HDMI 1.3 is the latest - and best - performing digital connection available. It is a bigger capacity version of the previous specifications, offering a far wider colour gammut along with the latest HD audio support, amongst many other new and innovative features. This dedicated page will explain what HDMI 1.3 is all about, whether you need it, and what to look out for if you do decide to install it...

From the outset it is important for us to point out that HDMI 1.3 is not a replacement HDMI format. Rather it is a new version with some extra features, along with a higher specified bandwidth for greater performance potential. It remains backwards compatible with all previous versions, right back to HDMI 1.1, and will be offered concurrent to HDMI 1.1-1.2a.

Here's the feature list of HDMI, showing the progression from 1.1 through to 1.3;

	HDMI 1.1	HDMI 1.2a	HDMI 1.3
Maximum bandwidth	165Mpixel/sec 4.95Gbps	165Mpixel/sec 4.95Gbps	320Mpixel/sec 10.2Gbps
up to 1080p video resolution support (1920x1080 progressive 16:9)
1440p graphics resolution support (not for movies etc)
24 bit colour depth support (16.7 Million colours)
30 bit "Deep Colour" support (1 Billion colours)
36 bit "Deep Colour" support (69 Billion colours)
48 bit "Deep Colour" support (2,800 Trillion colours)
8 channel 24 bit/96kHz audio
DVD-Audio and SACD	DVD-A only
Dolby® Digital support
DTS support
Dolby® Digital TrueHD™ support
DTS Master Audio™ support
Lip Sync correction circuit in display
CEC data BUS for remote control support
Single Link construction
Requires Licensing Approval for full performance guarantee
Standard 19 pin "Type A" connector used
Optional "Type C" mini connector for HDMI on portable AV devices
Compatible with 1.1 - 1.2a devices & displays
Compatible with 1.3 devices & displays for full 1.3 performance

The big question - do I need HDMI 1.3?

The answer? Probably not! HDMI 1.3 has the same physical structure as the previous versions, but the firmware has changed to accommodate the new features. For example, both source and display devices must be 1.3 compliant before you can even entertain the idea of getting 1.3 features and performance - a 1.3 source connected to a 1.2a sink/display will NOT get you 1.3 performance. This is because the real differences in HDMI 1.3 are more to do with firmware than hardware. That is, HDMI 1.3 supporting devices utilize the upgraded firmware to enable the extra bitstream and processing features of 1.3, including the new audio formats, lip sync correction and display input equalization.

As for everything in between the source and sink - cables, switchers, AV receivers, splitters, extenders etc - those which are used to transmit HDMI 1.3 just need to be wide enough bandwidth to accommodate the requirements of your application. They do not specifically have to state 1.3 compliance, but they must be at least 1.2a capable. A lesser bandwidth than the upper limit of 10.2Gbps will just result in lower end capability for 1.3, but it does not exclude 1.3 working altogether. For example, if you use a full spec 1.2a compliant cable with a proven bandwidth of 4.95Gbps, regardless of length, then you can still run the extra features of HDMI 1.3, but only to a maximum resolution of 1080p at 24 bit colour. This, by the way, would be a magnificent result, essentially being the full capability of Blu-ray or HD-DVD. It may not matter to you that you can't get greater than 1080p, or deeper colour than 24 bit, as you probably won't use these formats anyway.

That is, if you agree that you're not going to need any more than 1080p @ 24 bit colour (which really is heaps), then a proven quality 1.2a spec cable will still be able to support all of the other features like lip sync correction, Dolby TrueHD, DTS Master Audio and equalized display input.

Tech Stuff...

Following is a list of the bandwidth characteristics of the various resolution and colour depth combinations, just to give you some idea of what to look out for. These are consistent across both 1.1-1.2a and 1.3 spec systems;

~ 720p/1080i @ 24 bit colour - 74.25MHz (2.22Gbps) 1.2a compatible cables

~ 1080p @ 24 bit colour - 148.5MHz (4.45Gbps) 1.2a compatible cables

~ 720p/1080i @ 36 bit colour - 111.375MHz (3.34Gbps) 1.2a compatible cables

~ 1080p @ 36 bit colour - 222.75MHz (6.68Gbps) 1.3a compatible cables

~ 720p/1080i @ 48 bit colour - 148.5MHz (4.45Gbps) 1.2a compatible cables

~ 1080p @ 48 bit colour - 297.0MHz (8.91Gbps) 1.3a equalized

As you can see, if the most you require is 1080i, you can achieve this with a good quality 1.2a cable, even up to 48 bit colour depth! The trick is ensuring that the cable you buy is capable of actually transmitting the full 4.95Gbps bandwidth as is required for proper 1.2a spec. Many do not, so please check this prior to purchase.

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