Hdmi: all the information and what you need to know ??

In the technology age, practically everything works in high definition and the VGA connector is a port that for many is obsolete and is a technological dinosaur. However, the HDMI connector has not stagnated and has also evolved over the years, so we are going to effectively show you how relevant it is.

Index of contents

HDMI connector source

With the appearance of High Definition came the decline of the VGA (Video Graphic Array) port. This is due to the fact that previously the monitor communicated directly with the graphics of the motherboard, whereas now with much more powerful non-integrated graphics cards, these are connected through a High-Digital Multimedia Interface port that appeared in 2002 to guarantee better quality. of image.

HDMI versions

Having clarified where it comes from, let's see what its progress has been. Over the years these ports have been implemented for the needs of the growing screen resolutions, currently reaching a total of six versions.

• HDMI 1.0: Introduced in 2002. HDMI 1.1: December 2002. HDMI 1.2: August 2005. HDMI 1.3: June 2006. HDMI 1.4: June 2009. HDMI 2.0: September 2013. HDMI 2.1: January 2017.

HDMI 1.0

Presented in 2002, it is the first version, and it laid the foundations for a generational change still in force. This connector allows viewing a monitor at Full HD 1080p and 60Hz (60 frames per second). In addition it also performs a 192 kHz / 24-bit audio communication at a maximum speed of 4.9 Gbit / s.

HDMI 1.1

December 2002. It is the first improvement to the original version. DVD Audio support is added to all the previously mentioned elements.

HDMI 1.2

August 2005. Another slight improvement, this time with support for One Bit Audio used on SACD (Super Audio CD) .

HDMI 1.3

June 2006. Transfer rate increases to 10.2 Gbit / Dolby TrueHD (multi-channel audio without loss of quality) and DTS-HD (multi-channel audio from Xperi Corporation) are included. The resolution increases to 2048 x 1536 pixels at 75 Hz (75 FPS) and the audio also goes up to 768 KHz.

HDMI 1.4

June 2009. First major jump. Data can be transferred via Ethernet cable. Increase the 1080p resolution to two variants: 4K (3840 × 2160) and True 4K (4096 × 2160). However at both resolutions they cannot be kept at 60FPS and drop at 30 and 24 frames per second respectively. The connector supports Home Cinema systems directly connected to the TV and also 3D image transmission.

HDMI 2.0

September 2013. Data transfer increases again to 18 Gbit / s and 4K finally reaches 60 FPS. For its part, the audio rises to 1, 536 KHz and 32 channels.

HDMI 2.1

January 2017. Once again the bandwidth is expanded, this time up to 48 Gbit / s supporting up to 10K (8K at 60Hz and 4K at 120Hz) and dynamic HD Ready. The cable optimally transfers to devices with ports of previous versions (2.0 and 1.4).

An interesting fact is that since 2012 it was forbidden to mention the HDMI connector version of the cables or terminals, instead reporting the type of functions with which they are compatible (HDR, 4K, True 4K, 3D…). However, we can still find products in which the manufacturers also report the product version.

Image: HDMI.org

How do HDMI versions interact with each other?

Let's say we have a multimedia player to connect to our Smart TV. The HDMI of the TV is version 1.0 (1080p) and that of the hard disk 2.0 (4K). We connect them through a 2.0 cable and play a 4K movie on our Full HD television.

What happens is that although our television is only Full HD and not 4K, the pixels are grouped more precisely since both the film and the cable provide more information. This means that the image that we see really can be somewhat sharper than if it were a movie recorded in 1080p, but there are drawbacks. Depending on the TV model, it may take some work to process the volume of data per second it receives, and compression issues may occur (those small screen freezes or pixels insane for a few seconds in the frames). We will be seeing "fake 4K", but we will still perceive more image quality.

On the contrary, it may be the case to put that same 4K movie on a 4K television but using a connector with an earlier HDMI version (1.3 for example). What happens is that the image quality will be good, but we will not see real 4K either since the transfer does not allow it and the television "invents" part of the information on the screen as a result of the pixel data that it does receive.

HDMI connector types

Once we have compared all the existing versions of the connector types to date, it is time to deal with the format of the ports. This means that when we buy a cable we should not only look at its version, but also the type of plug. Here are the ones currently used:

HDMI type A

The one of a lifetime. It has 19 pins and dimensions of 13.9 x 4.45mm. This format is everywhere and the vast majority of devices that have an HDMI port bring this model.

HDMI type B

The pins expand to 29 and slightly increase in size to 21.2 x 4.45mm.

HDMI type C

Mini version. It maintains the 19 pins of type A, but reduces its size to 10.42 x 2.42mm.

HDMI type D

Micro version, also 19-pin. You will recognize this port because it is widely used in slim laptops or cameras since its size of 6.4 x 2.8mm was expressly designed so that this type of device could have an HDMI port.

HDMI type E

The only peculiarity of this model is its ability to withstand high temperatures and constant movement without losing connection quality. Its use is mainly for automotive and industrial machinery.

Adapters

Often we can find that our laptop, camera and computer do not have the exact same port version as our cable, which raises several doubts. Do I lose image or sound quality? Does the adapter maintain bandwidth parameters and speed? Well, it depends on the adapter that we buy and what type of versions it supports:

Adapted cable

Both males have different formats according to our needs. One type A and the other type C, D… With this type of cables you don't have to worry about losing quality, we just have to keep in mind which version of HDMI they have and which one we need.

AmazonBasics - Mini HDMI to HDMI Adapter Cable (2.0 standard, 4K 60Hz video, 2160p and 48 bit / px, compatible with Ethernet, 3D and ARC, 1.8m) Mini HDMI to HDMI High Speed ​​Adapter Cable, Type A connectors to type C.; Compatible with Ethernet, 3D and audio return (no other cables required). 8.27 EUR AmazonBasics - Flexible 1.8m Micro-HDMI to HDMI Cable Combine HD video and audio (up to 2160p) into one cable for your home theater system; Works with broadband up to 18 GB / s and is backward compatible with previous versions 7.39 EUR LinkinPerk Micro-HDMI to HDMI Cable, High Speed, Compatible with Ethernet, 3D, 4K and Audio Return, for GoPro, Hero Cameras, Tablets, Laptops (2M) 7.73 EUR

External multiport adapter:

It is a device that has a female and a male port to which we connect our cable and from there to the device in question. What we should look at in this type of case is what HDMI supports (1080 or also 4K or higher resolutions, 3D…)

HDMI Switch, WIN 3 Ports HDMI Switcher | HDMI Splitter Supports Full HD 1080p 3D HDMI Adapter Switch for HDTV / Xbox / PS3 / PS4 / Apple TV / Fire Stick / BLU-Ray DVD-Player (3 IN 1 out) EUR 12.99 neefeaer USB C to HDMI Adapter, Hub Type C USB 3.1 to HDMI 4K / USB 3.0 / USB C with Quick Charge Port Converter Compatible with MacBook Air 2018 Galaxy Note8 / S8 + / S9 17.99 EUR Jiqu USB C to HDMI Adapter, Type C to HDMI Adapter HDMI Cable 4K Compatible with Macbook Pro, iMac, MacBook, ChromeBook, Samsung Galaxy S8 / S9 Note 9 / S9 / Note 8 / S8, Huawei Mate 20 and ms € 14.99

USB to HDMI adapter

A step further is taken when for example we have an external hard drive with movies to watch on our TV without using the USB port. For these cases we find the hybrid port connectors that generally adapt USB type A, C, Mini, Micro etc ports to HDMI (generally type A).

This type of adapters can be found both as an individual cable (USB type C to HDMI for example) and as a multiport terminal. The version depends on the adapter, but if we want to see real 4K we must remember to buy version 2.0.

Geabon USB C to HDMI Cable, USB Type C to HDMI Adapter Cable, Geabon USB C to HDMI, (Compatible with Thunderbolt 3) Compatible with MacBook Pro iMac Samsung Galaxy S8 / S8 + / S9 / Note8 ChromeBook Pixel EUR 19.97 Kdely USB Cable C to HDMI 4K Type C 3.1 to HDMI Adapter for iPad Pro 2018 / Macbook Air 2018, MacBook Pro, Samsung Galaxy S10 / S10E / S9 / Note 8 / S9 + / S8, Huawei P30 Pro / P20 / Mate 10 / Mate 20 and Ms. (2m) Limxems USB C to HDMI Cable (4K @ 30Hz), HDMI to USB Type C Compatible with 2018/2017/2016 MacBook Pro, iMac 2017, Galaxy Note 9 / Note 8 / S9 Plus / S8, Huawei P20 / Pro / Mate 10 and Ms (2M) 15.99 EUR

The Cable Issue

Since each manufacturer sets their own parameters, there is no standard for the appropriate length of HDMI cables, but what you should know is that the greater the length, the more the signal can be attenuated. The average is between one and two meters, but you should know that the maximum recommended is five meters.

To alleviate this type of problem, it is common to find cables with a coating of a semi-rigid fiber jacket. This is because these cables are reinforced and are not just plastic. The quality of the material and the manufacturing process define the potential length of the cable without losing quality and its resistance to tangles.

Coating is important since it isolates the transmission from the HDMI cable, which is sensitive to electromagnetic signals and can alter its quality or speed.

The average thickness of HDMI cables is measured in AWG (American Ware Gauge) and is usually around 24 AWG to 28 AWG, which translates to 0.2 and 0.8mm respectively. Another aspect that improves connectivity and resides not only in the materials or length of the cable is that the pins of the ports are gold plated. They are a good complement to a quality cable and help optimize data transmission.

Conclusions about the HDMI connector

The improvement these ports and cables brought to our lives was brutal. High resolution is no longer only possible in the cinema but also in the home environment marked a before and after in the world of entertainment and digital work. Currently it is practically essential in our lives if we are foodies of the image, so there is much to thank him for.

In summary and after going through the article with us these are the points to highlight as a final conclusion:

• Virtually all devices not suitable for 4K will probably have version 1.0 or 1.3 and will have a type A port (the most common). When we buy an HDMI cable for our monitor or TV we must look not only at the type of port it needs, but Choose the version based on your use.For a 2K or 4K monitor or television, a cable from version 1.4 onwards should be our choice to get the most out of it. Cable length can vary by manufacturer, but generally ranges from 1m to 3m. Adapters are a great addition, but we must carefully read their compatibility and the hertz at which it works. The ideal is a cable of less than two meters with a thick coating and not excessively flexible. Gold plating is an optional accessory.

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With nothing more to add, we hope this article has been useful to you. If you have any doubts or notes, do not hesitate to write in our comments section. Until next time!