All of the information about v1.3 is true, and is briefly summarized here in my FAQ . Of course, we haven't seen any sources that can use the greater color depths, so it's debatable when that change will actually be utilized by hardware. The mini connector also hasn't shown up, although we should see camcorders using it at some point.

The compatibility issues have been a problem for years, and HDCP issues (which are the source of most of the problems I've heard about) have existed since HDCP was introduced on DVI. Spring of 2007 will probably still only see a few HDMI v1.3 products on the market (I'd guess no more than half a dozen or a dozen receiver models at the most, assuming even that many have begun shipping, and hopefully a few HD-DVD or Blu-ray players) - at the moment, about the only HDMI v1.3 device is the PS3. To say that HDMI's compatibility issues will be resolved by then seems to be to be a severely optimistic statement. HDCP problems were already old news when I bought my HDTV in spring 2004, after all, and they're still around 2.5 years later.

I just stumbled across this thread and it's good to see some rational dialogue going on about the merits and the flaws of HDMI. Several months ago I posted some comments on both the AVS forum and my home forum (HTF) regarding Outlaw's decision several years ago to wait for HDMI to mature to the point where it was prudent to add it to a receiver. Outlaw was taking some cheap shots from some know-it-alls regarding the use of DVI video switching rather than succumbing to the lure of HDMI and I was defending them. After all HDMI was changing quicker than one changes their sheets and it was a moving target. Although I took a lot of heat on this (I'm used to this - after all, I beta tested the 950!) I still contend that Outlaw made the right choice at the time. HDMI was a complete mess, with various companies interpreting the HDMI standards on their own resulting in some handshaking knightmares. HDMI itself was not completely blameless in this because even though their specs were quite clear, little was being done to assure that manufacturers followed those specs. I'm glad to see that the industry is trying to add some HDMI certification to the process, as gonk pointed out in his reference, and now that some "major retailers" are insisting on all the HDMI products they carry meeting some HDMI criteria this can only help the situation. And for those who constantly insisted that HDMI was just fine with no problems at all it's a wake up call when retailers begin to realize that there has to be some order out of chaos. Time for those people to drop the pollyanna attitude.

That said, HDMI has reached the point where it will in all probability be an integral part of the next Outlaw Pre/pro. There are a number of reasons for this. For one thing there are now some serious products out there (like HD/BR players) that incorporate HDMI output so the need for HDMI switching is greater than in the past. Add to that the fact that the latest firmware versions of both HD-DVD and Blu-ray players now pass the new audio codecs (decoded via PCM) through the HDMI jack and it now becomes important for any receiver from this point forward - especially one capable of handling 7.1 audio - to include HDMI. And while the next generation pre/pro will in all likelihood include HDMI 1.3 it's important to note that even with HDMI 1.1 inputs on a pre/pro you can accept all the latest audio codecs since the decoding is done within the player and not within the processor. I know this for a fact because I own both a Toshiba XA1 (firmware 2.0) and a PS3. Both pass the 7.1 audio codecs just fine into my (temporary) HDMI pre/pro. When the first Outlaw pre/pro with HDMI is released, I'm there.

A couple of other points. Part of the problem with HDMI happens to be with the many misconceptions floating around. One of the biggest errors is thinking that in order to handle 1080p video you must have HDMI 1.3. This is completely wrong. 1080p video as been part of the HDMI spec since version 1.0 and any HDMI jack can handle 1080p. Yes, HDMI 1.3 has added some additional video functionality with greater color depth and bandwidth, but the industry is just catching up with 1080p at this point so I seriously doubt we will see many practical displays (read: consumer) and sources that go beyond "standard" 1080p for a decade or so. Another misconception is that you need HDMI 1.3 to listen to all of the new audio codecs (those out on HD/BR discs and those in the hopper). Yes, it is true that each new generation of HDMI increased the audio capabilities of the previous one (see gonk's excellent FAQ on this) but that is only important if you want to pass the raw audio data - unprocessed - to the pre/pro. As long as the player does the decoding of the audio codec (as the Blu-ray and HD-DVD players now do) then any modern 7.1 pre/pro equipped with even HDMI 1.1 can handle the resulting PCM bitstream. There's no need for 7.1 analog outputs and inputs to get the unprocessed audio into the pre/pro. (Your SACD and DVD-A discs need not worry about having to relinguish their analog inputs to new audio codecs.)

Yes, HDMI holds a lot of promise of being a "one wire solution" if everybody plays by the rules. But it certainly was not the case (and still is fraught with potential pitfalls) back when the 970 and 990 were being designed so Outlaw can't be faulted for taking a wait and see attitude on HDMI. I've followed this situation closely (including many discussions with Jano Banks, the co-inventor of HDMI, whom I met at CEDIA)and I stand by my position that Outlaw made the right decision at the time regarding an emerging technology. All is not a bed of roses, but at least now someone is tending the weeds so things will get better. I look forward to outlaw products with HDMI now that this is the case.

RAF! Good to see you! I agreed wholeheartedly with your HTF post a while back, and I agree that the misconceptions about HDMI are rampant.

The next generation of Outlaw processors and recievers will have to include HDMI, as it is becoming too prevalent and will need to be there. It will probably need to be v1.3 to satisfy market demands, even though for all intents and purposes v1.1 will suffice for most people for a very long time to come. Until then, the DVI switching offered by Outlaw's current generation is a very effective solution while we wait for the necessary tools (HDMI chipsets, DSP chips, and the like) to appear and be available in quantity such that companies can even attempt to build receivers and processors.

I tried keeping it simple by just going HDMI to DVI with the DVD....WRONG! Is there a sequence to turning the gear on?? I don't know! I was unsuccessful in getting any of my HDMI gear (i.e., projector, HD SAT or DVD) to talk to the 990 via DVI. Frustrated, I went component and digital audio throughout my system.

It's frustrating I can't use the full potential of every component yet they're equipped. I think the Simplay HD Testing Program is a GREAT idea that will shake the trees and flush out all wanna bees.

That said, in my short years (15) of dealing with HT, the 990/7700 combo are the best audio electronics I've ever bought. No matter what your budget, if you're in the market for a BIG-TIME Pre/Pro & Amp, you will be over-joyed with these two.

Ok, I'm off my soapbox :-)
Happy New Year Outlaws