Essential Install | Matrix And Signal Management
As well as
introducing
products of its
own, Blustream has
been doing some
interesting work
with DemoPad’s
CENTRO 8M
RS232, RS485 and LAN control and EDID management up
to 70m (or 35m for the 4x4 kit) over a single Cat5e/6 cable.
PP-POH matrixes also offer Power over HDBaseT (PoH)
for remote powering of receivers and routable serial
control capabilities to allow control of all connected
display devices, with all models offering protocols for
leading control systems.
Offering something different is the MX-PP-POHCUSTOM, a modular ‘custom’ format to offer installers
scalable, affordable HDBaseT integration with greater
freedom to create single or mixed systems.
Installers can specify an 8x8 or 16x16 chassis
with any combination of 11 digital and analogue
transmission modules.
The MX-H2 line is all about adding to features and
transmission distance options with two HDMI only models
(4x4 and 6x6) and three HDBaseT models all offering
compatibility with 4K Ultra HD content as well as source
and display devices featuring support for HDMI 2.0 video
standards and HDCP.2.2.
As well as a 4K upgrade to its HDBaseT Class B 4x4
matrix + 4x low profile receiver ‘kit’, the MX-H2 Series
adds HDBaseT Class A 6x6 and 8x8 models supporting
the 5Play feature set.
Video transmissions on both HDMI and HDBaseT
models are supported up to 4K@60Hz with 4:2:0 chroma
subsampling, 4K@30Hz 4:4:4 and 4K HDR @24Hz 4:2:0
10bit BT.2020, which is in-line with HDMI 2.0 video
standards and as found in native Ultra HD Blu-ray
specification. Audio specification increases to support
DTS:X and Dolby Atmos. The manufacturer also points
to some unique features on this line with full HDMI 2.0
18Gb/s signals supported from all outputs of HDMI-only
models and all mirrored HDMI outputs on HDBaseT
models. MX-H2 also offers SmartEDID, which automatically
adjusts EDID sent to sources based on the resolution
capabilities of the display device for full compatibility and
integration of 2K and 4K display devices.
Q1 of next year will see the release of the MX-H2X
matrix line that builds on t he H2 Series with a new flagship
line of HDBaseT Class A matrix switchers combining video
and integrated audio matrixing.
In addition to the 5Play feature set and 4K HDR
support, for the first time a WyreStorm HDMI/HDBaseT
matrix has been coupled with integrated audio matrix
functionality that includes DSP delivering adjustment of
audio characteristics, such as EQ, delay and gain. Up to
three separate audio sources can be routed to each of
the 16x audio zone outputs (or 10x on MX-1010-HDBT) as
pre-out or adjustable line-level, for a total of 48 possible
audio inputs (30x on MX-1010-HDBT-H2X), giving
flexibility to what audio can be transmitted from where,
and to where.
Audio from video sources can be internally deembedded, fed into the audio matrix and transmitted
with video signals via HDBaseT for audio reinforcement
within video zones, from which ARC audio can also be fed
back to the matrix for distribution. Additionally, a further
16 audio-only sources (10x on MX-1010-HDBT-H2X) can
be distributed to zones for simple distribution of music
from digital audio streaming devices such as Sonos, Apple
Airplay, and DLNA devices.
The Blustream brand has built a significant market
share for itself built in reliability and price point. “The
team at Blustream continue to expand their range of
switching solutions with the launch of Multicast UHD
over IP. Multicast boasts almost latency free (one-frame)
distribution of all 4K UHD resolutions including support
for HDR.
Phil Davis, company MD, says: “The beauty of Multicast
is its flexibility: literally any sized system can be specified
and each receiver then set to the optimum resolution of
the display.
“Multicast offers a host of features that are pioneering
the integration of UHD Video over IP. New chipsets and
18 months of software development have resulted in
us delivering a truly universal solution that is equally at
home in a commercial or residential installation. Installers
and integrators can now cost effectively specify bespoke
systems on an unlimited scale.
“When you add the ease of configuration and features
such as HDR and IR pass through, we are hoping to put the
fun back into advanced Multi Room HDMI distribution!”
The company has also recently announced a partnership
with DemoPad, who has just launched its own CENTRO
8M control processor. The CENTRO 8M is a breakthrough
product for DemoPad that has good potential for both
simple and advanced smart home control.
Phil explains: “The 8M processor enables the user
to program literally any remote, including the Sky
remote into a whole home control system. You can
now control all sources, a Blustream matrix and even
lights or thermostats directly from your Sky remote! The
CENTRO 8M also features a free App and graphics pack
for end users making integrated smart control easier
than ever.”
“Alexa...
turn on lounge”
Find out more at www.pulse-eight.com
42 | November 2016
Matrixes.indd 42
21/11/2016 16:45