When checking the connections on your entertainment devices, you may be wondering what HDMI is. It stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface.
What kind of transmission standard is HDMI?
HDMI is an interface that has been used primarily in consumer electronics since 2003 and enables the transmission of high-resolution digital audio and video signals through a single cable. This standard has replaced older analog interfaces such as SCART and VGA2.
- HDMI offers clear and undistorted picture and sound quality because the signals are transmitted digitally and uncompressed. In addition, cabling is easier because only one cable is needed for audio and video.
- HDMI is found in many devices such as televisions, monitors, projectors, game consoles, Blu-ray players and home theater systems. It is the most common connection for high-definition media.
- Since its introduction, several versions of HDMI have been developed, each offering new features and improvements. For example, HDMI 1.4 supports 3D and Ethernet, while HDMI 2.0 enables 4K resolution at 60 frames per second.
- HDMI ports and cables are usually backwards compatible, meaning that new HDMI devices will also work with older versions. However, not all new features will necessarily be available.
Technical details and advanced features
HDMI offers much more than just the transmission of images and sound. It offers numerous additional functions that improve your user experience and facilitate the integration of home theater systems.
- HDMI cables can transfer large amounts of data, which is important for displaying high-resolution content. The transfer speed varies depending on the version.
- The Audio Return Channel (ARC) enables audio signals to be transmitted back over the same HDMI cable, which is particularly advantageous for soundbars and AV receivers.
- HDMI also uses HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) to protect digital content from illegal copying. This is important for protected content such as Blu-ray and streaming services.
- Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) allows you to control multiple devices connected via HDMI with one remote control. This makes it easier to operate your devices and eliminates the need for a separate remote control for each one.
- HDMI also supports High Dynamic Range (HDR), resulting in better picture quality with higher contrast and more vibrant colors.
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