xvYcc

[Meta]

I am in the market for a new TV. I have been doing so much research, probably too much. From what I have seen and heard the importance of HDMI 1.3 is low in the minds of most A/V enthusiasts.

I know it is new technology, and there is not that much material supporting it but I want to know your expert opinions if the potential features available with HDMI 1.3 are worth the investment at this current time?

Lets say I have a setup like this:

(All these components have HDMI 1.3 inputs/outputs)

Samsung LN-T4665F

Sony Playstation 3

Onkyo TX-SR805

Would these components make use or be able to make use of the features available with HDMI 1.3 such as:

Deep color:
• HDMI 1.3 supports 30-bit, 36-bit and 48-bit (RGB or YCbCr) color depths, up from the 24-bit depths in previous versions of the HDMI specification.
• Lets HDTVs and other displays go from millions of colors to billions of colors.
• Eliminates on-screen color banding, for smooth tonal transitions and subtle gradations between colors.
• Enables increased contrast ratio.
• Can represent many times more shades of gray between black and white. At 30-bit pixel depth, four times more shades of gray would be the minimum, and the typical improvement would be eight times or more.

Broader color space:
• HDMI 1.3 removes virtually all limits on color selection.
• Next-generation “xvYCC” color space supports 1.8 times as many colors as existing HDTV signals.
• Lets HDTVs display colors more accurately.
• Enables displays with more natural and vivid colors.

Lip Sync:
• Because consumer electronics devices are using increasingly complex digital signal processing to enhance the clarity and detail of the content, synchronization of video and audio in user devices has become a greater challenge and could potentially require complex end-user adjustments. HDMI 1.3 incorporates an automatic audio/video synching capability that allows devices to perform this synchronization automatically with accuracy.

New lossless audio formats:
• In addition to HDMI’s current ability to support high-bandwidth uncompressed digital audio and currently available compressed formats (such as Dolby® Digital and DTS), HDMI 1.3 adds additional support for new lossless compressed digital audio formats Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio™.

Thank You for your time. I really do appreciate reading all the information on these forums. What really matters to me is that when it comes time to make a purchase I have made an informed desicion and I will be happy with what I have.

-Patrick aka Meta

 

[Meta]

I'm so lonely in this thread all alone with all this mis-information, won't somebody walk me into the light.

 

[MDS]

The components may or may not support all of the HDMI 1.3 features because manufacturers can choose which features to actually support.

All devices in the chain must support the feature and the content you are playing must be mastered to use that feature; eg. Deep Color support is of no use if none of your discs were mastered using Deep Color.

 

[Adam]

Patrick, I feel for you. I'm hoping to get others' opinions on this, too. I'm looking at getting a Toshiba LCD television, and the new models have HDMI 1.3 but cost a lost more than last year's models. So, I'm going through the same thought process as you are on this. Part of me thinks that by the time those new features are used, I could almost buy a new TV for the difference in price of the two models.

 

[Meta]

Patrick, I feel for you. I'm looking at getting a Toshiba LCD television, and the new models have HDMI 1.3 but cost a lost more than last year's models. So, I'm going through the same thought process as you are on this. Part of me thinks that by the time those new features are used, I could almost buy a new TV for the difference in price of the two models.

I feel for all of us. Wants and needs are two different things. I think I am not going to worry about deep color, xvYcc, or most other video video features offered by HDMI 1.3. Instead I will just try and enjoy True-HD and DTS-HD which should be supported by newer onkyo receivers and PS3. The tv I really want is the 58 or 50PZ700U or 750U, those are nice TVs.

I do think that it will be awhile before deep color or xvYcc becomes the standard so I think I will put those thoughts to bed. Most higher end plasmas are fine for now and LCDs are getting really good too.

SIDE NOTE___________________________________________

I was in BB and CC this weekend and looking at the newer Samsung 4661 and 4665 LCDs and the 5084 plasmas. I went to the menu and was playing around and found some weird stuff. I set the video mode to movie/cinema mode. Then under advanced settings there is a setting xvYcc. The 4661 and 65 at best buy the option was not selectable (grayed out). At circuit city the option was selectable, I was looking at the samsung plasma 5084 it looked a little washed out when I changed the xvYcc feature to on, it made the picture look SOOOOOOO much better. I am confused as to why it did this, because it wasn't even hooked up to HDMI it was component. And it was just the standard HD loop. Now here comes another curve ball, when I was viewing the 4661/65 at CC the picture looked pretty good. I went into the menu>movie mode>advanced settings>xvYcc. I turned the xvYcc to on. The tv looked like CRAP with this feature on. I am really confuesed as to how and why this setting is changing the PQ and why it has adverse reactions on plasma and lcd.