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HDMI 2.2 is making another move towards our homes. Silkland has started accepting orders for H96 cables with Ultra96 certification, and Elecom has also announced its own models. The new cables offer bandwidth of up to 96 Gb/s, twice the capacity of the previous Ultra High Speed HDMI (2.1). That's the headroom needed to carry 16K content at higher refresh rates. Of course, provided the connected devices support it. 😉
Silkland has prepared variants in lengths of 2 and 3 metres. Each has a separate certificate whose authenticity can be checked via the QR code on the packaging. Orders are already available, but the manufacturer says shipments will begin in the week beginning 5 October. Elecom, meanwhile, plans to introduce its cables in mid-November.
It’s also worth being sceptical of promotional graphics suggesting that a new cable will improve HDR or eliminate motion blur. Current HDMI cables already support HDR transmission. If the cable is working and has sufficient bandwidth for the chosen resolution and refresh rate, replacing it with an Ultra96 cable will not improve colours or motion clarity. So there’s no need to replace a properly functioning cable just because the packaging of a newer one promises a better picture.
Two-metre Silkland H96 costs $32.99, while Elecom has priced its cable of the same length at ¥13,310 including tax in the Japanese market. For now, Ultra96 remains primarily a purchase intended for future devices. If the new cables arrive in our shops at a large premium over HDMI 2.1 cables, most users will have no reason to pay extra for such a cable. If, however, prices turn out to be similar, when setting up a new home system you might consider a certified Ultra96: it will support your existing kit, and the extra bandwidth could prove useful when that equipment is later replaced.
Source: Silkland, Elecom.
