HDMI-2

What is HDMI-2?

HDMI 2.0 is the HDMI standard that supports 4K. This means that the HDMI 2.0 connections can pass a lot more data than HDMI 1.4 and therefore allow higher resolution video and audio capabilites.

Majik, Akurate & Klimax DSM products with HDMI 1 boards can be upgraded to HDMI 2.0 capability.

The Sneaky, Sekrit & Kiko products use HDMI 1.4 and are not upgradable.

Linn HDMI-2 specification

The HDMI-2 specification of products that support this HDMI connection are:

Supports 4k resolution @ 60Hz frame rate, 4:4:4, HDCP 2.2, HDR, ARC, CEC, data rate 18Gbps

HDMI2 cables

This HDMI-2 board is available as an UPGRADE on earlier Majik/Akurate/Klimax DSM products Linne recommend using HDMI Certified cables with these products.

General HDMI issues

The Linn DSM products provide HDMI pass through of HDMI V1.4 and HDMI 2.0 (for Products with the HDMI2 board) signals

The Linn DSM products HDMI output will:-
1. Pass-through the HDMI audio when the Linn DSM is in Standby.
2. Pass-through the HDMI audio when the Linn DSM is listening to an Analogue or Digital Audio input.
3. BLOCK the HDMI audio to the TV if the the DSM is listening to an HDMI input.

ARC - Audio Return Channel

Only the Klimax DSM / Akurate DSM / Majik DSM with HDMI2 boards (>Sept 2016) plus the Selekt DSM & Series 3 (301) will support this connection.

ARC setting on your Television vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. So please double check your TV setup manual.

Common issues for the lack of ARC audio:

1. The standard Linn DSM can only playback stereo audio. If the TV is set to output Dolby Digital or other Surround format then the Linn DSM will not play this audio and stay silent.

> Make sure the audio output is set to "STEREO"'

> If you are using an built-in service to the TV, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime etc, that you control from the TV handset then try a standard aerial TV channel or an external Satellite receiver and find out if you get any audio back from these TV sources.

2. The TV audio setup may be conflicting with itself.

> If possible do an "AV RESET" or equivalent on your TV, then setup for Audio format - Stereo and CEC-enabled (CEC can go by different names AnyNet+, Veiralink, SimpLink, Sony Bravia Sync,RIHD, Kuro Link..... etc. Check what your TV call it)

> In the worst case the simplest solution is to do a FACTORY DEFAULT/RESET on the TV. There may be a conflicting hidden setting that is causing all these issues, a Factory default will clear this and allow a fresh connection.

3. You are connected to the wrong socket on your TV.

> Check the Linn DSM HDMI output is connected to the TV socket that states "ARC"

4. Sony TV's and SKY-Q: It has been reported that this configuration can cause lack of ARC audio. When it does work,sometimes there is a crack/bang noise from the speaker when the system is put to Sleep/Standby.

> The solution is to disable HDMI control on the SKY-Q box and power cycle all of the products. (This is primarily an issue between Sky-Q and Sony Tv's communications)

5 Playstation5 (PS5): This can confuse the TV and what it is controlling the volume of, (the Linn DSM or PS5).

> The solution is In the PS5 setting go into HDMI > Enable HDMI Device Link > Off .

Common issues for the lack of ARC audio periodically muting:

1. Due to the introduction of eARC, some TV have this implements in different ways. The solution is:

> if your Linn DSM has the "eARC Mode" option in then turn this OFF

> If your TV has the option to disable the eARC functionality, then also turn this OFF

I cannot get any picture through the HDMI

General connections

The Linn DSM with HDMI2 board supports 4k resolution

Playstation3

The Playstation3 is known to have HDMI connection issues with many non-Linn devices.

1. Select PS3 input on the Linn DSM
   
2. While the PLAYSTATION 3 system is in standby mode (red light on the front of the system), hold down the touch-sensitive power button on the front of the system until the system goes into standby mode again . (So the light cycle would go from: red light --> green light --> then back to red light). This will ensure that you have held down the power button long enough to reset the Video Output Settings.

Check PS3 FAQ's

Virgin Media V6 / Sky-Q

The Virgin Media V6 & Sky-Q boxes are very strict on HDCP issues, as these work in HDCP 2.2. It has been found that if your TV or Projector only supports HDCP 1.4 and your AV Receiver (Linn DSM or other manufacturer) supports HDCP 2.2 then the mismatch will cause the Virgin Media V6/Sky-Q box NOT to send video (due to encryption issues).
The solution is to put an HDCP convertor, such as the LINDY or NEET Bidirectional HDCP Converter, V2.2 to V1.4, between the Virgin Media V6 or Sky-Q HDMI output and Linn DSM HDMI input. This will force all communications to HDCP 1.4
Some customers have found disabling "CEC" and "CEC Auto Select Source" on HDMI section of Konfig will fix this issue. (Do the Konfig changes and power cycle the Virgin Media/Sky box)

Apple MacMini, MacBook Pro etc

If you switch the DSM to the HDMI feed from a MacMini, MacBook, etc. it will initially lose any picture and audio. This may take up to 30 seconds to appear and for the audio to return. This delay is due to the Mac performing HDMI communication and re-establishing the audio and video options.

HDMI connection with Video scalers

If you have a video scaler in the HDMI chain and you are not getting any picture through the Linn DSM, take the video scaler out of the system to see if the picture returns.

No Audio playback on HDMI connection

The standard Linn DSM will ONLY support 2ch (or multichannel) PCM audio. It does not support Dolby Digital, DTS, etc. unless you have a Linn Surround Module installed in your Linn DSM.
If you feed an unsupported audio format from your DVD player, sat receiver, etc. the Linn DSM can pass this through to the TV if the DS is in standby mode. If when you select that input on the DSM there is no audio then double check that the audio out on the DVD/Sat is configured for 2ch PCM.

Audio keeps muting/unmuting

If your Linn DSM has an HDMI2 board then this may be the TV trying to control the Linn DSM volume.
Go into Konfig > your Linn DSM > HDMI. DISABLE the CEC settings and reboot the Linn DSM. This should stop this mute/unmute from occuring.

APPLE TV4 switching TV On and Off Plus controlling Tv volume

When using an Apple TV4 with a Linn DSM with HDMI2 (>Sept 2016).

We would advise to go into the Apple TV settings > "Remotes and Devices" and

turn OFF "Control TV's and Receivers".

Otherwise the TV may be confused about its power state and Audio Return Channel (ARC - Audio from TV to Linn DSM).
You can use the Apple TV handset to control the Linn DSM volume by IR if this is required.

No Audio from a Linn DSM HDMI connection

The standard Linn DSM will ONLY support 2ch (or multichannel) PCM audio. It does not support Dolby Digital, DTS etc unless you have a Linn Surround Module installed in your Linn DSM.

• On Davaar 55, the surround function has been added.
  • If the incoming audio from the HDMI source is multi-channel PCM, this audio is NOT broadcast using Songcast.
  • This will occur even if you only have a pair of speakers defined on the Linn DSM, it still has to downmix the incoming multi-channel audio.
    

If you only have the front Left & Right speakers defined in Konfig the solution is to go to your HDMI source and change its HDMI audio output to Stereo PCM.

Hiss or White noise Audio from a Linn DSM HDMI connection

This means that the Linn DSM is playing an unsupported codec. This can happen if you are trying to play, for example, a DTS-CD track. (This is normally caught in HDMI communication but some audio formats send encoded data in a normal format)
Check to see if your Media player/Blu-Ray/DVD player can decode this into Multi-Channel PCM.

Do Linn DSM products support HDMI 2.1?

Linn DSM products do not currently support the HDMI 2.1 specification.
HDMI 2.0 deals with 4K video with 18GHz bandwidth and is compatible with current Majik, Akurate and Klimax DSM products.
HDMI 2.1 deals with up to 10K video with 48GHz bandwidth and at the time of writing (March 2019) there are no cables, sources or playback devices commercially available supporting this specification.