XMC-1 and HDMI2.0a/HDCP 2.2 and Atmos/DTS:X

[jenix]

Aug 31, 2016 11:24:47 GMT -5 KeithL said:

Full clarification.....

The "current" HDMI update board, which will be available as an upgrade in a few weeks, and which will be included in all new units shipping from now on, has one input and one output which support HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2.
This fulfills all the requirements for 4k, including the copy protection, WHICH MEANS THAT THIS BOARD WILL PASS ALL "STANDARD 4k SOURCES" (it will pass the signal from 4k satellite and cable boxes, and from 4k disc players).
This board is at the top of the unit, and requires you to remove and replace quite a few screws, and several cables - but doesn't require any soldering.
While we PREFER to do the installation here, we will probably allow people to do it themselves if they really want to.
This board will NOT support HDR10 (which is part of HDMI 2.0a), and probably won't work with the 4k version of Dolby Vision HDR.

There will be ANOTHER HDMI board upgrade around year end 2016 that will upgrade multiple inputs and outputs (probably all of them) to HDMI 2.0a.
This future board will support HDMI 2.0a (and, of course, HDCP 2.2), and WILL support HDR10 (HDR10 is part of HDMI 2.0a) and Dolby Vision at 4k.
(It may also support HDMI 2.0b - but I'm not prepared to even discuss that yet .)

Thanks Keith for setting the record straight.

[panchakshari]

Aug 31, 2016 11:24:47 GMT -5 KeithL said:

Full clarification.....

The "current" HDMI update board, which will be available as an upgrade in a few weeks, and which will be included in all new units shipping from now on, has one input and one output which support HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2.
This fulfills all the requirements for 4k, including the copy protection, WHICH MEANS THAT THIS BOARD WILL PASS ALL "STANDARD 4k SOURCES" (it will pass the signal from 4k satellite and cable boxes, and from 4k disc players).
This board is at the top of the unit, and requires you to remove and replace quite a few screws, and several cables - but doesn't require any soldering.
While we PREFER to do the installation here, we will probably allow people to do it themselves if they really want to.
This board will NOT support HDR10 (which is part of HDMI 2.0a), and probably won't work with the 4k version of Dolby Vision HDR.

There will be ANOTHER HDMI board upgrade around year end 2016 that will upgrade multiple inputs and outputs (probably all of them) to HDMI 2.0a.
This future board will support HDMI 2.0a (and, of course, HDCP 2.2), and WILL support HDR10 (HDR10 is part of HDMI 2.0a) and Dolby Vision at 4k.
(It may also support HDMI 2.0b - but I'm not prepared to even discuss that yet .)

[panchakshari]

Hi Keith..
Thanks for your detailed explanation..
I have one suggestion.. Emotiva, kindly consider this if, it's possible..
Audio wise, iam proud about my XMC-1..There is no comparison yet.. But, video...?
My kind appeal to Big Dan and Emo upgrade engineer Ray and all...
Why don't we attach video processor like.. Darbee..or Anchor Bay...or Any other chips..?
Try to consider it with Atmos board.. Thanks.

[127tmc]

Keith,

I have eave been planning the purchase of an XMC-1 for a while and waitining until HDMI 2.0 was available.  Having more than one HDMI 2.0 input is very advantageous for me. You state that an upgrade card should be available by end of 2016. Do you know when Emotiva plans to begin shipping new units with multiple HDMI 2.0/2.0a inputs? Thanks.

[markymiles]

Aug 31, 2016 13:05:08 GMT -5 panchakshari said:

Hi Keith..
Thanks for your detailed explanation..
I have one suggestion.. Emotiva, kindly consider this if, it's possible..
Audio wise, iam proud about my XMC-1..There is no comparison yet.. But, video...?
My kind appeal to Big Dan and Emo upgrade engineer Ray and all...
Why don't we attach video processor like.. Darbee..or Anchor Bay...or Any other chips..?
Try to consider it with Atmos board.. Thanks.

I guess we're all different. I like the fact that the video goes through completely unmolested. I tried a Marantz for a week or two and the video through that was awful even with all processing switched off. As soon as I went back to the XMC it looked sharp again.

[127tmc]

FYI, given my preference for a processor with multiple HDMI 2.0 inputs I called Emotiva today to ask when they planned to release units with multiple HDMI 2.0/2.0a inputs as described in this thread. I was told that there was no plan to further upgrade the XMC-1 until units with HDMI 2.0b were available.  I was told that there was no firm date for this but that it would not be near term as final 2.0b parts are still in development at silicon vendors.  So it seems I have to decide between buying a current XMC-1 with only one 2.0 input or looking elsewhere.

[garbulky]

^^^ I think this is the reason they shouldn't announce things till they are ready.....
2.0b is a good idea. But now you have a dissapointed customer who was told one thing and now the other.

[127tmc]

I'm really not all that disappointed and I appreciate having company representatives share information regarding future plans when they can.  None of that information should be taken as gospel as product development plans can change up until the product is released.  It's not really clear what the "truth" actually will be in this case.  High end products tend to have longer development/upgrade cycles given the relatively few units sold, and Emotiva seems to do better than most at this.

From my personal technology standpoint, I had been getting by with a 720P television,  DVD player, and old Rotel processor that only did basic surround modes, but great two channel.  We bought a 4K television and recently upgraded DirecTV 4K hardware.  Looking for a BluRay player, so it seemed reasonable to consider 4K BluRay.  My display doesn't do HDR so anything beyond HDMI 2.0/HDCP2.2 wasn't necessary.  It is frustrating and seems a bit of a tease for Emotiva to upgrade the XMC-1 to HDMI 2.0 but only provide it on one input; but I suspect there were cost and product design issues that made this a logical choice for them.  It is much better for their customers than doing nothing and they should be applauded for continuing to support their equipment.  I will most likely purchase the XMC-1 and if I get a 4K BluRay player I will have an annoying, but solvable cabling issue to deal with due to the XMC-1 configuration.

What WOULD really frost me would be to buy the unit in its current configuration given what I have been told, and then find out later that units with multiple upgraded HDMI inputs will ship in December.  Especially if no further upgrade is available other than buying a new processor.  That seems unlikely and hopefully won't happen.