HDMI "handshake" issiue? Please help

Why do you have a matrix spitter included? Is it just for distance or do you have another display connected in addition to the projector? Also there is no such thing as a 35' passive high speed cable. Those max out at 25'.

One thing to try is to disconnect the projector HDMI cable and see if the Denon reacts more the way you are expecting to audio-wise.

It is at a shorter distance (say 25' or less). Many manufacturers incorrectly label their cables as high speed certified, even though the certification was for a shorter distance. When in doubt, ask the manufacturer for their certification certificate. Check it to see the length of the cable that was certified.

However, remember if you attach anything to your splitter that is stereo (such as the TVs), then the source devices will only send stereo. So, it may not be the cable.

As to how I would do this, that answer has changed over the years. Now I would run a 35' Redmere active HDMI cable. Before I would have said to get the lowest gauge 35' standard speed HDMI cable you could find. High speed just means you can run at the maximum bitrate that HDMI uses or foresees. Standard speed means it is certified for at least 1080i/720p but can do somewhere up to high speed. Where it stops, depends upon the cable. That is why it is very smart you are testing before installation. What I think you have now is a 35' standard speed cable.

Probably need to see a full schematic to fully understand what goes where and what you are hoping to achieve!

Unless all of your end points support 3D and HD audio you can run into problems!

Often its simpler to run Video + Stereo audio via HDMI to the ‘Whole House’ Matrix and use Optical or Coaxial for DD/DTS 5.1 to an AVR collocated with the Source kit!

PC's can be a real hassle if they go to sleep when you switch away from them – often you will need to install an EDID Grabber between the PC and the Switch/Matrix/DA to ensure the PC stays awake and stays locked to the signal format you want it to Output.

3D ‘cables’ – that’s just marketing BS, up to 8m cables can be High Speed (recommended for 3D) anything longer that is ‘passive’ is Standard and you would have to try hard to find one that won’t support 3D!

http://www.hdmi.org/consumer/finding_right_cable.aspx

http://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/hdmi_1_4/3d.aspx

Joe
Edited by Joe Fernand - 12/27/12 at 1:54pm

According to the specs on this cable it is a version 1.4 cable and supports transfer rates of up to 340Mhz or 10.2gbps...making it a High Speed cable with Ethernet.

Yep. Sure does. But it can't be - those don't exist.

Also remember there are no such things as 1.4 cables or 3D cables, just high speed and standard speed. The HDMI Org owns the patents, copyrights, trademarks on HDMI and here is their take on how cable must (not should, but must) be named:

http://www.hdmi.org/consumer/finding_right_cable.aspx

So, basically what I think you have is a cable that at shorter lengths is a high speed cable and may (or may not) have been certified as High Speed. The longer length cable is not a high speed cable (because those stop at just past 25' for passive HDMI cables) but someone continued to label it as high speed even though it wasn't. When in doubt ask the manufacturer for their ceritification information. I would not be surprised to find that what they certified was to a shorter length.

Unfortunately as the cable gets longer these high speed square waves stop being square and become rounded instead. That prevents the receive end of the signal from being able to reliably determine a 1 or a 0. This results in bit errors and no picture or sparkles or blocks of color or lines or a few other obvious effects. The number of bit errors depends upon the bandwidth (and conversely the bitrate) of the signal. The lower the bandwidth, the better the chance of no errors. What the High Speed certification does is provides you a cable model that has been shown to have zero bit errors at the highest speeds HDMI has or plans (right now). Of course, this assumes the cable has been properly marked.

BTW, a likely fix to your PS3 problem would be to disable Deep Color. See this thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1401078/some-ps3-hdmi-difficulties-explained
Edited by alk3997 - 12/28/12 at 8:24am

I’d wager the only bit the vendor spent time on was choosing the ‘unique’ colour scheme and ensuring the wee logo badge was OK – it’s a bog standard cable we get offered for around 1 USD per metre on a daily basis from one of many HDMI cable assemble plants.

Joe

Yes.

...or you could read the other threads that discuss what to do about longer distances (Redmere, thick standard speed cables, cat 6 conversion, etc). There is a lot of good information in the thread right (currently) below this one.
Edited by alk3997 - 12/29/12 at 7:57am

alk3997, I am aware of the 25 foot limitation for cables deemed to be high speed and about cable certification.

I was intrigued enough in this generic brand (even though it has a company name) to order one for testing, $15 with free Prime shipping. I don't need it since I use Blue Jeans (Belden) HDMI cables, just curious about the construction quality.

Sorry. I made a mistake. My response was directed at EpicVegas, not you for asking if he is "screwed" going greater than 25'. I should have quoted what I was responding to. My bad - again sorry.

Yes, that is certainly a good method.

Went back and looked at your first append. You started talking about cables and we never got back to the original question. What happens when you disconnect the HDMI cable from the Denon to the projector? Do you still get 5.1 changing to stereo? That's more likely to be an EDID or firmware issue than it is a cable issue.

Glad that worked out! Sounds like we should list the original problem as a true firmware/ handshaking issue.