DSC enables 8K @120 using HDMI 2.1 connections. Now, if AVR and TV manufacturers want to chase after PC gamers in a decade, HDMI will have to be left behind for say Display Port 2.0 and 8K HDR @60hz will be possible before needing to apply DSC for higher rates and will exceed HDMI performance by far. Gaming brings in more dollars than the watching of movies and TV combined. Why not support the best presentation of it? If it improves the movie watching and music listening experience via streaming, well, that’s just gravy. But, I’d suggest a strict standard for any future connector for AVRs and TVs
I concur. And not in a decade. Innovation in video connectivity is happening right now and dozens of new devices are coming in 2022. VESA has been extensively testing DisplayPort 2.0 PHY with monitors, GPUs and motherboards throughout the pandemic period. If AVR companies want to tap into this lucrative market outside of movies/music and earn more money by offering another interface, AVR engineers will need to make changes and invest effort and money in new board design; and fast, within one or two generations.
In video connectivity,
diverse port options are paramount. "HDMI prison" is not the way forward in global and modern digital entertainment, no matter how much they resist. If they want to stick to HDMI only, they lose access to millions of users and more revenue. To catch up with this, AVR boards would
not need to ditch HDMI. That is too big change. Consumer electronics sector cannot afford revolutionary change, but move in small steps. And it's not necessary to ditch it. PC world enjoys HDMI, but loves Display Port above all.
AVRs could start offering diverse ports, as it is the case on PC motherboards, GPUs, laptops, such as the one below - HDMI 2.1, DP 2.0 and USB-C which tunnels DP (currently 1.4). With this GPU back panel, anyone can connect whatever display they have at home. No need to worry about having or not having specific ports on displays. With AVRs, we still have to worry about it. Connectivity on AVR boards are out of date. A change means a few new chips on AVR board; conversion chip that can seamlessly switch DP signal into HDMI and vice versa. If sources and displays can have diverse ports, why AVRs cannot?
Gaming world has grown enormously. There are almost 3 billion gamers on the planet. That's for another post... Outside of consoles, which is HDMI based entertainment, DisplayPort is de facto the connection king everywhere. You do not need to be a gamer to use DisplayPort. It's enough if you are regular PC user who wants to do some daily work on monitor and play music in the background, which is millions of people. Why not connect to AVR over DP port if you happen not to have free HDMI on motherboard, GPU or monitor?
Future AVRs need to work both in TV environment and in PC environment, and intergate those devices, especially now, when any streaming and home entertainment can be enjoyed equally on monitors, not only on TVs. The world has moved forward. Will AVRs too?