Metra Home Theater Group has added three new Ethereal products: the Voltage Control Trigger, Active Cable Voltage Stabilizer, and HDM All in One, to solve many problems custom installers and integrators are facing with the latest HDMI technology.
Metra Home Theater Group’s Voltage Control Trigger (HDM-VCT) solves an evolving problem many integrators are experiencing with current displays. In the quest to speed up source selection through display-based inputs, changes have been made to how the hot plug return signal works. Devices connected through an AVR, switcher, or matrix may not consistently sync to the display due to this signal not requesting an EDID, which led Metra Home Theater Group to create the HDM-VCT. The HDM-VCT is a compact HDMI device that connects to a relay or digital I/O on a control system to break the signal between the 5-volt trigger and hot plug signal to create an EDID reset. In addition, the HDM-VCT, with supplemental TMDS voltage, adds 100ms delay to the hot return to ensure that the source is prepared to accept the signal.
The Active Cable Voltage Stabilizer (HDM-ACVS) is designed to supply sufficient voltage and current to televisions to keep all sources, such as matrices and active cables, functioning. Many integrators are facing problems with new displays that do not provide enough power and result in a power failure once active cables are connected, which led Metra Home Theater Group to design the HDM-ACVS. On some newer displays, if a integrator is performing an install that is somewhere between 5 meters and 20 meters and they’re using an active HDMI cable powered by the display, they won’t have a picture. The HDM-ACVS is designed to supply the correct voltage and current needed to keep sources and active cables functioning, especially at longer lengths.
Lastly, the HDM All in One (HDM-AIO) encompasses a digital analysis device, voltage swing corrector, and voltage control trigger. The digital analysis component can correct audio and video timing issues found in HDMI components, including audio dropouts. Additionally, the HDM-AIO includes a voltage control trigger used to break the signal between the 5-volt and hot plug signal to create an EDID reset and provide a hot return delay of 100ms.
“We’re pleased to unveil three new products in our Ethereal line because they’re true ‘fix-it’ solutions for many problems integrators are facing with today’s 4K and 18Gbps HDMI technology,” said Jessy Crabb, general manager of Metra Home Theater Group. “These products were developed after hearing about and diagnosing issues that dealers are seeing in the field with some of the latest displays on the market. We want to future-proof their 4K, 18Gbps work to prevent many of those problems.”
Metra Home Theater Group’s Voltage Control Trigger (HDM-VCT), Active Cable Voltage Stabilizer (HDM-ACVS), and HDM All in One (HDM-AIO) are made in the U.S., are DPL 4K and 18Gbps certified, and support all HDMI 2.0a features, HDCP formats, HDR10, and Dolby Vision HDR.
