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Last year, CES kicked off the era of 8K Ultra HD TVs. Sony, Samsung, LG, TCL and other brands are increasing the resolution of their flagship TVs to 8K. Besides, all new high-end models will support 8K HDMI cables. So, HDMI 2.1 is here!
What is HDMI and HDMI 2.1?
HDMI stands for HD multimedia interface. It is a wire that transmits video data from a signal source to some audio equipments.
Physically, the cable has kept its unique gold-plated connector since its invention. But, with the development of TV technology, HDMI specifications have gone through several updates in the past decade or so.
The most common HDMI specification is HDMI 2.0 now, which includes metadata for HDR and HLG, as well as lossless audio codecs.
What performance does HDMI 2.1 improve?
Higher transmission rate
For most people, the performance of the HDMI 2.0 standard is already quite powerful. With a bandwidth of 18Gbps, it supports 4K@60Hz video and even transmits 8K video at 24 or 30 frames. On top of that, the performance of HDMI 2.1 has been improved several times. Also, the bandwidth has been increased to 48Gpbs, allowing transmission of more information.
Higher video resolution and faster refresh rate
The new HDMI 2.1 standard supports 8K@60Hz and 4K@120hz. 4K includes 4096×2160 pixels and 3840×2160 pixels of true 4K, which brings better experiences to users. The resolution of up to 10K can reach commercial level.
For video and games, HDMI 2.1 utilizes multiple technologies to enhance the refresh rate to ensure the fluency. Such as:
- Variable Refresh Rate (VRR): It reduces or even eliminates screen lag, ensuring a good video and game playback experience.
- Quick Media Switching (QMS): mainly for movies and videos. It eliminates the black screen delay when content processing changes.
- Quick Frame Transfer (QFT): Allows the faster frame transmission rate from the source to the device. Real-time interact VR is possible, eliminating lagging and screen tearing.
- Automatic Low Latency Mode (ALLM): Allows to set an optimal latency. It provides a smooth, interference-free and non-stop viewing experience.
- For gaming users, the HDMI 2.1 UHD cable features a high refresh rate of 120hz. It not only eliminates screen lag in games, rejects flickering screen noise, and smooth color transition performance, but also adds a wider field of view. Also, the fidelity is close to ideal. As a result, it achieves the smoothest gaming experience.
Added dynamic HDR
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. It enhances the contrast between the brightest whites and the darkest blacks. It’s the reason why it can create an image with a wider color palette and more varying tones.
Several variants of HDR can be divided into two different styles: static and dynamic. The former sets the contrast value of the entire film, while the latter can be set scene by scene or even frame by frame.
Dynamic HDR ensures that every scene of a video shows the ideal value of depth of field, detail, brightness, and contrast, and a wider color gamut.
Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC)
Let the TV transmit high-bit-rate Dolby Atmos Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and other 3D surround sound audio directly to the A/V amplifier receiver or echo Let your TV transmit audio, such as high bit-rate Dolby Atmos Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and other 3D surround sound audio, to devices such as A/V amplifier receivers or echo walls via HDMI cables. Home theater products can wirelessly connect to HDMI and AVR, enhancing ease of use. And it can also support the most advanced audio formats and the highest audio quality.
The embarrassment of 8k TV-the bottleneck of HDMI 2.1 interface
We all know that the format of the standard 4k TV digital signal interface is also very important.
Traditional 1080p full HD TVs use HDMI 1.4 standard digital interface, which has relatively poor data transmission. So after entering the 4k TV era, the entire system of 4k TVs needs to be provided with HDMI 2.0 standard digital signal interface.
In the face of the huge data throughput requirements of 8k, the current mainstream HDMI 2.0 technology, for now, can not meet the needs of 8k. So the first generation Sharp 8k TVs used a four-channel hm2.0 design before completing the 8k video input. Such a design can make people feel a little awkward.
After the release of HDMI 2.1 standard at the end of last year, Changhong, Hisense, Skyworth and other brands have released their own 8k TVs .
When 8k TVs in the entire market all meet the 8k screen resolution, 8k video processing chip, 8k digital interface, and 8k content providing platform, it is the smarter choice to consider 8k TV.
Do you need HDMI 2.1 UHD cable?
HDMI 2.1 shows you higher definition and comfort, so you can achieve clear and smooth pictures and reject low-quality pictures. Greatly enhance our HDMI 2.1 shows you higher definition and comfort, so you can achieve clear and smooth pictures and reject low-quality pictures.
Greatly enhance our sensory experience in leisure and entertainment. With the HDMI2.1 interface, any content can provide 8K-level picture quality enjoyment. It will usher in a new opportunity regardless of the hardware industry or the content industry.
You don’t need to worry about HDMI 2.0 devices can not use HDMI 2.1 UHD cable. HDMI version 2.1 is backward compatible. Older HDMI versions can work together with version 2.1 products.
The use of HDMI 2.1 interface will bring a whole new change in many fields, even in scientific imaging systems, live sports systems, etc.
In the future, pictures and videos will become even clearer.
When HDMI 2.1 is not popular, we must choose a high-quality HDMI cable to improve the quality of video playing and the speed of signal transmission.
- Choose a HDMI cable with a gold-plated connector andpin
Gold-plated joints are slightly better than non-gold-plated ones.
Well, that’s because gold-plated joints are corrosion resistant and have good electrical conductivity. It is also easier to solder and resistant to heat and wear, and it is also pleasing to the eye.
As a result, many HDMI connectors are painted with a thin layer of gold. But it does not necessarily mean that gold-plated HDMI connectors will provide high-definition picture quality.
The contact with the HDMI interface of the device is mainly the PIN pin in the cable. Thus, its conductivity and wear resistance is very important.
- Choose a HDMI cable with a larger diameter
In general, the larger the diameter of the HDMI cable, the larger the cross-In general, the larger the diameter of an HDMI cable, the larger the area of the conductor, which allows for the transmission of larger currents. Finally, the HDMI cable has good and stable transmission performance.
- Choose a HDMI cable with high softness
We find that many poor quality HDMI cables are very soft. When you bend it, white creases will appear. If the material of the core cable is not pure copper, then the core cable may break after a few bends.
So, the flexibility and bendability of an HDMI cable can reflect a lot. For example, whether the external material of that HDMI cable meets the standard and whether the core wire is pure copper.
- Choose a HDMI cable with magnetic ring
In weak power cables, we often see plastic cylinders on the cables, which are known as magnetic rings.
The role of the magnetic ring in the signal transmission is to filter out high-frequency and low-frequency interference currents, so as to protect the equipment and purify the signal.
So is it better?