Let’s Talk About HDMI: Past, Present, Version 2.0a

The continuing evolution of the AV industry drives the organization behind HDMI to ensure the connectivity format remains viable in today’s technology market.>

Despite its detractors’ complaints, there is no questioning the impact HDMI has had on both the residential and commercial electronics industries.

Since its introduction 13 years ago, HDMI has enabled installers and consumers to replace as many as 11 cables with a single cable run. Today it offers up to 18Gbps of bandwidth to support new video formats such as 4K (4,096 x 2,160) and new audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

Ensuring its compatibility with the latest-generation of technologies, HDMI formed the HDMI Forum back in 2011. Today, according to HDMI, there are more than 70 manufactures that take part in the effort.

Sizing up just how much HDMI has grown, the format had an adopter base of just over 50 back in 2003. Today its adopter base has grown to more than 1,600. Since July of 2014, HDMI 2.0 has grown from 628 adopters to 960 as of May 2015.

With more than 4 billion products incorporating HDMI today, the organization says that its latest generation 2.0a version provides 18Gbps of bandwidth and is able to support 4K (4,096 x 2,160) at 60Hz and 32 channels of LPCM audio.

In addition, it offers support for high-dynamic range (HDR) and BT.2020 as well as 21:9 aspect ratios and dual-viewing modes.

See all HDMI news and reviews from Commercial Integrator here.

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