Key Digital Phantom Series Distribution Amplifiers Preview
Key Digital Phantom Series Distribution Amplifiers
Many installers have problems with HDMI systems when they use an AV Receiver to handle the switching chores. The AV receiver may not handle the EDID (Extended Display Identification Data) properly which can cause intermittent picture or sound artifacts. The main issue is that TV EDID sometimes is misunderstood or misinterpreted by the AVR in between the HDMI source and AVR. As a result the AVR reports wrong EDID data to the source and nothing works.
One way Key Digital has found to eliminate or reduce the issues when using AVR's, is to insert a KD-HDDA1x2 Distribution Amplifier between the AVR and the Display. Once KD-HDDA1x2 (or any other of our DA) is inserted, it "buffers" this misunderstanding and provides "perfect" default EDID to the system and both the AVR and the source are happy and signal goes through.
The Phantom Series KD-HDDA1x2 Distribution Amplifier, using its "EDID Control" technology, features an internal library of 4 Default HDMI Handshakes and will act as a buffer for the handshake between the Receiver and the Display. Your Source will see the Receiver and its connected DA (set to one of the default EDID’s) and negotiate the handshake with the DA. The DA will then send its signal on to the display reliably and as an added benefit, less lag time between switching.
Once a legal (HDCP) source(s) and legal (HDCP) displays are connected to Key Digital's HDMI product(s) and a key has been established, Key Digital will authenticate all the topology of the connected products without a problem between the source and the display.
Features
- Distributes 1 HDMI/DVI source to 2/3/4/8 HDMI/DVI outputs
- Supports all SD, HD, and VESA (VGA, SVGA, XGA, WXGA, SXGA, UXGA) resolutions up to 1080p
- SD & HD: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
- VESA / DVI: From 640x480p up to 1920x1200p
- EDID Control featuring internal library of 4 Default HDMI Handshakes
- Automatic sensing of signal presence and switching to active input
- Full support for HDMI with HDCP, 12-bit Deep Color
- Supports lossless compressed digital audio:
- Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD Master Audio
For more information please visit www.keydigital.com.
Personally, I think that if cables need to be terminated using labratory-grade crimpers and conditions that are not easy to replicate anywhere, I don't see it as practical. Not all installers or CI contractors will use the best RJ-45 crimpers, lighting isn't always good enough to see how even the ends are and they really need to make it possible to achieve the cable lengths specified in the manual, ads or labels. EVERY person I have spoken with regarding HDMI passed over anything other than an HDMI cable has said that whatever distance the manufacturer says will work, should be reduced by about 50%.
Tom, Gene and anyone else here who has the test equipment- is there any possibility of testing several of the more common HDMI balun/repeater/extender systems that allow avoiding the need for a $400 HDMI cable when longer distances are required? Custom homes and remodels make it impossible to place the equipment as close to the display as HDMI requires, so these other methods are necessary.
My Denon 3806 Receiver did have this problem and I had to use an external HDMI switcher, but now that I have upgraded to an Onkyo 5007 (last year's model) I have had no problems switching between 4 HDMI sources into the receiver. The sources are HD-DVD player (Toshiba), Oppo DVD, Samsung Blu-Ray, and Motorola DVR (DCT-6412). I believe many A/V receivers with HDMI 1.3a and higher have solved this particular problem, so no other devices are necessary for them.
Clint Deboer was terminated from Audioholics for misconduct on April 4th, 2014. He no longer represents Audioholics in any fashion.
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