HDMI vs Ilink & HDMI 1.3

[fandango]

hello everyone,

I am a new member of this forum and just want to start off by saying how amazing it is to have such a great resource at my disposal.

I have read a number of threads about connections but I am still confused about a few things and was hoping to get them cleared up.

here goes,
1. ilink, from what I understand is purely for dvd audio & SACD audio connection, it does not have video capabilities (?). I own the pioneer elite dv59 which has ilink and HDMI. I am now looking for a new receiver but don't know if it is worth paying more for an ilink capable one.

if i use ilink to connect my dvd player to an ilink capable receiver, would I also use my HDMI to connect the dvd player for video or would the HDMI make the ilink redundant (or vice-versa).

if I do not own any SACD or DVD audio disks, what advantage is there for me to purchase an ilink receiver? the marketing stuff about the receiver recognizing the DVD player through ilink sounds cool, but does it have advantages for normal CD & normal dvd video viewing?


2. HDMI 1.3, I have read a lot about how it would be stupid to buy a receiver now that HD audio and HDMI 1.3 are just around the corner (or two or three)
I always thought that HDMI was designed for single cable HD connection, for things like connecting you DVD player to your TV. I am now learning that HDMI is not HD capable? (or something to that effect? is that for HD audio or video?) the new pioneer elite receiver has the faroudja upconverter, would that not take care of risk of it becoming obsoleet with new HDMI 1.3?

Once HDMI 1.3 comes out, won't I also need to buy a new TV with HDMI 1.3 capability and a new DVD palyer with HDMI 1.3 to get the full use out of the connection?

ultimately I want to be able to connect my HD cable box, HDMI dvd player (possibly a blue ray DVD player) and my HD gaming system to my receiver, and then have my receiver output all these video signals in HD to my true HD TV (1920X...)

for the above connections, I was thinking of getting the new pioneer elite 84 receiver which has 4 HDMI inputs and an HDMI output for the TV. why would waiting to get HDMI 1.3 be so much better for my needs?

going back to my first question, if i do get the Pioneer elite 84, what would be the best way to connect my HDMI & ilink DVD player? ilink & coax to the receiver and then HDMI from receiver to TV? HDMI DVD to receiever and then HDMI receiver to TV.


As you can probably tell by now I am prety confused and in need of some 'idiot proof' help.

I seems like this forum is the best to go for that,

any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Dan

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Dan,

Welcome to the forum.

Basically, i.LINK connection, also known as an IEEE 1394 connection, permit high-speed transfer of video, audio, and other information between i.LINK-compatible camcorders, computers, HDTV products, etc... It can run up to 400 Mbps.

HDMI 1.3 is necessary in order to output the full bitrate of the new audio formats used on HD DVDs and Blu-ray Discs. The spec also covers a new mini connector for devices such as HD camcorders. It also incorporates an automatic video/audio synching capability that allows devices to perform this synchronization automatically, and with total accuracy .

From the HDMI website:

With the launch of HDMI version 1.3, HDMI continues to increase its overall functionality to meet the needs of the High-Definition marketplace.
HDMI 1.3 will include the following new features:

Higher speed: HDMI 1.3 increases its single-link bandwidth from 165MHz (4.95 gigabits per second) to 340 MHz (10.2 Gbps !) to support the demands of future high definition display devices, such as higher resolutions, Deep Color and high frame rates. In addition, built into the HDMI 1.3 specification is the technical foundation that will let future versions of HDMI reach significantly higher speeds.

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 million 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, a four times improvement would be the minimum, and the typical improvement would be eight times or more.

IMHO, HDMI 1.1 components/connections are already outdated. There's nothing worse than buying new technology, paying a premium for it, and knowing it's being replaced with something so much better. I'm sticking with component and coax until the format wars, as well as external bus connections can settle - at least for a few months.

 

[fandango]

Thank you Buckeyefan,

so ilink works as single connection for both audio and video between 2 ilink capable Pioneer units? (much like HDMI does only better?). I could hook up my ilink capable DVD player and receiver with a single ilink cable and then just hook up my TV to the receiver?


I agree with what you said about buying outdating technology (hard not to agree...) but I also feel like every year there is always something new on the horizon that is going to be worth waiting for.

How long do you think until there will be a receiver with HDMI 1.3 switching?

Also, last Question, when HDMI 1.3 does come out, would I not need to buy a new TV with HDMI 1.3 input and a new DVD/CD player with HDMI 1.3 output to take full advantage of the new technology?

I started off just being in the market for a new receiver....I am quite happy with my Sharp true HD TV and my pioneer DV59 DVD player....


P.S. I am also in the market for a new set of seakers to replace my old Cerwin Vega RE38s. I want speakers that I can mount on the wall. The fronts can be standing, but all side/ surround speakers must be mounted.

I have been seriously considering Orb Audio? any thoughts?

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

You'll need a Blu-ray or HD-DVD player with the HD audio chipset to start off. Then your flat screen will need to handle true 1080p. I'm sure they'll come out with a switch box for all those that have first gen HD sets with HDMI 1.1 or component inputs. It's all about copy protection, so a switch box will contain the necessary circuits to prevent making 1080p copies. I'm guessing the first quarter of 2007 is when we'll see implementation of HDMI 1.3. Hopefully that's the final straw for several years (like component and coax/toslink - those formats did stand the test of time).

 

[Bluesmoke]

Woah, maybe I never paid much attention to it before, but will 1.3 have a different connector than 1.1? So what happens to my Pioneer Elite 74 with HDMI 1.1? If I buy a HDMI 1.3 tv, I can't connect my receiver to the tv using the HDMI cable I have now?

I thought HDMI 1.3 was supposed to be completely backwards compatible.