HDMI 2.0/2.1 labels are useless now

[sweetchaos]

To purchase a HDMI product, it's now up to the consumer to do their own research, instead of relying on "HDMI 2.0" or "HDMI 2.1" labels (which are now meaningless).

Two videos that give a great overview of the problem.

3min by TeckQuickie:

6min by HDTVTest:

It's hilarious and sad at the same time.
Discuss!

 

[abdo123]

Honestly good luck buying anything with the chip shortage.

Literally everything is unobtanium.

 

[nerdstrike]

How not to do a tech spec. It's as bad as the myriad USB terminators

 

[sweetchaos]

On this topic, Audioholics published an article:

HDMI 2.1 Compliance Certification Explained

The HDMI Licensing Admin says that new HDMI devices can be granted “HDMI 2.1 compliant” status even if they don’t support any of the features associated with the HDMI 2.1 standard. Confused? Read on.

www.audioholics.com

 

[JSmith]

Just to be clear, HDMI cables are not actually rated with versions (despite packaging), only the device input/output ports;

HDMI Cables - Different Cable Types

HDMI cable overview with the different HDMI cable types, their port capabilities, and how to tell the HDMI connector types apart. HDMI 2.1b

www.hdmi.org

Agree though it's a poor state of affairs when it comes to product labelling and as Vincent explains it's not always clear whether a device is properly 2.1 compliant or not.


JSmith

 

[Katji]

How not to do a tech spec. It's as bad as the myriad USB terminators

There seems to be some DACs with horrible little Micro-B connectors instead of the [usual/standard] B.

 

[nerdstrike]

ARC is unreliable, the data rates of cables are unknown, HDCP is a total crapshoot outside of dedicated devices, security failure auto downgrades the content, but doesn't necessarily tell you, plugging the connector in blind is really tricky... What's not to like about HDMI?

 

[ThatM1key]

I wish DisplayPort would kill off HDMI. DisplayPort has more bandwidth and a stronger connector.

The only thing wrong with DisplayPort is the DP to HDMI converters, there pricey. We could avoid this problem if everything used DisplayPort.
HDMI 2.1/2.0 has little features like ARC/eARC & VRR but why not added those to DisplayPort? Do we really need 2 Display standards?

 

[sweetchaos]

On this topic

Gene (from Audioholics) and Phil Jones (from Sound United) talk about HDMI 2.1 confusion:

 

[pozz]

HDMI 2.1 and Cabling, an Early Look -- Blue Jeans Cable