[CLICK TO LISTEN ON YOUTUBE or APPLE]
With the release of the new HDMI 2.2 specification, the AV industry stands on the brink of a seismic shift in performance, complexity and opportunity. This new era is the focus of the latest Mastering Connectivity podcast from Kordz, produced in collaboration with AV Trade Talks. In this instalment, titled ‘HDMI 2.2: Engineering the Future of AV Infrastructure’, host Katye McGregor Bennett is joined by Kordz Managing Director, James Chen, and Operations Director, Benjamin Yeh, for a candid deep dive into the HDMI 2.2 specifications, their impact on product development, foreseeable challenges and solutions, and what it all means for the future of AV.
What becomes clear throughout the episode is this: HDMI 2.2 is far more than a minor revision. It represents a generational leap in audiovisual potential, enabled by the doubling of currently available data rates, from 48Gbps to a staggering 96Gbps.
Here’s a few of the highlights we learned from our panelists.
96Gbps: The Headline Technology—and the Challenge
The defining feature of the HDMI 2.2 specification is its doubling of data rate to 96Gbps, a leap that demands entirely new cabling and equipment to support it. This increase isn’t just about speed—it’s about precision. The HDMI 2.2 specification further tightens already stringent requirements for cable and connector construction to ensure seamless, zero latency communication between devices.
In essence, HDMI 2.2 builds on HDMI 2.1 by refining the engineering parameters, which adds complexity to product engineering and manufacturing. “HDMI 2.2 effectively tightens the screws and squeezes out more performance,” as Yeh puts it.
The specification clearly outlines the technical and engineering criteria required to develop compliant products. The spec is just the beginning—it serves as a foundation for engineering, product development and the establishment of updated testing protocols and infrastructure. For manufacturers like Kordz, the wheels are in motion, where behind the scenes the team is actively evaluating the requirements to design, assemble and test Ultra 96 cabling to ensure fully compliant infrastructure. It’s a complex process, made even more challenging by the fact that new test equipment must also be developed to accurately measure and validate compliance with HDMI 2.2 requirements.
The Certification Journey: From Spec to Market
Following the release of the HDMI 2.2 specs, the next crucial milestone is the development of the Certified Test Specification (CTS) by the HDMI Forum. This document will convert the specs into actionable testing requirements—a prerequisite for any product to be officially certified.
Authorised Testing Centers (ATCs) then must be accredited by HDMI Licensing. These facilities require expensive, high precision testing gear and robust validation protocols to certify that the candidate products meet the electrical performance requirements of the HDMI 2.2 specs.
Only after ATCs are operational will HDMI 2.2 compliant equipment – including cables, sources and displays – begin to emerge in the market. Until then, Kordz and other industry leaders remain focused on precision engineering, disciplined development and long-term readiness, rather than rushing to market with unverified solutions.
The Outcome: A Spec Built for Tomorrow’s Experiences
HDMI 2.2 introduces a substantial leap in data rate, doubling HDMI 2.1’s 48Gbps to 96Gbps. This increase in throughput—”roughly one hundred times the capacity of a high-performance internet connection,” says Chen, enables a new generation of visual experiences with true 8K and 16K resolutions, ultra-high frame rates, multi-stream content delivery, expanded colour depth and uncompressed, immersive visuals that can revolutionise a wide range of applications – from premium home theatres to precision-critical medical imaging.
With a 96Gbps data rate, displays can deliver ultra-dense image resolution to enable extreme proximity viewing without visible pixelation. For example, while 8K resolution offers an optimal viewing distance of approximately 0.75 times the screen height, 16K reduces that to just 0.375 times the screen height. This allows users to interact with large-format displays at close range, making it ideal for environments like surgical suites, diagnostic labs, simulation centres and virtual design studios, where fine visual detail and real-time responsiveness are paramount.
No Certified Products Yet—And That’s the Point
Despite the buzz surrounding HDMI 2.2, one thing is clear: the specification is not ready for field deployment. As Chen puts it, “The specification is now official, but we’re still far from certified, real-world solutions.”
This is where Kordz sets itself apart. Rather than rushing untested products to market, the company is adopting a measured approach—focusing on reliable, standards-based engineering, precision manufacturing and rigorous testing. Kordz is deeply involved in HDMI’s development process and remains committed to delivering solutions only when they meet the expectations and reliability standards of professional AV integrators.
Until Ultra96-certified cables and electronics arrive—estimated in 12 to 24 months—the best strategy is to plan carefully, install flexibly and avoid overpromising.
The 96Gbps Leap: Engineering Implications
Yeh pulls back the curtain on the complexities integrators and manufacturers face. At 96Gbps, even the slightest intrapair skew or poor shielding can cause transmission failure. HDMI 2.2 will require not just new materials and designs, but a full reevaluation of the cable production processes to ensure high consistency.
Kordz has coined the term “Kordzification” to describe its philosophy and innovation process of building cabling products that combine high performance, durability and ease of installation for professional integrators. That same commitment is being applied to its forthcoming HDMI 2.2 offerings, which will help integrators usher in a whole new world of AV experience.
What Should Integrators Do Now?
Chen and Yeh are clear and steadfast in their advice: stay educated, stay patient, and design for the future without relying on speculative technologies. This means:
- Be wary of products and brands making premature marketing claims:
There are currently no HDMI 2.2-compatible sources, displays or cables available on the market. Making promises based on an emerging spec can quickly undermine credibility. Yeh offers this candid advice to integrators: “It’s easy to buy into the hype—but don’t. It’s a high-risk move with very little reward.” Instead, integrators should focus on educating clients, designing with flexibility, and planning for future upgrades based on certified, proven solutions—not speculation.
- Design for upgradeability:
Install dark fibre or additional Cat6A alongside current HDMI distribution infrastructure to allow for future migration.
- Prioritise reliability:
In many cases, a well-executed 4K system still delivers stunning performance and a better user experience than unstable next-gen resolutions.
- Track certification timelines:
HDMI.org remains the authoritative resource for updates on HDMI 2.2 and its associated testing and certification protocols. “It’s easy for a manufacturer to label a product as 96-gig certified,” says Chen. “But for real assurance, it must be tested and accredited by a third party.” As HDMI specifications become increasingly complex, especially at data rates like 96Gbps, relying on trusted sources like HDMI.org helps integrators verify product claims and avoid the pitfalls of falsely labeled or non-compliant equipment in increasingly sensitive and critical environments.
Looking Ahead: Applications That Will Benefit
HDMI 2.2’s eventual rollout will have far-reaching implications for a range of industries:
- Gaming: With ultra-low latency and refresh rates above 120Hz, HDMI 2.2 can support highly immersive, responsive gameplay and realistic VR environments.
- Education and Collaboration: Higher resolution and interactive content will enhance virtual classrooms, remote engineering reviews and global teamwork.
- Medical Imaging: Surgical suites will benefit from higher frame rates and sharper imaging, improving diagnostic accuracy and procedural confidence.
- Digital Signage and Simulation: Retail, industrial and military use cases will leverage HDMI 2.2’s bandwidth to deliver detailed, data-rich visualisations in real time.
Stay Grounded, Stay Ready
The podcast ends with a practical message: HDMI 2.2 is exciting, but integrators must avoid getting swept up in hype. “We’re at a crossroads where performance, certification and transparency matter more than ever,” Yeh explains. “With HDMI 2.2, there’s no room for shortcuts—it’s about doing it right, from the lab to the field.”
Listen to the full episode now.
Find out more about Kordz’ leading professional grade HDMI cable range here.
For updates on the evolution of Kordz’ award-winning, professional-grade connectivity solutions, including networking, HDMI, and speaker cabling, sign up for our newsletter here and stay tuned for future episodes of Mastering Connectivity.
[CLICK TO LISTEN ON YOUTUBE or APPLE]
Newsletter Signup Form
To be added to the Kordz Australia Weekly Newsletter
A special thanks to our guests and AV Trade Talks host, Katye McGregor Bennett and the team at KMB Communications for their collaboration on this insightful podcast series.
© 2025 Kordz International. All Rights Reserved.
Please note, re-publishing of the contents of this article is prohibited; however, Kordz encourages the link to this page to be shared. If media, distributors, educators or others wish to share this information, we request you author your own post or article and link it to this page on kordz.com.au