Does an HDMI cable solve the XBOX 360 problems of PAL 50/60 incompatibility on certain games?

[Tim Cross]

Hi Nathan,

Its not something I am familiar with to be honest - I did a quick search and came up with this

http://www.eurogamer.net/forum_thread_posts.php?thread_id=96088

May or may not help.

Tim

[Kathryn Hazzard]

I can get brilliant picture but can't get any sound through new Sky HD+ box using HDMI lead which we just bought for £100! Any ideas welcomed. Kathryn

[Tim]

Hmm - that sounds odd - £100 for the lead? Sounds quite pricey unless it is very long or you are a real techy - I can see no issues with HDMI leads costing a 10th of that.

It should be fairly simple - I assume the sound should be coming through the TV and there is no Amplifier involved.

I would suggest checking the menus within the TV to see if there is anything in there that may be causing the issue.

Tim

[Cliff]

I have a LG Plasma TV linked to a Virgin V+ box via a (cheap) HDMI lead, tha dark areas have a sparkly appearance most of the time I don't know whether it's the channel or the time of day or something else, sometimes it's quite good. would a better HDMI cable cure the problem?

[Tim Cross]

Hi Cliff, In all honesty I have never had an issue with even the cheapest of HDMI cables - I am sure you do get a better picture with better cables, but a cheap cable should still do the job. You may have the brightness/contrast set too high - many TVs have these settings far too high by default and this is really apparant on channels with poorer quality source material - blacks suffer from macro-blocking which will probably look worse at night or in lower light situations. I very much doubt its an issue with the cable specifically and I would certainly try changing settings before buying a new cable.

Tim

[disques durs]

Hi...
HDMI is a type of digital connection that's capable of transmitting high-definition video and high-resolution audio over a single cable. HDMI is typically used to connect a high-definition device--such as an HD DVR--to an HDTV. It can handle high-definition video of up to 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second, which is the most bandwidth-intensive video format currently available. I have collected informations about all the different cable of HDMI along with prices.

[arianna]

I have an Onkyo home theatre 5.1 with amp. PLasma tv and Onkyo set up ( via hdmi and optical cable from sky to amp)standalone plays fine and sound is fab-o. have connected dvd hdd via hdmi to amp. It would appear through this set up that I need to switch off the SKY box to play dvd and the picture on dvd is nothing like good; grainy, not sharp. sound is ok.
Q1. Is the set up correct and if i have to switch skybox off can i record from sky to dvd hdd?
Q2. how do i correct/check dvd set up?
Q3. I have had to use audio cables from dvd to amp in addition to hdmi ( if removed no sound comes thru amp). i thought the optical cable negated the need for this and served audio needs thru whole system giving 5.1 sound thru all media...?

thanks in anticipation..i am by no means a techy so advice plain and simple please...normally just play round using logical (female) thoughts to get things working, THEN footstomp (female trait) when it goes pear-shaped. THEN I usually ask a man that knows! PLease help, all you nice men out there!! Best, Arianna, Scotland

[Tim]

Hi Arianna, interesting problems you are having there. I will try to answer you questions.

Q1. The set up sounds correct - with regards recording from Skybox to DVD HDD you will need to leave the Sky box on and on teh correct channel that you want to record as the DVD recorder has no way of controlling the sky box.

Q2. HDMI is digital so generally will give a good picture or none at all - you should not get a grainy picture - it sounds like there is a connection issue but without being able to look at it its hard to do more than you have already done - that is use common sense to check the connections. Disconnect anything unecessary and work with one device at a time to see if one has an effect on the others.

Q3 - Although HDMI cables carry both audio and vidoe on some devices you need to connect an optical or dicital audio cable also to get audio or 5.1 - this may be the case with your system.

I hope that is some help!

Tim