soundandvision.com (^) [ 17
One thing that the 8K TVs announced at CES share in
common is HDMI 2.1, a new version of the interconnect
standard that supports 48Gbps bandwidth (up from HDMI 2.0’s
18Gbps), 4K/120Hz and 8K/60Hz signal carriage, and new features
including Enhanced ARC (eARC) and gamer-friendly Variable
Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). To prove
that it all works, the organization responsible for overseeing HDMI
licensing set up a demo that showcased those features in action.
Along with 8K tech demos, there were also HDMI 2.1 cables such as
FIBBR’s Ultra 8K (shown below, right) because, yes, the significantly
higher bandwidth provided by the new HDMI version will require
new cables. FIBBR expects to be
shipping the 8K-friendly self-
powered fiber optic cable, which is
available in lengths up to 50 meters,
by the time you are reading this.
HDMI 2.1 Arrives
Samsung Builds The Window
A highlight of CES 2018 was Samsung’s The Wall, a massive,
146-inch microLED that uses emissive red, green, and blue LEDs for
each pixel in the display. At CES 2019, the company showed a
219-inch version of The Wall, a size made possible by the modular
nature of MicroLED displays, which are assembled from smaller tiles
and can be arranged in aspect ratios other than 16:9. While the cost
of installing a 219-inch microLED in your home would currently be
unthinkable, Samsung was also showing a 75-inch, 4K-resolution
version it calls The Window that uses thinner panels with more
closely spaced LEDs. It’s this version that could provide competition
for OLED and LCD when it eventually hits the consumer market.
Laser TV Triumphant
Ultra-short-throw (UST) projectors provide an easy way
to get a 100- or 120-inch 4K image in your living room
without turning the space into a closed-off theater with a
ceiling-mounted beamer mounted in back. Best of all, the
manufacturers that make UST projectors are pitching
them as all-in-one solutions with built in soundbars,
streaming apps, and even voice control. At CES
2019, Hisense showed its new Dual-Color Laser
TV, a 4K pixel-shiing DLP projector that uses red
and blue lasers to bump up the color gamut close
to full P3 coverage and has a Harman 2.1 audio
system featuring 14 drivers. The Dual-Color Laser
TV is available now for $10,000 with a 100-inch
ambient light-rejecting (ALR) screen, and
$13,000 with a 120-inch ALR screen.
Optoma’s new P1 Smart 4K UHD Laser Cinema
features pairs a 4K pixel-shiing DLP projector with
an integrated 2.0 soundbar designed by Nuforce.
The P1 is compatible with Amazon Alexa and
Google Assistant and multiple streaming services
including Netflix and YouTube. It will be available in
late spring or early summer for around $2,999.
LG showed its new LG HU85L CineBeam Laser
4K at CES. The new model sports a more living
room-friendly look than the company’s previous
models, features the webOS smart TV interface for
media streaming, and responds to voice
commands. Bluetooth output allows for easy
integration with a separate soundbar. LG
anticipates that the HU85L will arrive in early
summer and be priced at under $5,000.
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