CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) Channel (optional)

Alternative names for CEC are Anynet (Samsung); Aquos Link (Sharp); BRAVIA Sync or BRAVIA Link (Sony); Kuro Link (Pioneer); CE-Link and Regza Link (Toshiba); RIHD (Remote Interactive over HDMI) (Onkyo); Simplink (LG); HDAVI Control, EZ-Sync, VIERA Link (Panasonic); EasyLink (Philips); and NetCommand for HDMI (Mitsubishi).[1]​[2]​[3]​[4]​[5]​[6]​[7]​[8]​[9]​[10]​[11]​[12]​.

HDCP (copy protection)

The HDMI connection is designed so that no copies (permitted or not) of transmitted audio and video content can be made, in accordance with HDCP 1.0 specifications. To do this, every manufacturer of equipment with HDMI must request an authorization code from the consortium, which, if they manufacture equipment that allows copying, would be removed and included in a "blacklist" so that from now on HDMI equipment from other manufacturers will not transmit audio-video content to them.

HDMI 1.0

Presented in December 2002. Its physical interface is a single digital audio/video connection cable with a maximum transfer rate of 4.9 Gbit/s. Support up to 165 Mpixels/s in video mode (1080p 60Hz or UXGA) and 8-channel/192 kHz/24-bit audio.

HDMI 1.1

Same features as version 1.0 but with DVD Audio support.

HDMI 1.2

Introduced August 2005. Added support for One Bit Audio, used on Super Audio CD, up to 8 channels. Allows you to select custom resolutions without being predefined by the HDMI consortium.

HDMI 1.3

Presented on June 22, 2006. In this version the bandwidth was increased to 340 MHz, equivalent to a data rate of 10.2 Gbit/s. It was

Added support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD, which are low-loss audio formats used in HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc. Availability of a new mini-connector format for camcorders.

Higher versions of the HDMI standard are completely compatible with previous ones, although at the moment you cannot update to higher versions of the HDMI standard, as current updates require both hardware and firmware modifications. Some devices require HDMI 1.3 to work perfectly, such as the Playstation 3 (the first to support HDMI 1.3), the Xbox 360 or some media players.

HDMI 1.4

Presented on May 28, 2009. Its physical interface is a cable through which it is possible to send high definition video and audio, as well as data and 3D video. From this standard, the resolution called FullHD is moved to XHD (eXtended High Definition) since it supports video of up to 4096 × 2160 pixels at 24 images per second or 3840 × 2160 at 30 images per second. There are also improvements in extended color support, with more realistic color images, especially when connecting video cameras. It also supports high-definition video in motion and allows image quality to be maintained despite vibrations in the monitor or electrical noise, which would make it possible to implement it in cars and public transportation.

Regarding audio output, HDMI 1.4 offers an audio return channel that will require fewer cables to have a surround sound system connected to the television.

Another important novelty of this revision of the standard is that it allows the possibility of sending and receiving data through an Ethernet connection incorporated in the cable itself with speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s, given that there is currently a trend among manufacturers of televisions and sound players to incorporate Internet connectivity as something logical and thus Ethernet ports or even WiFi ports are added.

Another notable fact is that the Nintendo Wii U console would be the first to embrace this HDMI standard.

HDMI 2.0

Presented on September 4, 2013, this version offers an increase in bandwidth of up to 18 Gbit/s that supports key features, in line with new market requirements, to improve the experience of audio and video users.

These new features include:

HDMI 2.1

On January 4, 2017, during CES in Las Vegas, the HDMI Forum announced HDMI 2.1, although it was not released until November 28, 2017. [1].

Its specifications include:

HDMI 2.2

On January 6, 2025, during CES in Las Vegas, the HDMI Forum announced HDMI 2.2, although it was not released until June 25, 2025.

Its specifications include:

The HDMI specification does not define a maximum cable length. As with all cables, the signal attenuation becomes too high after a certain length. Instead, HDMI specifies a minimum power level. Different materials and build qualities will allow for different length cables. Additionally, higher performance requirements must be met to support higher resolution video formats and frame rates than the HDTV standard formats. Signal attenuation and interference caused by cables can be compensated for by using an adaptive equalizer.

In the HDMI 1.3 standard, two cable categories were defined called Category 1 (HDTV standard) and Category 2 (high speed or higher than HDTV) to reduce confusion about which cables support different video formats. Using 28 AWG conductors, a 5 meter cable can be easily and economically manufactured to Category 1 specifications. A cable with thicker conductors, such as 24 AWG, of tighter construction regarding tolerances and other factors, can reach lengths of 12 to 15 meters. Additionally, active cables (fiber optic or dual-wire Cat-5 instead of standard copper) can be used to extend HDMI to 100 meters or more. Some companies also offer amplifiers, equalizers, and repeaters that can daisy chain multiple non-active HDMI cable standards.

Both introduced in 2006, Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD offer new high fidelity audio features that HDMI needs for the best results. Dolby Digital Plus (DD+), Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD Master Audio use higher bit rates that exceed the capabilities of TOSLINK. HDMI 1.3 can carry DD+, TrueHD and DTS-HD bit streams in compressed format. This capability would allow audio/video preprocessing or reception with the necessary decoder to decrypt the data, but would have limited usefulness for HD DVD and Blu-ray.

HD DVD and Blu-ray allow "interactive audio", where the contents of the disc tell the player how to combine multiple audio sources together, before output. Consequently, most players will handle internal audio decoding, and simply output LPCM audio. Multichannel LPCM can be transported through an HDMI 1.1 (or higher) connection. While the audio/video receiver (or preprocessor) supports multiple channels of LPCM audio over HDMI, and supports HDCP, audio playback is the same at HDMI 1.3 resolution. However, many of the cheaper AV receivers do not support HDMI audio and are often labeled as "HDMI passthrough" devices.

It can also be used on consoles such as the PlayStation 3, 4 and 5, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

It should be noted that not all features of an HDMI version can be applied to products adhering to that version, as certain HDMI features, such as Deep Color and xvYCC support, are optional.

* = 36-bit depth is required for CE-compliant Deep Color devices with 48-bit depth is optional.

** = CEC has been in the HDMI specification since version 1.0, but has only started to be used in "CE" products with HDMI version 1.3.

*** = Large number of additions and clarifications to CEC commands. An added CEC command is the one that allows volume control of an AV receiver.

**** = SACD playback may be possible for older revisions if the source signal (such as the Oppo 970) is converted to LPCM. For those receivers that only have PCM DAC converters and no DSD, this means that there is no additional resolution loss.

***** = Even if bitstream audio formats that come with a certain HDMI revision cannot be transported, this may be possible by decoding the bitstream in the player and transmitting the audio as LPCM.

La principal crítica al conector HDMI es que incorpora el protocolo HDCP, y por tanto los equipos que lo utilizan impiden al usuario realizar copia del contenido de audio-vídeo transmitido, mediante el cifrado de dichos datos.

Otra de las críticas de HDMI es que los conectores no son tan sólidos como los conectores previos de pantalla. Actualmente la mayoría de los dispositivos con capacidad HDMI están utilizando conectores de montaje en superficie y no a través de agujeros o reforzando conectores, lo que los hace más susceptibles a los daños de las fuerzas exteriores. Tropezar con un cable conectado a un puerto HDMI puede fácilmente causar daño a ese puerto.

Además, HDMI es criticado, especialmente por los sistemas de instaladores, por su falta de cualquier mecanismo de bloqueo o garantía incorporada en sus conectores (como los incorporados a DVI y conectores BNC). Como estos, los conectores HDMI son fácilmente desconectados inadvertidamente y, lo que es peor, el enchufe y el conector son más propensos a los daños físicos o eléctricos. Con la participación de terceros en HDMI se puede disponer de los mecanismos de bloqueo, pero estos son escasos y caros.

Closed Captioning Issues

Although an HDMI display is allowed to define a "native mode" for the video, which could extend the active line to encompass line 21, most MPEG decoders cannot handle digital video formats that include additional lines and send only vertical whiteout. Even if it were possible, the closed caption characters would have to be encoded somehow to the pixel values ​​of line 21. In this case, it would be necessary to have a logical receiver on the screen to decipher the building codes and captions.

It is possible, although not standardized, that some content in text format can be transmitted from source to destination, using CEC commands or InfoFrame packets. However, since there is no standardized format for this type of data, this will likely only work between sources and destinations from the same manufacturer. That exception runs contrary to HDMI's standardization mission, which focuses in part on interoperability.

Of course, it is possible that in a future expansion of the HDMI specification closed captioning could be carried.

CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) Channel (optional)

Alternative names for CEC are Anynet (Samsung); Aquos Link (Sharp); BRAVIA Sync or BRAVIA Link (Sony); Kuro Link (Pioneer); CE-Link and Regza Link (Toshiba); RIHD (Remote Interactive over HDMI) (Onkyo); Simplink (LG); HDAVI Control, EZ-Sync, VIERA Link (Panasonic); EasyLink (Philips); and NetCommand for HDMI (Mitsubishi).[1]​[2]​[3]​[4]​[5]​[6]​[7]​[8]​[9]​[10]​[11]​[12]​.

HDCP (copy protection)

The HDMI connection is designed so that no copies (permitted or not) of transmitted audio and video content can be made, in accordance with HDCP 1.0 specifications. To do this, every manufacturer of equipment with HDMI must request an authorization code from the consortium, which, if they manufacture equipment that allows copying, would be removed and included in a "blacklist" so that from now on HDMI equipment from other manufacturers will not transmit audio-video content to them.

HDMI 1.0

Presented in December 2002. Its physical interface is a single digital audio/video connection cable with a maximum transfer rate of 4.9 Gbit/s. Support up to 165 Mpixels/s in video mode (1080p 60Hz or UXGA) and 8-channel/192 kHz/24-bit audio.

HDMI 1.1

Same features as version 1.0 but with DVD Audio support.

HDMI 1.2

Introduced August 2005. Added support for One Bit Audio, used on Super Audio CD, up to 8 channels. Allows you to select custom resolutions without being predefined by the HDMI consortium.

HDMI 1.3

Presented on June 22, 2006. In this version the bandwidth was increased to 340 MHz, equivalent to a data rate of 10.2 Gbit/s. It was

Added support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD, which are low-loss audio formats used in HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc. Availability of a new mini-connector format for camcorders.

Higher versions of the HDMI standard are completely compatible with previous ones, although at the moment you cannot update to higher versions of the HDMI standard, as current updates require both hardware and firmware modifications. Some devices require HDMI 1.3 to work perfectly, such as the Playstation 3 (the first to support HDMI 1.3), the Xbox 360 or some media players.

HDMI 1.4

Presented on May 28, 2009. Its physical interface is a cable through which it is possible to send high definition video and audio, as well as data and 3D video. From this standard, the resolution called FullHD is moved to XHD (eXtended High Definition) since it supports video of up to 4096 × 2160 pixels at 24 images per second or 3840 × 2160 at 30 images per second. There are also improvements in extended color support, with more realistic color images, especially when connecting video cameras. It also supports high-definition video in motion and allows image quality to be maintained despite vibrations in the monitor or electrical noise, which would make it possible to implement it in cars and public transportation.

Regarding audio output, HDMI 1.4 offers an audio return channel that will require fewer cables to have a surround sound system connected to the television.

Another important novelty of this revision of the standard is that it allows the possibility of sending and receiving data through an Ethernet connection incorporated in the cable itself with speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s, given that there is currently a trend among manufacturers of televisions and sound players to incorporate Internet connectivity as something logical and thus Ethernet ports or even WiFi ports are added.

Another notable fact is that the Nintendo Wii U console would be the first to embrace this HDMI standard.

HDMI 2.0

Presented on September 4, 2013, this version offers an increase in bandwidth of up to 18 Gbit/s that supports key features, in line with new market requirements, to improve the experience of audio and video users.

These new features include:

HDMI 2.1

On January 4, 2017, during CES in Las Vegas, the HDMI Forum announced HDMI 2.1, although it was not released until November 28, 2017. [1].

Its specifications include:

HDMI 2.2

On January 6, 2025, during CES in Las Vegas, the HDMI Forum announced HDMI 2.2, although it was not released until June 25, 2025.

Its specifications include:

The HDMI specification does not define a maximum cable length. As with all cables, the signal attenuation becomes too high after a certain length. Instead, HDMI specifies a minimum power level. Different materials and build qualities will allow for different length cables. Additionally, higher performance requirements must be met to support higher resolution video formats and frame rates than the HDTV standard formats. Signal attenuation and interference caused by cables can be compensated for by using an adaptive equalizer.

In the HDMI 1.3 standard, two cable categories were defined called Category 1 (HDTV standard) and Category 2 (high speed or higher than HDTV) to reduce confusion about which cables support different video formats. Using 28 AWG conductors, a 5 meter cable can be easily and economically manufactured to Category 1 specifications. A cable with thicker conductors, such as 24 AWG, of tighter construction regarding tolerances and other factors, can reach lengths of 12 to 15 meters. Additionally, active cables (fiber optic or dual-wire Cat-5 instead of standard copper) can be used to extend HDMI to 100 meters or more. Some companies also offer amplifiers, equalizers, and repeaters that can daisy chain multiple non-active HDMI cable standards.

Both introduced in 2006, Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD offer new high fidelity audio features that HDMI needs for the best results. Dolby Digital Plus (DD+), Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD Master Audio use higher bit rates that exceed the capabilities of TOSLINK. HDMI 1.3 can carry DD+, TrueHD and DTS-HD bit streams in compressed format. This capability would allow audio/video preprocessing or reception with the necessary decoder to decrypt the data, but would have limited usefulness for HD DVD and Blu-ray.

HD DVD and Blu-ray allow "interactive audio", where the contents of the disc tell the player how to combine multiple audio sources together, before output. Consequently, most players will handle internal audio decoding, and simply output LPCM audio. Multichannel LPCM can be transported through an HDMI 1.1 (or higher) connection. While the audio/video receiver (or preprocessor) supports multiple channels of LPCM audio over HDMI, and supports HDCP, audio playback is the same at HDMI 1.3 resolution. However, many of the cheaper AV receivers do not support HDMI audio and are often labeled as "HDMI passthrough" devices.

It can also be used on consoles such as the PlayStation 3, 4 and 5, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

It should be noted that not all features of an HDMI version can be applied to products adhering to that version, as certain HDMI features, such as Deep Color and xvYCC support, are optional.

* = 36-bit depth is required for CE-compliant Deep Color devices with 48-bit depth is optional.

** = CEC has been in the HDMI specification since version 1.0, but has only started to be used in "CE" products with HDMI version 1.3.

*** = Large number of additions and clarifications to CEC commands. An added CEC command is the one that allows volume control of an AV receiver.

**** = SACD playback may be possible for older revisions if the source signal (such as the Oppo 970) is converted to LPCM. For those receivers that only have PCM DAC converters and no DSD, this means that there is no additional resolution loss.

***** = Even if bitstream audio formats that come with a certain HDMI revision cannot be transported, this may be possible by decoding the bitstream in the player and transmitting the audio as LPCM.

La principal crítica al conector HDMI es que incorpora el protocolo HDCP, y por tanto los equipos que lo utilizan impiden al usuario realizar copia del contenido de audio-vídeo transmitido, mediante el cifrado de dichos datos.

Otra de las críticas de HDMI es que los conectores no son tan sólidos como los conectores previos de pantalla. Actualmente la mayoría de los dispositivos con capacidad HDMI están utilizando conectores de montaje en superficie y no a través de agujeros o reforzando conectores, lo que los hace más susceptibles a los daños de las fuerzas exteriores. Tropezar con un cable conectado a un puerto HDMI puede fácilmente causar daño a ese puerto.

Además, HDMI es criticado, especialmente por los sistemas de instaladores, por su falta de cualquier mecanismo de bloqueo o garantía incorporada en sus conectores (como los incorporados a DVI y conectores BNC). Como estos, los conectores HDMI son fácilmente desconectados inadvertidamente y, lo que es peor, el enchufe y el conector son más propensos a los daños físicos o eléctricos. Con la participación de terceros en HDMI se puede disponer de los mecanismos de bloqueo, pero estos son escasos y caros.

Closed Captioning Issues

Although an HDMI display is allowed to define a "native mode" for the video, which could extend the active line to encompass line 21, most MPEG decoders cannot handle digital video formats that include additional lines and send only vertical whiteout. Even if it were possible, the closed caption characters would have to be encoded somehow to the pixel values ​​of line 21. In this case, it would be necessary to have a logical receiver on the screen to decipher the building codes and captions.

It is possible, although not standardized, that some content in text format can be transmitted from source to destination, using CEC commands or InfoFrame packets. However, since there is no standardized format for this type of data, this will likely only work between sources and destinations from the same manufacturer. That exception runs contrary to HDMI's standardization mission, which focuses in part on interoperability.

Of course, it is possible that in a future expansion of the HDMI specification closed captioning could be carried.