SPV1

redsierra · « **on:** 5 Dec 2006, 08:49 pm »

Hello James.

When are you going to add HDMI to the Video switcher? I have been holding out for quite some time for you to introduce the features that are now industry standard. Even DVI (although that is now probably outdated) would suffice. I have a DVD player and projector with DVI. I was thinking about getting a Blu Ray or a HDDVD player which of course have HDMI.

I am getting older....

Thanks,

Dwight

James Tanner · « **Reply #1 on:** 5 Dec 2006, 09:09 pm »

We have looked at HDMI for the video switcher and there are no 1.3 chips available yet.
It will be many months before they are according to my sources.

james

redsierra · « **Reply #2 on:** 6 Dec 2006, 03:00 am »

Oh well..."good things come to those that wait"....right?

Just to clarify though...you WILL be adding HDMI when they become available?

Thanks James.

Sincerely,

Dwight

Phil A · « **Reply #3 on:** 6 Dec 2006, 03:29 am »

Quote from: James Tanner on 5 Dec 2006, 09:09 pm

We have looked at HDMI for the video switcher and there are no 1.3 chips available yet.
It will be many months before they are according to my sources.

james

James, are you sure? The reason I ask is that I've heard there will be 2 rec'rs (or prototypes) at least shown at CES featuring HDMI 1.3 as follows:

1. Denon 3808 - Ships April 2007.
$1499 MSRP
3 x HDMI 1.3 inputs. 1 output
Audyssey MultiEQ
DD+, True HD and DTS HD decoding
Upgraded remote

2. Pioneer Elite Flagship - will be shown at CES
Unknown MSRP. If it's a true flagship then expect $3-4k.
Unknown feature set.

Or do you think the above (Denon street date) is just estimated knowing the chips are on the way?

James Tanner · « **Reply #4 on:** 6 Dec 2006, 11:51 am »

Hi Phil,

I will check further but my sources tell me that some of the receiver chips are available but not the sending. Also we are more interested in the HDMI 3.1 Audio side and want to go down that road before we deal with the video side.

Also recognize that the major players like Denon and Pioneer get priority before any of the small 3rd party companies get supplied.

james

Phil A · « **Reply #5 on:** 6 Dec 2006, 10:55 pm »

James, have not followed it closely but here's a couple of recent articles I've run into:

http://www.semtech.com/company/newsevents/product-announcement-view.jsp?id=181

http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.aspx?NewsId=17760

I assumed the mass market cos. would get 1st crack at them.

James Tanner · « **Reply #6 on:** 7 Dec 2006, 12:11 am »

Thanks Phil I will check it out.

james

redsierra · « **Reply #7 on:** 10 Dec 2006, 05:35 pm »

Hello James.

If and when (hopefully sooner than later) you upgrade the SPV1 with HDMI how would you handle the audio portion of the HDMI? Would the SP2 then have to be sent in for an upgrade? I dont think that there would be a way around it.

Right now I am looking at the Toshiba HD DVD player which has HDMI and 5.1 analogue outputs. It can output Dolby Plus, Dolby True HD, or DTS HD from its 5.1 analogue outputs or the HDMI. Do I understand correctly that the only way for SP2 owners to enjoy those formats is to use the 5.1 anologue inputs on the SP2 (being that we dont have HDMI)? I believe that Toslink and Coaxial digital is not capable. Could someone elaborate on this for me?

Thanks,

Dwight

James Tanner · « **Reply #8 on:** 10 Dec 2006, 05:45 pm »

HI Dwight,

Yes you have to use the 5.1 analog out on the DVD to the 5.1 analog pass-through on the SP2.

james

redsierra · « **Reply #9 on:** 10 Dec 2006, 05:53 pm »

Thanks James.

So if and when you upgrade the SPV1 with HDMI how would you handle the audio portion of the HDMI? Would the SP2 then have to be sent in for an upgrade?

As far as the new audio formats the SP2 is not capable of decoding them correct?

James Tanner · « **Reply #10 on:** 10 Dec 2006, 07:07 pm »

The SPV-1 Video unit will not be able to be modified to do HDMI. That would be a whole new Video product.

The SP2 would need a new digital board so it would need to be modified.
Do not know yet how we will handle the HDMI Audio portion in the SP2.

james

MOZ · « **Reply #11 on:** 11 Dec 2006, 08:56 am »

But you have to work on it James !
I'm switching to HD-DVD soon and i believe a lot of people will seek pre with HDMI capacities anytime before next year end...

redsierra · « **Reply #12 on:** 11 Dec 2006, 03:58 pm »

I too hope that there is some urgency with this. After all we do have high end "state of the art" equipment....right?

The HD player that I am thinking about purchasing is a Toshiba HD DVD player, the HD-XA1, their premium model (1st gen). It has HDMI but I believe it to be 1.2. What will 1.3 bring to the table? Being that I don't have HDMI capabilities right now (except for my projector that I will run HDMI to DVI) the 1st gen player will be fine. But IF we get the HDMI on our SP2s will I be sorry that I dont have HDMI 1.3 on the player?

Thanks,

Dwight

James Tanner · « **Reply #13 on:** 11 Dec 2006, 04:50 pm »

Hi All,

Here is the info I have so far.

HiDef compressed format has too much bandwidth to be sent vis S/PDIF from a DVD player to a receiver. Thus the new HiDef formats must send across the 4 I2S lines as per the HDMI spec version 1.3. HDMI 1.2 chips cannot receive compressed HiDef bit streams, only HDMI 1.3 chips are able to.

HDMI 1.3 requires new HDMI receiver chips as the data rate is much higher than HDMI 1.2. I should add that HDMI 1.3 receiver chips are now available as samples only.

We get the decoders and the basic system from TI. As such we cannot do anything with the HiDef decoders until TI releases them as part of the Performance Audio system. TI does not expect a formal release with the HiDef decoders until the end of Q1, 2007.

It will probably take us 3 months to integrate this release with our code. It is a significant release with lots of changes. The 3 months is just my guess. I am sure the engineers would be more pessimistic based on the number of changes expected and the fact that the release will probably have various problems and not be backwards compatible. TI told me that they did not expect most customers to have HiDef decoder systems available until the CEDIA (September 07) time frame.

For more info on HDMI, see HDMI site: http://www.hdmi.org/ Under Press, FAQ, Learning Center and Manufacturer/Specification.

There is a pretty good all inclusive article in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-Definition_Multimedia_Interface

james

MOZ · « **Reply #14 on:** 11 Dec 2006, 05:18 pm »

Thanks James,

We know that and believe it is not as easy for you to handel this thing !
As for my part, i'm waiting news (and acts) from Bryston & the HDMI issue before next Xmass (not this one), so, it should be all right

redsierra · « **Reply #15 on:** 11 Dec 2006, 05:25 pm »

James you are a gentleman and a scholar! Within the year (2007) makes me happy! I am glad that it will come.

Is this something that will require the SP2 to be sent back to the factory?

I would assume then that the SPV1 would launch around the same time?

Thanks,

Dwight

James Tanner · « **Reply #16 on:** 11 Dec 2006, 05:33 pm »

Yes the SP2 will have to come back to the factory.

james

MOZ · « **Reply #17 on:** 12 Dec 2006, 01:12 pm »

Quote

Yes the SP2 will have to come back to the factory.

No, not again !!!

James, do you have any idea if this upgrade will be "less, as or more expensive" than the SP1.7 to SP2 upgrade ?
I have to save some money right know (a lot of things to buy next year : HD-DVD player and FullHD Projector) !

James Tanner · « **Reply #18 on:** 12 Dec 2006, 03:37 pm »

Quote from: MOZ on 12 Dec 2006, 01:12 pm

Quote
Yes the SP2 will have to come back to the factory.
No, not again !!!

James, do you have any idea if this upgrade will be "less, as or more expensive" than the SP1.7 to SP2 upgrade ?
I have to save some money right know (a lot of things to buy next year : HD-DVD player and FullHD Projector) !

Hi,

No idea on cost - as I say we are at least a year away so everything is still very much in flux.

james

redsierra · « **Reply #19 on:** 12 Dec 2006, 08:41 pm »

James we know that you dont have a crystal ball, but would you say the HDMI upgrade would be in the hundreds or a thousand plus? I am obviously not speaking about the cost of the SPV just the SP2 upgrade. Obviously no one can hold you to it, but I would just like to know a ball park so that I can make another buying decision.

Thanks,

Dwight