We haven't checked on the HDBaseT Alliance in a few years, but now its 5-in-1 Ethernet cable spec is getting a second revision. HDBaseT already crams virtually any HD source and signal -- and power! -- into one connection, and 2.0's biggest addition to the mix is USB 2.0 support. Manufacturers can now remove the multiple interfaces and conversion components the previous spec required, driving down prices and requirements for hardware like Pioneer's $3,000 A/V receiver. Beyond that, this new version brings control point-capability and networking into its single cable-party. Until now, this tech has been aimed primarily at professional installers and dedicated enthusiasts, but the new spec's focus on user friendliness and lower cost could bring more of us to the whole-house media bandwagon. Finally, surround sound for the bathroom delivered by a single network cable is within our reach.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Networking, HD
Via: Missing Remote
Source: HDBaseT (1)