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HDMI Versions: 1.0, 1.2a, 1.3, and 1.3 Explained

Note: All references to HDMI, and features named by HDMI are TM and copyright of their respective owners

There is much confusion in the digital world these days regarding the newest of the HDMI versions that are recently showing up in today's newer consumer audio/video products. Consumers should not choose a cable based on its version number - but should choose it based on a specific feature that they know is supported by their equipment.

For example, if you have an audio/video receiver that supports 1.3a, but your source output is a satellite receiver that is using "Standard HDMI" (as of 11/30/07, neither Dish Network nor DirectTV support or use any 1.3a features - see table below), then using a standard HDMI cable will work perfectly for you.

On the other hand, if you purchased a newer model Sony PlayStation 3 (aka PS/3) with the latest firmware update, this "output device" makes use of some specific features of HDMI 1.3a. If you plan on using this with a TV that ALSO accepts and uses HDMI 1.3a features, then to make use of such features, you should consider purchasing an HDMI 1.3a / Category 2 certified cable.

For 99% of all consumer AV equipment on the market, a Standard HDMI 1.2a cable will provide you with a perfect picture. For example, Microsoft's XBox 360 only makes use of 1.2a HDMI features. HDMI 1.2a is fully supported by Blu-Ray and HD-DVD.

As more and more of our standard HDMI cables "migrate" and only become available in the newer 1.3 / Category 2 certification, we get bombarded with this questions:

Will a 1.3a / Category 2 Cable work with my DVD player and TV that I don't think needs or uses this newer standard?

Absolutely! HDMI.ORG specifically designed their products to be fully "backwards compatible". For our 3, 6, 10, and 15 foot 28AWG (gauge) HDMI cables - the physical cables have remained identical to our previous 1.2a cables. They were sent to HDMI for re-certification nothing more. 1.3a for the MOST part was a technology change that was implemented at the HARDWARE (ie HDTV, DVD, etc) level. When manufacturers introduced certain features that need more bandwidth (for example), we needed to make sure our cables could accommodate these changes. HDMI.ORG mandates certification to ensure cables meet different specifications.

HDMI 1.3a and "Category 1 or 2" - What is the difference?

Because a number of significant changes were introduced in the HDMI 1.3a specification, many longer cables (ie longer than 15ft) needed to be manufactured using heavier gauge wire (ie 24AWG, or even 22AWG) in order to meet and be certified for this specification. Standard HDMI cables in shorter lengths (less than 15ft, for example) are typically manufactured using 28 AWG wire.

Cables are categorized based on the performance capabilities and compliance testing of the cable.
There are two categories of cable and defined by HDMI Licensing LLC:

Category 1: tested to carry a 74.25MHz / 4.95 Gbit/sec TMDS (standard HD) signal. These are typically HDMI 1.2a certified cables. HDMI refers to these as "Standard HDMI Cables"
Category 2: tested to carry up to a 340MHz 10.2 Gbit/sec TMDS signal. These are typically HDMI 1.3a certified cables.

"HDMI 1.3 defined two categories of cables: Category 1 (standard or HDTV) and Category 2 (high-speed or greater than HDTV) to reduce the confusion about which cables support which video formats. Using 28 AWG, a cable of about 5 meters (~16 ft) can be manufactured easily and inexpensively to Category 1 specifications. Higher-quality construction (24 AWG, tighter construction tolerances, etc.) can reach lengths of 12 to 15 meters (~39 to 49 ft).

- Source: Wikipedia.com

I need a cable that is LONGER than 25ft to be 1.3a Certified. Which cable should I order?

As of January 2008, we are not aware of ANY manufacturer or distributor (world-wide) that is selling a 1.3a CERTIFIED cable that is LONGER than 25ft. Currently, we carry a wide range of cables that are certified to meet 1.3a specifications from 1.5ft to 25ft - but none LONGER than 25ft. If you have located a supplier that is stating they have a cable that is CERTIFIED 1.3a for greater than 25ft, demand to see their ATC (Authorized Testing Center) certificate for that specific product before ordering anything.

You can NOT join 2 HDMI 1.3a certified cables together to make a length LONGER than 25ft - and then have a 1.3a certified "joined" cable. We are working closely with a number of manufacturers who are hoping to have 30ft, 35ft, and 50ft HDMI 1.3x certified cables sometime in later 2008.

One solution we offer is HDMI over CAT5E/RJ45 up to 196ft that is 1.3a CERTIFIED. Click HERE to preview this product.

HDMI 1.3a Compliant vs Certified - What is the difference?

1.3a Compliant or "Compatible" Cables - All of our standard HDMI cables sold at MyCableMart.com since 2006 were certified with the 1.2a HDMI specification. When the 1.3a specification was released by HDMI, as HDMI technology is backwards compatible, these cables are now "compatible" with 1.3a technology. Compatible means that these cables will continue to work with any device requiring the 1.3a specification - but certain 1.3a features MIGHT not be supported. Most 3, 6, 10, and even 15ft "compatible" cables will work and support all of the 1.3a features. However, they have not been tested and certified by a HDMI approved testing facility. Click here for these cables.

1.3a Certified Cables - MyCableMart.com started selling a number of lengths of HDMI cables which were CERTIFIED to meet 1.3a specifications. Some of the more advanced features now supported by some newer consumer A/V equipment are "Deep Color", x.v.Color^TM, Dobly TrueHD Bitstream^TM Capable, and DST-HD Master Audio Bitstream^TM Capable. Click here for these cables.

These specifications, or features, are shown in the table below:

HDMI Feature/Spec HDMI Version

1.0 1.1 1.2/1.2a 1.3/1.3a/1.3b

Maximum signal bandwidth (MHz) 165 165 165 340

Maximum TMDS bandwidth (Gbit/s) 4.95 4.95 4.95 10.2

Maximum video bandwidth (Gbit/s) 3.96 3.96 3.96 8.16

Maximum audio bandwidth (Mbit/s) 36.86 36.86 36.86 36.86

Resolutions at 24bits per pixel 1920x1080p 1920x1080p 1920x1080p 2560x1600p

RGB Yes Yes Yes Yes

YCbCr Yes Yes Yes Yes

xvYCC no no no Yes

Deep Color no no no Yes

Maximum Color Depth (bits per pixel) 24 24 24 48*

Consumer Electronic Control (CEC)** Yes Yes Yes Yes

Updated list of CEC commands*** no no no no (1.3a:Yes)

Auto lip-sync no no no Yes

8channel/192 kHz/24-bit audio capability Yes Yes Yes Yes

DVD-A support no Yes Yes Yes

SACD (DSD) support **** no no Yes Yes

Dolby TrueHD bitstream capable no no no Yes

DTS-HD Master Audio bitstream capable no no no Yes

Blu-ray/HD DVD video and audio at full resolution, such as 1080p***** Yes Yes Yes Yes

Maximum standard HDMI (19 wire) cable length available 200ft+ 200ft+ 200ft+ 25ft MAX

* = 36-bit support is mandatory for Deep Color compatible CE devices with 48-bit support being optional.
** = CEC has been in the HDMI specification since version 1.0 but has only begun to be used in CE products with HDMI version 1.3.
*** = Large number of additions and clarifications for CEC commands. One addition is CEC command allowing for volume control of an AV receiver.
**** = Playback of SACD may be possible for older revisions if the signal source (such as the Oppo 970) converts to LPCM. For those receivers that have only PCM DAC converters and not DSD, this means that no additional resolution loss occurs.
***** = Even for audio bitstream formats that a given HDMI revision can not transport, it may still be possible to decode the bitstream in the player and transmit the audio as LPCM. For HD DVD, this is always the case, for Blu-ray, this may be the case for newer profile 1.1 players (as these will feature audio decoders anyway), while older profile 1.0 players may or may not support non-mandatory audio codecs even if HDMI 1.3 is used.

Which cable do I need?

Check the above table. If you have a transmitting device (such as a DVD Player, Cable Box, Satellite Box, Game Receiver) and a receiving device (such as an HD LCD TV, or Plasma TV) that BOTH indicate that are supporting one or more features in the "1.3/1.3a/1.3b" column, then you should consider purchasing a 1.3a CERTIFIED cable.

If your equipment does NOT specifically state that it supports one of these newer advanced features, then you can be 100% safe purchasing a 1.3a COMPATIBLE HDMI cable (also called a STANDARD HDMI cable).

Reference Sources:
Wikipedia.com - High-Definition Multimedia Interface
Wikepedia.com - PlayStation 3
Wikepedia.com - XBox 360
HDMI Licensing LLC - HDMI 1.3 Specification