Harman Kardon Adding HDMI 1.4a To AVRs

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 5/17/2010

NORTHRIDGE, CALIF. — Harman Kardon is making the switch to HDMI 1.4a in its A/V receivers (AVRs) to repeat all of the 3D video formats outlined in the HDMI 1.4a spec.

Beginning in September, Harman Kardon will make a running change to three of its four AVRs to upgrade them to HDMI 1.4a from HDMI 1.3. Also that month, the brand will offer consumers a software download to upgrade their existing AVRs to 1.4a.

The AVRs are the $799-suggested AVR 2600, $1,199 AVR 3600, and flagship $2,999 AVR 7550HD. The brand has no plans to upgrade the current $599 AVR 1600. Future new Harman Kardon AVRs will also feature HDMI 1.4a.

The consumer-installable fi rmware upgrade will be available at www.harmankardon.com at no charge to current owners. Consumers must download the software to a USB memory stick, insert the stick into their AVR’s front-panel USB jack, and use the AVR’s remote to navigate through onscreen instructions to install the upgrade. No direct connection between the PC and AVR is needed.

Other suppliers contacted by TWICE are launching HDMI 1.4a AVRs and HDMI 1.4 AVRs, which they said pass through all of the 3D standards specified in the HDMI 1.4a spec. Some will also offer firmware upgrades to select AVRs with HDMI 1.3 inputs and outputs. (See TWICE audio section, May 3.)