It might not seem like it, but HDMI 2.1 cables have been around for a long time, but you just don’t need to use them. If you don’t do any gaming on a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S, you can get by just fine with older 2.0 cables. That’s what makes it strange to see HDMI 2.2 cables coming out, because there’s just little to no reason for the average person to have them.
As I started to get more into how my audio sounds, I started to open my eyes to the wide world of HDMI. To be fair, I’ve always been a gamer, so I’ve always known the need for a modern HDMI cable. After all, the only way for me to get 120 FPS in Xbox and PlayStation games is to use an HDMI 2.1 cable. What you might not know is that a 2.1 cable is also the gateway to the best audio available. If you care about Dolby Atmos, then you want to pair your HDMI 2.1 cable with your TV’s eARC port. If you have a TV manufactured semi-recently, then there’s a good chance that one of your ports is an eARC one. This is labeled on the TV itself, so it’s hard to miss. Some TVs have a different color scheme for them, so take a look behind your TV and see if you have one. If you do, you need to start using it.
Quiz
HDMI 2.0 and its history
Trivia challenge
Think you know everything about the standard that supercharged your home cinema? Put your knowledge to the test.
HistoryStandardsVideoHardwareBandwidth
In what year was HDMI 2.0 officially released?
Correct! HDMI 2.0 was released in September 2013 by the HDMI Forum. It arrived just in time to support the growing demand for 4K content and displays entering the consumer market.
Not quite. HDMI 2.0 launched in September 2013. This timing was deliberate, as manufacturers needed a standard capable of handling 4K resolution at smoother frame rates than its predecessor could manage.
What is the maximum bandwidth offered by HDMI 2.0?
That’s right! HDMI 2.0 delivers a maximum bandwidth of 18 Gbps, a significant jump from HDMI 1.4’s 10.2 Gbps. This extra headroom was essential for supporting 4K at 60 frames per second.
Not quite. HDMI 2.0 supports up to 18 Gbps of bandwidth. For comparison, its predecessor HDMI 1.4 was capped at 10.2 Gbps, which wasn’t enough for smooth 4K playback at 60fps.
What is the maximum frame rate HDMI 2.0 supports at 4K resolution?
Correct! HDMI 2.0 can handle 4K resolution at up to 60fps. This was a major improvement over HDMI 1.4, which could only push 4K at 30fps — a limitation that made motion look choppy on large screens.
Not quite. The answer is 60fps. HDMI 1.4 had already introduced 4K support but was limited to 30fps, and HDMI 2.0 doubled that frame rate, making a huge difference for sports and gaming content.
Which organisation took over governance of the HDMI specification from HDMI Licensing LLC, leading up to the release of HDMI 2.0?
Spot on! The HDMI Forum was established in 2011 and took over development of the HDMI specification, releasing HDMI 2.0 as its first major standard in 2013. It brought a broader group of industry members into the process.
Not quite. The HDMI Forum was the body responsible. Founded in 2011, it replaced the original HDMI Licensing LLC structure for specification development, opening membership to a wider range of consumer electronics companies.
How many simultaneous audio streams does HDMI 2.0 support?
Correct! HDMI 2.0 supports up to 4 simultaneous audio streams, an upgrade over earlier versions. This made it better suited to multi-room audio setups and more complex home theatre configurations.
Not quite. HDMI 2.0 can carry up to 4 simultaneous audio streams. This was one of several audio improvements in the specification, alongside support for up to 32 audio channels in total across those streams.
What sub-revision of HDMI 2.0 introduced support for HDR (High Dynamic Range) video?
Well done! HDMI 2.0a, released in April 2015, was the revision that added static HDR metadata support. This allowed TVs and displays to receive HDR content from sources like Ultra HD Blu-ray players and streaming devices.
The correct answer is HDMI 2.0a. Released in 2015, this update added static HDR support to the standard. A later revision, HDMI 2.0b from 2016, then extended that with support for the HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) HDR format.
HDMI 2.0 uses the same physical connector type as which earlier version of HDMI?
Correct! One of the great conveniences of HDMI 2.0 is that it uses the same physical connectors introduced with the original HDMI 1.0 specification. That means existing cables and ports are physically compatible, though older cables may not support the full bandwidth.
Not quite — the answer is all previous HDMI versions. HDMI has always maintained physical connector compatibility going back to version 1.0. The key caveat is that older cables may not have the bandwidth capacity to carry HDMI 2.0 signals reliably.
Which colour space format did HDMI 2.0 add support for, enabling more vivid colours on compatible displays?
Excellent! HDMI 2.0 introduced support for the Rec. 2020 colour space, which covers a far wider gamut than the Rec. 709 standard used for HD content. This laid the groundwork for truly vibrant, lifelike images on 4K HDR televisions.
Not quite. The answer is Rec. 2020, also known as BT.2020. This wide colour gamut standard was a key feature of HDMI 2.0, enabling displays to reproduce colours much closer to what the human eye can perceive compared to older HD standards.
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HDMI 2.1 cables come in clutch for audio
Don’t sleep on them for the best performance
HDMI 2.1 has been out for several years now, so there’s a good chance that you might already have a few of them. The difference between 2.1 and 2.0 is that the newer format has 48 Mbps of bandwidth while it’s just 18 for 2.0. When it comes to audio such as Dolby Atmos, you want to have the highest bandwidth possible, and that means you should pair a 2.1 cable with your TV’s eARC port. TVs don’t do a great job at explaining this, but your sound system needs to be plugged into this port if you have one. This means your receiver or soundbar should run an HDMI 2.1 to it for the best results.
While the eARC port is mainly meant for your audio, it doesn’t mean you have to exclusively use it for that. It might be your TV’s only HDMI 2.1 port, and if that’s the case, you should plug your game console into it. Of course, if you don’t have a sound system of any kind, then there’s no problem with using the port for something else. The only thing you’ll need to remember is that if you get a soundbar down the road, you need to swap out what’s currently occupying your eARC port. Fortunately, most soundbars come with an HDMI port of its own, so you can plug your console into the soundbar itself and be good to go.
I just think it’s a little shocking to be on the verge of a new HDMI format when there’s little reason for a ton of people to upgrade to 2.1 in the first place. I suppose that’s not the fault of the HDMI makers, but more that it’s an issue of nothing taking advantage of the format as it is. It’s nice to see game consoles utilize it, and I like seeing Dolby Atmos really get the most out of 2.1 and the eARC port now. HDMI 2.2 ups the ante to 96 Mbps, and I just can’t see anything needing speeds like that in the foreseeable future.
HDMI is fully backwards compatible
Nothing wrong with buying the latest and greatest
The thing that works in HDMI’s favor is that you can buy the newest cables available and just use them. No, using a 2.1 cable with 48 Mbps of speed won’t do anything for your old Blu-ray player, but it’ll work. In that same sense, you can use that PS3-era HDMI cable with your 4K TV. It’ll work, but you’ll be holding back your devices if you do that, so avoid that if you can.
I’ll admit that it’s not always easy to tell the difference between HDMI cables. It’s actually a bit of a nightmare if you don’t know what to look for. You need to look at the fine print that says something along the lines of Ultra High-Speed printed directly on your cable. If you see that writing, then you’re good to go and you’re using an HDMI 2.1 cable. You can also find out if you have a 2.1 cable if you go into the settings on your PS5 or Xbox. If you don’t have a 2.1 cable, then you’ll see a bunch of options like 120 FPS and VRR inactive, and that’s the tell that you don’t have the proper cable. Fortunately, a new cable doesn’t break the bank, so go out there and get that 2.1 or 2.2 cable. Sure, it’s a tad more expensive than a 2.0 cable, but it’s worth it.
