HDMI 2.1 Bug – 4K/120Hz Failure
As the video industry continues to strive for ever higher resolutions and faster frame rates an obstacle has hit several AV receiver models. Driven primarily by the gaming world, the new HDMI 2.1 standard supports features to include; 4K resolution at frame rates of 120Hz, variable refresh rates and 8K video at 60Hz frame rates. Well that’s the theory.
The latest gaming sources, to include the Xbox Series X console and Nvidia RTX-3080 graphics cards, can now support these higher resolutions and frame rates, and it has been discovered (see the German website Heis Online) that receivers using the latest Panasonic Solutions HDMI 2.1 chipset will not accept either 4KP120 or 8KP60, both of which produce a black screen and no audio.
The problem is said to be with the Panasonic Solutions (now owned by Nuvoton Technology) HDMI 2.1 input chipset and is believed to be related to a new signalling system used in HDMI 2.1 called Fixed Rate Link (FRL) that provides higher bandwidth than the TMDS signalling system used in HDMI 2.0.
The confirmed receiver models affected are the Marantz SR5015, SR6015, SR7015 and SR8015, the Denon AVR-X2700H, AVC-X3700H, AVC-X4700H, and AVC-X6700H and Yamaha’s new RX-V6A, RX-V4A, TSR-700 and TSR-400 receivers. However, other manufactures like Onkyo and Sony, who may also be using this same chip set could have with the same problem in their next generation of AVR’s.
The much bigger issue looming is that it’s currently looking like the issue may not be resolved by a simple firmware update. In other words, a hardware replacement may be required for the affected HDMI input board, or more!
Sound United LLC, who own the Denon and Marantz brands, have confirmed that the bug exists, and issued a lengthy formal statement. They have also provided some temporary work around solutions while they try to resolve the issue. See the AVS Forum for their statement.
Sound United apologized:
“We apologize for this inconvenience and we are currently working tirelessly to release a permanent solution so you can enjoy the 4K/120Hz experience using the latest sources with your AVR. We will have an update soon regarding the timeline of a permanent solution. We appreciate your patience.”
Yamaha has also confirmed that the above receivers will not pass 4K 120Hz and have also issued a statement confirming that they will do whatever is required as soon a possible to rectify the situation. See their statement here at Forbes.
Yamaha commented:
“Please rest assured that we will address the reported issue as part of these future updates including a permanent solution as needed.”
While it is not directly these manufacturers fault, they (their engineers and QC department) should have tested every feature that they promise in a new product BEFORE it is released, especially those new features that are on the cutting edge of a devices performance.
See here for my post on Sound United’s potential solutions.
More in depth technical details here at Computer Base. (German web site Google translation).
See these posts for my first look at the associated Marantz and Denon AV receivers.
More information on the HDMI 2.1 standard and a HDMI 2.1 refesher.
UPDATE – 04/27/2021: See the final bug fix here.
