I'm getting pretty close to buying a HDTV. My question is this, I have no specific timeframe or need that I'm basing this on--I just want one. So is it worth it to wait a little longer for HDMI 1.3 TVs? I'm reading things like millions vs. billions of colors, built-in lip sync, etc. Is it worth it now or should I wait a year and get better HDMI inputs?

yea i wont to know the same thing iam kinda leaning toward its not really worth it but i would like the opnion from someone that knows more about it then me

I'm getting pretty close to buying a HDTV. My question is this, I have no specific timeframe or need that I'm basing this on--I just want one. So is it worth it to wait a little longer for HDMI 1.3 TVs? I'm reading things like millions vs. billions of colors, built-in lip sync, etc. Is it worth it now or should I wait a year and get better HDMI inputs?

There have been many threads discussing this already. Please use the handy "Search" feature.

the search dosent really help ever i got 981 topics with is1.3 worth waiting for? if someone could give a link or your opnion it would be very appreciated

I decided to use the handy 'New Thread' feature instead. :cool:

LOL -- one of my favorite avs features too!

There have been many threads discussing this already. Please use the handy "Search" feature.

It would be more helpful to set an example here. Do the search. Then post the link here.

I tried and cannot find ANY thread specifically discussing HDMI v1.3. Sure it is mentioned plenty of times elsewhere without any really good, informed information other than by people who do not understand it fully.

Here is my link using +HDMI +1.3 as keywords to search in the titles and show threads in the Plasma/LCD forum. The result is pretty useless unless yu want random mentions of HDMI in every other forum post.

Search for +HDMI +1.3 (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/search.php?searchid=10517133)

If you are bored or uninterested in this question, ignore the thread. If you have some meaningful way to find the answer, help us by setting a better example of how to search.

Thanks radar. I'm probably going to take the plunge on a current HDMI LCD. I'm not sure if millions vs. billions of colors will even be visible on a LCD. Am I wrong? And I've heard that lip sync is overblown.

Lip sync is more important to me than the other improvements in picture and audio bandwidth but that is my personal axe to grind. On the other hand we may not see the real benefits of that if broadcasters choose not to take full advantage of whatever automatic corrections it may offer. I still do not understand what the final standard does in this area.

Regardless, I am not sure the lip sync part even matters in the display end. I could have a v1.3 source and a v1.3 receiver feeding loudspeakers and a v1.2 display monitor and still get that full benefit - I think.

As for the rest I would still like to hear from some experts here...

Looking up the improvements that HDMI 1.3 offers, much of it has to do with audio. But the audio may really matter if you plan to use the speakers in the TV. If you run the digital audio signals directly to a A/V receiver with a decent set of speakers to take advantage of DD 5.1 or "HD" sound, then the audio enhancements in HDMI 1.3 is not going to matter much. OTOH. if you run the audio signals to the TV via HDMI 1.3 and then a digital audio cable from the TV to the A/V receiver, then you might get the lip sync fix, but then again this gets all too complicated.

As for the umpteen billion color support in HDMI 1.3, where are the additional colors coming from. Maybe from a gaming PC, but ATSC is 24 bit color using 3 8-bit fields and that is not going to change any time soon. The benefits of 10 or 12-bit per color scaling in the TV is to reduce or eliminate banding of near same color backgrounds, but this is done in the TV.

The HDMI 1.3 spec has just been released. If you want a TV with HDMI 1.3 input, you will probably have to wait until the 2007 models come out to get it. And what assurance do we have the first releases of TVs with HDMI 1.3 will be bug free and able to utilize all the new 1.3 features? None. Why wait that long for what is likely to be a fairly modest improvement and miss out on watching HD until then? Heck, many of us use component connection to the cable or sat box rather than HDMI because of the HDCP sync gliches anyway.

Often it is better to search outside the forum. Here are the basic FAQS on HDMI v1.3:

http://www.hdmi.org/resourcecenter/index.asp

So the answer to the OP is - it's up to you what you want or need. For the vast majority of folks v1.3 will add little if anything they can use. But for those who want the maximum capability of the connection it is something to look forward to if you can wait.

While the spec supports certain features, are we guaranteed the TV has to actually support everything?

Something like improved hand-shaking, I'm sure that will be there ... but what of something like 'deep color'?


Can anyone describe how the lipsynch feature works? I would assume the TV and component communicate with each other, and it is determined what delay is needed based on the scaling/de-interlacing being employed - is this correct?

If that is the case, is it guaranteed a TV with HDMI 1.3 will automatically support this?



If there is no guarantee everything must be supported from the get-go, my guess is that it won't :D

In other words, future HDMI 1.3 TV's that actually support all these features will be worth it, but it will be a few years before we see them. With that in mind, if you want a TV now - there is no point in waiting for the first HDMI 1.3 TVs.

I am in the same boat. I don't need the TV by any date, I'd like one by Chrsitmas. I was wondering if I bought an HDTV with, lets say an HDMI 1.0 , would it work with my PS3, which is HDMI 1.3? I thought that it wouldn't matter, but I read a customer review on Amazon that said differently.

Kulupa

I was wondering if I bought an HDTV with, lets say an HDMI 1.0 , would it work with my PS3, which is HDMI 1.3? I thought that it wouldn't matter, but I read a customer review on Amazon that said differently.
All current HD TVs should up to to the HDMI 1.1 spec. It has been out long enough to be the common baseline version. But the HDMI group has been busy releasing new inceremental version updates to the spec: from the FAQ webpage at http://www.hdmi.org/about/faq.asp

"The initial HDMI 1.0 specification was released in December 2002.
Version 1.1 was released in May 2004.
Version 1.2 was released in August of 2005.
Version 1.2a was released in December of 2005.
Version 1.3 was released in June of 2006."

At this rate, if you wait until spring of 2007 to buy a TV with HDMI 1.3 compliant ports, they will have released a HDMI 1.4 spec and then where will you be? Go back and wait until HDMI 1.4 compliant TVs are available? We now have many HD TVs with 2 HDMI (albeit v1.1) and at least 2 component ports which provide pretty good flexibility for HD input from the cable/sat box, DVD/HD-DVD/Blu-Ray player, PC/gaming machine, and whatever else you might hook up. Until this year, only 1 DVI or 1 HDMI port was all too common.

My advice to those looking to buy a large flat panel HD TV at this point in time, if you can wait a month, is wait for the normal round of late August & early September MSRP price cuts (this has been the pattern the past several years), as the manufacturers set up their pricing for the fall and Xmas shopping season. Then buy a HD TV, hook up to an HD source (cable, sat, OTA) and enjoy glorious HD!

Thanks afiggatt, I guess you're right, I shouldn't chase technology. I just wanted to make sure my TV wouldn't be outdated too fast, as its a huge investment for a college student(or for anyone). I'll buy a an XBR1 around November when the prices have decreased.

Thanks,
Kulupa

Wait for what you want and do not wait for what you do not care about. For me, I want:
(1) 1080p for dual PC/HD-TV/DVD
(2) BR/HD-DVD
(3) New VP that will upscale SD/DVD to ~HD-lite.
(4) Motion adaptation (120Hz,...)

So, I'll wait 2 to 3 months and get 1.3 even though it's not on my list.

I decided to use the handy 'New Thread' feature instead. :cool:

brilliant :) and just as good when the search shows a page of topics that barely even get around the bush(as stated).