Audio News for June 12, 2009

by | Jun 12, 2009 | Audio News | 0 comments

HDMI v.1.4 Announced – A new High-Definition Multimedia Interface spec has just been announced by HDMI Licensing. Of course no home electronics offer the new spec as yet, but Monster Cable has already leapt in with the first (expensive) HDMI 1.4 cables. Advancements offered by the new spec include a data channel enabling hi-speed bi-directional communication via 100 Mb/sec Ethernet, compatibility with any IP-based application; an Audio Return Channel allowing HDTVs to send their broadcast audio stream to the AV receiver or preamp over the HDMI cable; standardization of the input and output portion at dual-stream 1080p resolution required for the upcoming home 3D system; support for upcoming 2K and 4K resolution – the latter four times beyond 1080p; expanded Color Spaces support; a micro half-sized HDMI connector for portable devices; and a cabling spec designed for in-vehicle distribution of HD content.

The constantly-upgraded versions of HDMI – from its originator, Silicon Image – are similar to the constantly upgraded capabilities of Blu-ray players.  HDMI was designed originally to provide many benefits to consumers:  simplifying wiring by having both hi-def video and audio in the same single cable, providing a simple interface between any AV sources and displays, receivers and preamps, and transmitting the video and audio as all-digital and uncompressed signals to retain the highest quality possible. Well, millions of users will complain that it hasn’t quite worked out that way. Whether they paid outrageous prices for their HDMI cables at the store when they purchased their HDTV or Blu-ray or if they got the same result with inexpensive HDMI cables online – they have serious problems with displays and audio cutting out constantly or not functioning at all, sparkles on their displays, snow, blinking or blank screens, and cables falling out of the backs of components. (That last occurs because the basic design doesn’t fit nearly as securely as primitive RCA jacks. I’m trying an after-market HDMI cable-locking accessory, but frankly it is just as frustrating to use as unadorned HDMI.)  Some of us avoid the audio problems by staying with the six-channel analog audio connections, but many new disc players now output their surround channels only via HDMI. Most of these frustrations are caused by a bug called the “HDCP handshake problem.”  HDCP is copy-protection encryption forced on the HDMI specs by the movie studios and big record companies. It intercepts so-called “high value content” as it goes from the sources to the presentation devices. Before the addition of any more bells and whistles, many of us would just like to see Silicon Image make HDMI work reliably for the first time.

Naxos to Distribute Ondine Label – The leading Finnish classical recording label Ondine – formerly distributed by Universal Music – will switch to Naxos International on July 1. They will be added to Naxo’s family of over 40 different distributed record labels. Leading Finnish composers such as Rautavaara, Saariaho and Lindberg are on Ondine,  and they have innovative partnerships with two U.S. orchestras: The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

VHF Signal Loss From DTV Stations
– Today about 24% of DTV stations will be not only turning off their analog transmitters, but also reverting back to their original VHF channels instead of the UHF spectrum they have used for digital. (This occurs only in certain areas of the U.S.) Typically the VHF spectrum propagates better than UHF, and the public is more familiar with the stations’ original low channel number.  But many of these stations are also reducing their power at the time of the move, resulting in increased interference and complete loss of any reception in some areas. Also, with most DTV stations now active in the UHF band, the smaller antennas for that spectrum must be replaced by larger ones or old-fashioned combo VHF/UHF antennas which can compromise the signal. The stations cutting their power are doing so with the idea that DTV broadcasting can be ten times more efficient than analog, and they can thus cut power and save on electric bills; but they are cutting back too far. At least one station tried it and they restored its Channel 29 assignment due to the significant number of viewers who reported complete signal loss when the station was in the VHF band. Antennas Direct has announced a special VHF antenna 80% smaller than the typical Channel 2-13 antenna, retailing for $119.

Related Reviews
Logo Pure Pleasure
Logo Crystal Records Sidebar 300 ms
Logo Jazz Detective Deep Digs Animated 01