HDMI Version Differences!

[hockeyboy]

Someone in the know please explain the real difference between HDMI 1.2 and HDMI 1.3. I have been waiting to buy my B-Ray player and everyone says get 1.3. That's all well and good but my Marantz 8001 supports 1.2.

Explain what it is, and why I am supposed to want it!

[cheddar]

Any advantage in 1.3 depends on how you get your audio for HT. 1.3 allows bitstreaming of TrueHD and DTS-HD MA audio signals to a pre/receiver for decoding. Players that decode these formats internally will send a pcm signal that can be passed to the pre/receiver over 1.1 and above. The third lossless format, uncompressed LPCM can also be passed to the pre/receiver over 1.1 and above. There are some other things that 1.3 passes like deep color. But no combination of hardware or software takes advantage of that yet. So it depends on what electronics you would rather have do the audio decoding for you. If it's the chips in the pre/receiver, then you need 1.3.

[cheddar]

Another thing, older hdmi 1.3 chipsets, like those in the ps3, lack the ability to bitstream audio to a pre/receiver. But for all the new 1.3 stuff coming out, this shouldn't be a problem. And, of course, your pre/receiver needs to be able to decode the new audio formats for everything to work and be 1.3 compatible as well.

[hockeyboy]

Thanks Cheddar. Then since my new BR player will have 1.3 and go through my AVR I should be fine.

[cheddar]

No problem. If your AVR is only 1.2 compatible, then make sure you get a player that at least decodes TrueHD internally so you can listen to the new formats. DTS-HD MA is a bit newer and so far only Fox and New Line really use it. However, having a 1.3 player future proofs you if you upgrade to a receiver that can internally decode the formats in the future...

Panasonic puts out cutting edge units. The Panny 30 can bitstream the new formats. Samsung has a player that has internal decoding and bitstreaming, but it has gotten some bad reviews. And the new Panny 50 coming out by the summer should do everything including internal decoding of all the lossless formats.

[66chevyIISS]

Is the only way to get TrueHD and DTS-HD through hdmi into a 1.3 receiver? or can a HD-DVD or Bluray player provide this sound quality through Coaxial/optical as well?

[cheddar]

TrueHD and DTS-HD MA can only be transmitted over hdmi or through analog outs after being decoded internally by the player. Coaxial/optical will not pass lossless audio in either bitstreamed or decoded forms. But as noted above, the receiver only has to be 1.3 if you are bitstreaming the audio. 1.1 and above can handle a decoded PCM signal.