TechEnthu
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HDMI 2.1 chips in 2020, 2021, 2022 models of AVRs and AV processors
Reliability of chips, updates, bugs, video signal, gaming features, port speed and issues surrounding the roll out of HDMI 2.1 specification in AV machines
*Note: New production line of some models above ship with upgraded boards installed in factory and changed model number. Check with local dealer, online or call technical support.
Features and trends in AVRs and AV processors in 2021/2022:
Reliability of chips, updates, bugs, video signal, gaming features, port speed and issues surrounding the roll out of HDMI 2.1 specification in AV machines
HDMI board upgrade - free and paid | Eligible current models |
1. Yamaha - Register for free board change - 24 Gbps | V4A, V6A, A2A, TSR-700 - free |
2. Sound United: buy upgrade for Denon AVR-X8500H 3. Sound United: buy upgrade for Marantz AV8805 | AVR-X8500H - $599 AV8805 - $599; no stock Q1 2022 |
4. Steinway-Lyngdorf AVPs - optional paid upgrade | MP-60 2.1, S&S P300 2.1 - €1,999 |
5. Anthem - optional paid upgrade for AVRs/AVPs | MRX 540/740/1140, AVM 70/90 |
6. Arcam - optional paid upgrade - Q1 2022 | AVR 10/20/30, AV40 - $650, £650 |
7. JBL - optional paid upgrade - Q1 2022 | SDR-35, SDP-55 - $650, ~£650 |
8. StormAudio - board still in development? | MK1, MK2, ISP Elite MK3 |
9. Monolith - AVP paid board upgrade in 2022? | HTP-1 |
10. McIntosh - AVP paid board upgrade (1-in-2-out) ? | MX135 |
11. AudioControl Maestro and Concert lines - unclear? | Maestro X7, X9, XR- 4/6/8 |
12. Trinnov Altitude AVP - H2 2022? | Altitude 16, Altitude 32 - €1,000 |
2020 - FIRST GEN HDMI 2.1 CHIPS FOR AVRs - not a great start...
Panasonic Solutions offered two versions of chips (~14 min). Sound United chose faster 40 Gbps chip with single input, to pass through 4K/120Hz 10-bit RGB video images from sources onto displays. Yamaha chose slower, but multiple input 24 Gbps chip which can pass through 4K/120Hz 10-bit 4-2-0 uncompressed signal. Both chips were not tested properly with sources before AVRs came into the market and owners faced multiple problems with video signal, e.g. black screens, and features working incorrectly. ~ Solutions Sound United offered an adapter box which solved the issue with Xbox Series X. Reliability of audio signal through AVR when used with Nvidia GPUs is still a concern. Yamaha's HDMI 2.1 inputs never worked and the company offered free board replacement scheduled for Q4 2021. Owners of Yamaha 2020 AVRs finally start to witness new HDMI boards working reliably. Those new boards will be limited to 24 Gbps on HDMI 2.1 ports and enabling firmware 1.48 arrived. Please see the chronology of events and solutions for owners of 2020 AVRs in the resources below. 1. AVR Denon and Marantz: 1-in-2-out 40 Gbps ports + adapter box
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2021/2022 - SECOND GEN HDMI 2.1 CHIPS - 24 and 40 Gbps Analog Devices 7672 (ex-Invecas) and others offered improved silicon. Those chips and ports should support more reliably all modern gaming and graphics features, such as FRL, UHD, HDR, HFR, VRR, ALLM, QFT and QMS. More importantly, new AVRs/AVPs should be able to deliver those features working together neatly. Switching on settings 4K+120Hz+10-bit+HDR+RGB+VRR should create high quality, immersive gaming experience with smooth, sharp and bright video signal flow. The same applies to 8K+60Hz+10-bit+HDR+4.2.0+VRR, however we need more capable GPUs in Q4 2022. The models of AVRs and AVPs from different companies are below, including estimated release dates, necessary firmware, configuration of HDMI port speeds and other features. 1. AVR Onkyo, Pioneer, Integra: multi 40 Gbps + 24 Gbps ports - ship Q4 2021
12. AVP McIntosh MX-135 and MX-180: - | ||||||
2022/2023 - THIRD GEN HDMI 2.1 CHIPS - 48 Gbps 1. AVP Anthem AVM90: the company claims all ports 48 Gbps; 7-in-3-out 2. AVP Trinnov Altitude: the company released retail price list for July 2022
Development of full speed chips with 48 Gbps Full speed chips are currently in development. Why would users need 48 Gbps ports? There are two reasons that will push AV machines towards full speed ports in order to avoid becoming video signal bottleneck: SOURCES are already capable. Nvidia 3000 GPUs can output 48 Gbps video signal. Current AVRs/AVPs allow 4K/120Hz and 8K/60Hz signal pass-through, up to 40 Gbps, so Nvidia GPUs cannot push 4K/144Hz 10-bit RGB signal through AVRs onto capable display, unless there is end-to-end use of DSC. HDMI 2.1 spec still does not officially support 4K/144Hz. AVR with 40 Gbps ports is a bottleneck, both for data bandwidth and refresh rates. HDMI Forum might be preparing a minor revision to allow 144Hz refresh rates over 4K, for new 10-bit displays. In 2022, adoption of full speed HDMI ports is already accelerating in PC environment:
Monitors, especially high refresh 4K/5K gaming monitors and displays for creatives and other professionals, will become more bandwidth hungry than current 4K TVs are. This will drive a wave of buyers back to monitors, where they traditionally belong to. New gen of AVRs will need to respond to this trend with full speed ports and improved support in firmware. Full bandwidth is especially important as DSC feature on HDMI 2.1 ports is not widely supported on devices in consumer electronics market. All devices in a chain, source-AVR-display, need to support DSC for compressed signal to work on ports with reduced bandwidth. ~ Trinnov - hopes to implement the 48 Gbps chip, if they conclude that 2nd gen 40 Gbps chips are still not suitable for prime time (~1h 13 min) ~ others? - awating news and leaks |
Current HDMI 2.1 sources | Upcoming real HDMI 2.1 sources (ports with 24 and up to 48 Gbps) |
1. GPU - Nvidia 3000 series - 48 Gbps
| 1. AMD 6000 laptops - 24/48 Gbps? 2. Intel Arc GPU DG2 - Q3? |
2. GPU - AMD 6000 series - 40 Gbps
| 3. Intel NUC 12 Enthusiast? 4. Intel laptop NUC X15 - 48Gb? |
3. Console Xbox Series X - 40 Gbps
| 5. Nvidia GPU Lovelace - Q4? 6. AMD GPU RDNA3 - Q4? |
4. Console PS5 - 32 Gbps - HDR10, no VRR? | |
5. Asus ProArt Studiobook 16 4K OLED - |
Features and trends in AVRs and AV processors in 2021/2022:
- companies working hard to release AV machines with 40 Gbps or combo 24/40 Gbps, in context of fire in AKM factory in Japan and global disruption due to Covid 19
- free hardware for faulty chips in 2020 models: Sound United (adapter box), Yamaha (board)
- not clear whether 48 Gbps chips are ready - Anthem claims AVM90 hosts full speed chips
- gaming feature ALLM seems to be working well across the board; almost no compaints
- gaming feature VRR has received a lot of complaints for patchiness in chain of devices
- quality features QMS and QFT have not been demonstrated to work; testing needed
- key features working reliably together is hit and miss: 4K+120Hz+10-bit+HDR+RGB+VRR
- Dolby Vision 4K/120Hz pass-through is available on Onkyo, XboxX and LG 1-2 TVs
- Teoh demonstrates 4K/120 12-bit 4-2-2 DolbyVision at 32 Gbps
- DSC image compression feature is available on AVRs, but not in most 4K/120 TVs and monitors; so DSC is practically unusable on any AVRs with 24 Gbps ports
- HDMI 2.1 adoption accelerates in PC and laptop environment in 2022
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