Given that even the TV world has struggled to cater adequately for the graphical ‘skill sets’ of the latest PC graphics cards and new PS5/Xbox Series X consoles, we perhaps shouldn’t have been surprised that the Hi-Fi industry has also hit a few hurdles along the way.
There’s another sign today, though, that things are looking up, with the surprise unveiling by Sound United of two three-into-one HDMI 2.1 adapters for its latest Denon and Marantz AVRs.
The Denon AVS-3 and Marantz VS3003 solve the limitations for gamers raised by the way even Denon and Marantz’s 2021 AVRs and processors only carry single HDMI ports capable of handling the sort of data rates required to support key new gaming-related graphics formats such as 4K at 120Hz, variable refresh rates and 8K.
The Marantz VS3003 brings three into one HDMI 2.1 switching to Marantz's latest AVRs and processors. ... [+]
Plug one of the new adaptors into a compatible receivers (a full list of these can be found at the bottom of the article) and you’ll be able to switch between three different potential high bandwidth sources - enough to cover all of the current PS5, Xbox Series X and PC options - without having to manually swap cables.
Obviously having to use an external switching device is not as elegant a solution as having three high-bandwidth HDMIs built into the receivers and amps would have been. However, while you wouldn’t exactly describe the Denon AVS-3 and Marantz VS3003 as ‘lookers’, they do both feature brushed aluminium front panels, and are only roughly the same size as a Blu-ray disc case. So they’re hardly intrusive additions to your kit stack.
Each switcher ships with a small remote control so you can toggle between HDMI 2.1 sources from the comfort of your sofa. Or you can control them both using your AVR’s remote control.
Both switchers are compatible with the HDMI CEC system, too, meaning they can automatically turn on and off in response to connected equipment, and switch inputs automatically when a connected CEC-enabled source is switched on.
One final useful feature of the switch boxes is that they also ‘fix’ the HDMI 2.1 bug found on the first product runs of Denon and Marantz’s latest AVR/processor range (discussed in this previous article).
The Denon AVS-3 and Marantz VS3003 are set to go on sale in October 2021 from Denon and Marantz’s websites respectively, or through authorised dealers, for $199/£179/€199.
Compatible Denon and Marantz AVRs and processors