Quick Question About My TV and HDMI

[SnoopKatt]

I have a Sony WEGA KD-34XBR960 tube with HDMI. I am looking for the HDMI version it has built in, but I cannot find it. Would anyone here happen to know what HDMI version it has?
Thanks

[edDV]

Probably v1.2
Why does this matter?

[SnoopKatt]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#Versions
http://cnet.nytimes.com/direct-view-tvs-crt/sony-kd-34xbr960/4514-6481_7-30787600.html

The first link is the HDMI details, and the second link is my TV info, so I guess it's 1.1. It seems like the newer versions have a lot of bells and whistles that I'd like, so can you update the TV firmware so it's 1.3b?

[edDV]

I doubt any of the new features would apply to that TV.

It is a very nice HDTV as it is.

[SnoopKatt]

I have my cable box hooked up to the only HDMI input on the TV. I want to get a Blu-Ray player hooked up as well, so I think I need to get a switch. Will the switch need to be a specific version or can it take all types of HDMI?
Thanks for all the help so far

[edDV]

All should handle v1.2x. Few current TV's support v1.3x.

[nmaynan]

I'm wondering what version it is too: specifically, I want to know if the kd-34xbr960 HDMI port allows 5.1 channel sound through along with the video. Or does it just allow 2-channel audio?

Some of what I read makes me think that version 1.0 only supports 2-channel audio but version 1.1 supports 5.1 channel audio.

Anybody know where I can sort these questions out?

[edDV]

I'm wondering what version it is too: specifically, I want to know if the kd-34xbr960 HDMI port allows 5.1 channel sound through along with the video. Or does it just allow 2-channel audio?

Some of what I read makes me think that version 1.0 only supports 2-channel audio but version 1.1 supports 5.1 channel audio.

Anybody know where I can sort these questions out?

You can ask Sony. Also there may be a manufacture date on the back. It was probably made after August 2005 when HDMI v1.2 was finalized. The wiki link above details the versions. Here is an article from January 2005 describing the two channel issues and work arounds.
http://news.digitaltrends.com/print_talkback45.html

[nmaynan]

Here's what I've learned:

All HDMI versions support 5.1 channel audio (they support 8 channels actually).

But, inexplicably, almost all early HDTVs that have an HDMI port only accept 2 channel audio from HDMI cable. The equipment manufacturer is where the block is.

Hopefully, modern day HDTVs (e.g., LCDs and Plasmas) will accept 5.1 audio from HDMI and allow it to pass-through the TVs Toslink out port. Does anybody know of any TVs currently doing this?

[wiak]

all tvs with hdmi supports atleast 2 Channel PCM

you have to cain you blue-ray to a audio receiver then to tv to get TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and multichannel uncompressed LPCM

1 to 2 hdmi switches works fine if you need more hdmis

[edDV]

An audio receiver with HDMI in may or may not work with BluRay 5.1 after they implement (turn on) HDCP on BluRay discs. Make sure your audio receiver is HDCP complient. Today, few are.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDCP

[jagabo]

But, inexplicably, almost all early HDTVs that have an HDMI port only accept 2 channel audio from HDMI cable. The equipment manufacturer is where the block is.

Maybe because they don't have HDCP (only stereo audio allowed over unencrypted connections). In any case, the TV only has stereo speakers.