Engineer: HDMI 1.4 ‘Does Not Make Sense’

"The HDMI 1.4 specification adds Ethernet-over-HDMI and a reverse direction audio feed called Audio Return Channel that both require an all new HDMI cable with an extra pair of signal conductors.

"[These requirements] continue to use the same 19-pin HDMI connector as before, [but] consumers will have to buy all new HDMI 1.4 cables and components just to get Ethernet and audio return connectivity through their HDMI cables when they already can get these functions with existing Ethernet and audio cables."

Clark says HDMI 1.4 will do nothing but confuse people into thinking they need to go out and buy new cables when they don't need them, adding that the most frustrating part about the new spec is that it may negatively affect HDMI's primary responsibilities of audio and video signal transmission.

Jeff Boccaccio echoed a similar conclusion when he wrote about the bandwidth confusion surrounding the new 1.4 spec.

"The decision by HDMI.org to include Ethernet and the audio return channel in the HDMI cable just does not make sense to us since these are secondary functions and inexpensive Ethernet and the audio cables already exist, " Clark points out.

"We are even more concerned that running an Ethernet signal side-by-side with the primary HDMI audio and video signals may actually degrade the resulting picture and sound quality because of signal crosstalk. For these reasons, Transparent is not planning to build HDMI 1.4 cables with the additional signal conductors necessary for Ethernet and Audio Return.

"Luckily our existing cables will still handle all the high-resolution video formats specified in HDMI 1.4. As for the Ethernet and audio return, it will likely be years before we see AV components that can use these functions--if we ever do--and even then these components will likely continue to accept standard Ethernet and audio cables."