H2XC Series

WyreStorm, distributed by Hills, has leveraged its transmission expertise with the H2XC Series modular HDBaseT 5Play 4K with integrated audio DSP matrix switchers featuring a selection of customisable multi-format, multi-platform transmission cards.

The H2XC was developed to offer pro AV and large high-end residential options for the distribution of multi-source 4K UHD with HDR and legacy video formats, as well as multi-source audio matrix switching to multiple zones.

The H2XC Series includes WyreStorm’s proprietary SmartEDID technology to dynamically remove conflicts when combining 1080p and 4K screens within the same installation.

Truly modular in nature, the H2XC features a choice of a 10 or 16-way H2X chassis populated by a custom selection of six multi-format transmission cards in any quality or combination.  The H2XC features an integrated audio matrix with powerful DSP capable of routing up to three separate audio signals per transmission card including ARC, HDMI de-embed from video and separate line-level audio only sources.

The TX-H2X-HDMI card offers 4K HDR with multiple audio options to 70m or 1080p to 140m 1080p.  Connectivity includes HDMI In, HDBaseT Class A and mirrored HDMI Out, S/PDIF Audio In, S/PDIF and Analog Stereo Audio Out and IR to zone for source control.  The TX-H2X-HDBT card gives the same connectivity, with the exception of swapping the HDMI input for a Class A HDBaseT Input to support decentralised source connection.

Dedicated video and audio cards enable video and audio zone-expansion respectively to allow a dealer to skew the number of AV inputs and outputs to suit the project. The TX-H2X-VDZ offers HDBaseT In, HDBaseT and mirrored HDMI Out and IR to zone, while the TX-H2X-ADZ features HDMI In and Out alongside S/PDIF Audio In, S/PDIF and Analog Stereo Audio Out.

The final two TX-H2X-VLC and TX-H2X-OM3 cards support 18Gbps transmissions of 2160p 60Hz 4:4:4 and 2160p 60Hz 4:2:2 HDR 12 bit.  Whereas the TX-H2X-VLC features HDBaseT Class A transmission to 70m, the TX-H2X-OM3 instead offers transmission over Multi-mode fibre up to 300m.

Both cards also feature include HDMI In, mirrored HDMI Out, S/PDIF Audio In, S/PDIF and Analog Stereo Audio Out and IR to zone.

The latest extender line

Wyrestorm will use ISE 2018 to showcase its latest extender line, featuring enhanced 18Gbps over HDMI full 4K transmission capabilities which will support resolutions possible over copper and fibre for a multitude of point-to-point distributions.

The updated EX-35-H2 and new EX-35-H2-ARC extender models support 18Gbps HDMI for 4K UHD 60hz 4:4:4 or 4K UHD 60Hz 4:2:2 with 12bit HDR over Class B HDBaseT to 35m or 1080p to 70m/230ft.  The EX-35-H2-ARC adds Audio Return functionality as the part number suggests.

All new and updated extender models feature HDCP 2.2 support for compatibility with the latest 4K content and sources, as well as 2-way PoH and bidirectional IR and RS-232 control.

Another extender to get an update is the EX-70-H2X HDBaseT 5Play extender, also supporting 18Gbps HDMI transmission of 4K UHD 60hz 4:4:4 or 4K UHD 60hz 4:2:2 with 12bit HDR over Class A HDBaseT to 70m or 1080p to 100m/328ft.

The 5Play feature includes video, multichannel audio, 2-way PoH, bidirectional control over both IR and RS-232, and Ethernet passthrough.  Version 2 of the EX-70-H2X adds HDMI source loop out to cascade transmissions up to three times to compatible HDBaseT and even NetworkHD AV over IP devices which increases flexibility.

Using multi-mode fibre, the EXF-300-H2 supports 18Gbps HDMI transmissions up to 4K UHD 60hz 4:4:4  or 4K UHD 60hz 4:2:2 with 12bit HDR to 300m to ensure everything that 4K HDR source devices have to offer can now be sent point-to-point over vast distances via lossless optical transmission that is immune to electrical and radio interference.

NetworkHD line

ISE 2018 will see WyreStorm showcase the latest development of its NetworkHD line with the soon-to-be-released zero latency 600 Series 4K HDR over 10GbE. The 600 Series completes its three AV over IP technology NetworkHD line.

AptoVision’s BlueRiver NT2000 with Plethora engine provides the power behind the 600 Series delivering lossless instant seamless switching of true full HDMI 4K UHD @60Hz 4:4:4 with HDR and zero-frame latency via off-the-shelf 10Gb Ethernet switches.

The 600 Series features HDCP 2.2 and all the bandwidth advantages of HDMI 2.0, with independent breakaway switching for true matrixing functionality, audio embedding, de-embedding and down-mixing.  Full gigabit Ethernet passthrough also enables devices to be network-connected in a chain, which includes SmartTVs, Apple TVs and Sonos.

“There are a number of 4K over IP solutions out there that claim support for 4K HDR at 60Hz 4:4:4 over 1Gb, which might sound great but not when you consider how heavily compressed a signal has to be to fit within that bandwidth,” says WyreStorm’s EMEA sales manager.

“The result will exhibit banding, blockiness and softening of the image as the lossy compression attempts to essentially generalize whole areas of the screen to fit the bandwidth.  If video quality is your endgame, you can’t use a 20-to-1 compression 1GbE solution.  Only a 10GbE solution will give you a mathematically lossless image and audio that are indistinguishable from an uncompressed source.”