HDMI 2.0 video standards for 4K UHD, HDR and the bandwidth needed to distribute such content over distance for residential or light commercial applications are all guaranteed to be hot topics at this year’s CEDIA Expo in Dallas.

WyreStorm is updating its full H2 matrix line to bring it up-to-date with the latest 4K standards, content and source/display devices.

The unveiling of the H2X flagship line of HDBaseT matrix switchers came along side an announcement that the line has got a HDR upgrade to meet the demands of emerging 4K content and source devices.

Updates to both HDMI and HDBaseT matrix switchers from the H2-Series see the models support HDMI 2.0 video standards and HDCP 2.2 for specifications including 4K@60Hz, 10-bit colour (BT.2020), chroma subsampling rates of 4:4:4 and full HDR compatibility throughout the range.

HDR allows the viewer to experience whiter whites, deeper blacks and colour more rich and vibrant than before while preserving far more detail in the colour spectrum than what can be achieved in 4K.

WyreStorm marketing communications manager Christian Thomas says this level of visual quality will be the key to the technology’s success in the CI market.

“The speed at which a new AV technology or feature is embraced by the consumer lies not only in the availability of content and devices but also how easily understood it is and how obvious an improvement it is from what is currently available. With HDR the evidence is up there on the screen for consumers to see. It’s what 4K should have been when it launched. HDR is set to be a big deal for home AV,” he says.

“Signal distribution systems need to be compatible with an ever growing list of standards and technology trends with high frame rates, different display standards for LED and OLED screens, competing HDR technology technologies in HDR10 and Dolby Vision all requiring consideration for the dealer.

“Though HDBaseT has been the go-to HD video delivery over distance technology for several years now, the 10Gbps ceiling presents an issue for bandwidth-heavy 4K HDR transmissions when factoring in resolution, refresh rates, chroma subsampling, colour depth, colour standards, so modern HDBaseT signal distribution device has a lot to contend with.

“The key is understanding the technology, the standards, the bandwidth and equipment capable of making concessions to keep the bandwidth below the magical 10Gbps required by HDBaseT to pass an 4K HDR signal over distance.”

The complete line of WyreStorm’s H2 Series of HDMI and HDBaseT 4K matrix switchers now support HDMI 2.0 video for 4K@60Hz and 24Hz, with chroma subsampling rates 4:4:4 and 4:2:0, 8-bit and 10-bit colour depth, BT.2100, BT.2020 and BT.709 colour standards enable the dealer to optimise the transition for the application.

In terms of HDR, based on 4K industry standards set at 4K@60Hz with subsampling rates of 4:2:0 and 10-bit colour depth, WyreStorm’s HDMI-H2 matrix models support local HDR transmissions up to 3,840 x 2,160 @ 60Hz/4:2:0/10-bit/BT.2020.  Additional features on WyreStorm HDMI-H2 matrix models include:  flexible control options include local push button, IR remote, 3.5mm input to receive local IR commands out of line-of-sight, LAN or serial control systems and a newly integrated Web UI, with source selection per output displayed in gold LED to stand out from the crowd.

The reduced bandwidth available with HDBaseT to transmit signals over distance translates to WyreStorm’s HDBT-H2 models able to support transmission of HDR signals to 3,840 x 2,160 @ 24Hz/4:2:0/10-bit/BT.2020 distances up to 70m.  Luckily, native content on UHD Blu-ray discs is actually 24fps with current UHD Blu-ray players automatically upscaling content to 60Hz, so setting UHD Blu-ray players to 24p mode enables access that much needed bandwidth to deliver HDR content in all its glory supporting over distance within the HDBaseT friendly bandwidth of 9.2Gbps.

WyreStorm HDBT-H2 matrix models feature 2U six- and eight-way I/O variations offering Class A HDBaseT technology for 5Play convergence of video, audio, two-way IR control, RS-232, Ethernet and PoH technology remotely powering receivers at display zones and a 1U four-way installer kit combining a 4×4 H2 matrix with 4K HDBaseT receivers.

WyreStorm QuickSync technology for instantaneous switching between sources and mirrored HDMI outputs for the local zonal connection of displays, projectors or AVR are included on all models with six- and eight-way models including S/PDIF audio breakout for ARC zones to free audio from on-demand smart TVs and send back from zones to the matrix for distribution.

As with HDMI-only models, control of HDBT-H2 matrices includes local push button, IR remote, 3.5mm IR extension input, LAN or Serial control systems and an integrated Web UI, with input/output selection indicated in striking blue LED for units that look as good on display as they do in rack.