New TV and AVR - should I take HDMI 2.1 into account?

naefeart

naefeart

naefeart

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I'm mulling over whether to upgrade my AV kit this summer, it's going on 4+ years old now and approaching end of warranty. I'm also stuck at home (like everyone else) so perhaps now is the time to enjoy an upgrade.

Now, none of the particular TV/AVR equipment I'm interested in is 'offically' HDMI 2.1 compliant. That won't affect my TV or film viewing for the short term but I would like to get a PS5 at some point. How much of a limitation will it be, to only have HDMI 2.0a and roughly how soon are likely to see 120hz 4k content?

Is anyone holding off for HDMI 2.1 before they upgrade?
 
Personally I wouldn't bother with HDMI 2.1 in the receiver.

We're right at the beginning of the 2.1 phase. It's bleeding-edge tech right now, and that means paying through the nose for something that isn't yet fully field-tested.

PS4 can't yet render in 4K/UHD for all its games, and how long has the.Pro console been out, and 4K TVs?

VRR is a lovely idea, but if PS4 Pro can't yet render all games in 4K after the TVs and console have been on the market for years, then how long are we going to have to wait for 4K VRR? Maybe 1440p VRR is the future?

Medium term, I think the practical solution is to get a TV with eARC and a receiver to match. That way any HD audio from a console connected directly to the TV can make it to the receiver. This avoids the need to port the console via the receiver, and so HDMI 2.1 becomes unimportant on the audio gear.

By the time you're next ready for an audio upgrade, the dust will have settled, and we will know whether HDMI 2.1 is worth the fuss.
 
And then 2.2 rumoured out which includes some other thing which makes your expensive item obselete.


This is why I despise hdmi, at least with old gear they kepts standards for years, and you just bypassed then avr.
 
lucid said:
By the time you're next ready for an audio upgrade, the dust will have settled, and we will know whether HDMI 2.1 is worth the fuss.
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Indeed, I guess this is how I will approach it. I always find myself at these transition points. Ultimately trying to future proof your purchases is a bit of an expensive mugs game, but you try to mitigate nonetheless.

I'd decided it was a toss-up between the Samsung Q90R - safer, no burn in option - or the more expensive and potentially riskier panasonic GZ2000B. Had both open on the JL page, ready to buy this morning, but now notice they've both gone up in price £200! Back to the drawing board then.
 
Indeed, I have a very recent Cyrus hifi setup I'm happy with, it should last me many years. I think I might add another amp in time, after I sort my AV kit out.
 
For me the biggest benefit of 2.1 would be 4k at 120 (note this is a bit of a moot point as even my gtx 1080 only averages 30fps at 4k). I agree with the comment about ear, however discussing it at work, not sure if you can pass lossless atmos/neural X.
 
naefeart said:
I'm mulling over whether to upgrade my AV kit this summer, it's going on 4+ years old now and approaching end of warranty. I'm also stuck at home (like everyone else) so perhaps now is the time to enjoy an upgrade.
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There only 4 years old and you're looking at replacing them already :eek: why ? :confused:

My last three main TV's i have bought cost £2800, £3300, £3500 there no way i be replacing them every 4 years
 
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chaparral said:
There only 4 years old and you're looking at replacing them already :eek: why ? :confused:
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They're coming to the end of their 5 year warranties and the game has moved on a bit since. They won't be binned, they will be moved into my office/man cave and take up duties there.

Being stuck at home just seemed like the perfect time to upgrade and get some immediate benefits of a larger screen and better sounding avr. My PC builds never last 4 years, so I think that period should be considered a good innings :D
 
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