Bluesound powernode 2i eARC support

Comments

6 comments

  • Official comment
    Bjørn Ulvik
    Hi-Res

    HDMI 2.1 is backward compatible, so your "source" can be ARC or eARC.

  • Kevin Bailey

    Thanks for the response.

    I understand that if the source is ARC or eARC it can be handled by HDMI 2.1.

    Please note - HDMI 2.0 does not support eARC - the HDMI 2.1 specification is the version which officially supports eARC.

    My question is:

    Does the Bluesound Powernode 2i (HDMI) implement HDMI version 2.1 - and therefore supports eARC?

    Cheers.

    Please note as well - some implementations of HDMI 2.0 have backported eARC support on to them - and they get versioned as 2.0a, 2.0b or similar.  But - to make things clear - if the equipment fully implements HDMI 2.1 then this should include eARC support.

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  • Tony W.
    Product Support Manager

    Hi Kevin

    Yes your POWERNODE will accept and support eARC commands

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  • Kevin Bailey

    Hi Tony,

    Thanks for your answer.

    I appreciate that the PN 2i will support eARC commands - but I'm looking at the other advantages of eARC including better lip-syncing.

    You wrote a few months ago 'As of 3.10 and our recent firmware release (last week), you will now get DOLBY Decode with the POWERNODE 2i w/HDMI. The center channel is blended for an LCR experience.' which sounds like a nice feature.

    However, I'm looking to get an amp with full HDMI 2.1 compliance for future proofing.  I appreciate that you are producing an amazing piece of kit for a brilliant price - being fully HDMI 2.1 compliant would be a final box ticked for me.  The reason I'm checking is partly because my understanding is that HDMI can not be upgraded from 2.0 to 2.1 via a firmware release - it would likely need to be a hardware update as well.

    So - my questions are:

    Is the PN fully HDMI 2.1?  If not then is then in the plans?

    Would HDMI 2.1 provide any audio quality benefits over HDMI 2.0 bearing in mind that the PN is a stereo device.

    Thanks for your help.

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  • Tony W.
    Product Support Manager

    Hi Kevin

    You are correct, HDMI 2.0 is not a software upgrade to 2.1 - this is a much bigger concern on video than on audio. At this point, we are very happy with the POWERNODE 2i performance and it should be an enjoyable product for you in the years to come.

    Thanks for #LivingHiFi

     

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  • Kevin Bailey

    Thanks for your response.

    Basically I want to use the PN standalone for music, but will also be plugging the TV into it and want to check that the TV sound will be synced and will sound good - it's always a real bonus when the music in films sound good!

    My current TV will output using HDMI ARC, and currently I have no plans to use surround sound, but may want to add a subwoofer to my Dali Zensor 5's.

    Can I take it that the lip sync is implemented? And also that the PN2i is happy with the TV output of PCM? (The TV will output Dolby digital or DTS as well but they might not be suitable for the (stereo) PN2i).

    Thanks for your help.

     

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