Something interesting from CEDIA is that the new Cinema 11 Pre/Pro from Cary Audio has a special port for connection to a new video switching device to be announced after 1.3 HDMI is mainstream. Basically the Cinema 11 has only audio inputs (a full complement of Analog and Digital) and no video switching. It has already met the specs necessary for processing DTS Master HD and Dolby's best as well meaning that no extra horsepower is needed on down the road for quite some time. A firmware upgrade will be needed (in the field will be possible) to get the new processing formats natively implemented in the Cinema 11 after this future video switcher is announced, but NO hardware upgrades will be necessary. What this new video switcher will do is strip the audio off of a 1.3 HDMI input without ANY conversion and natively send it to the audio only Cinema 11 for processing via this special plug. Rumor also has it that they are looking at the Realta and/or Gennum processors as a solution for scaling. I would assume they are looking at the top Faroudja chips as well being that they have a working relationship with them in regards to their DVD players. The proprietary plug will only work with a Cary video switcher and nothing else, but this is exciting nonetheless. Any video processor/switcher can be used in the meantime, but the audio from HDMI won't be utilized. This is an excellent way to work with the new all in one plug yet keep the two functions (audio and video) completely separate. I would love to see others take this approach, but currently I've only seen Cary offer such a cool solution to such a big problem.
Brent Huskins
Media Design
Brent Huskins
Media Design
: I had asked about Cary Cinema 5 Amp and Cinema 11 Pro last December. Only one response...
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