The Beonic Man wrote:

Yes you are certainly right about these points Michael and I have of course considered them all. Still happy to try it out though and hope to get a year (or two) of viewing pleasure from it. If something goes wrong then that was the risk and I'll probably buy the new Avant. Always wanted to own a BV5 or BV9 though and I think the BV9 is the better choice of the two ... only just! :)

I know you are waiting for you're new Avant and I am sure you will love it. An impressive TV certainly, little on the big side for me though. Even the 50" plasma is pushing it a bit in my flat but you have to follow your heart.

Hey Beonic Man :)

I am indeed waiting for my Avant (it has been delayed at least until the 22nd) and I look forward to it - probably as much as you look forward to your Beovision.

The BV9 is absolutely a better choice than the BV5 and it is probably a very nice TV to own too. I don't think the screen will compare to a new led-screen but as you say this is not what is most important to you. I also got that thing about having to have certain things, which is why I have an old Avant in my study. It is a marvelous TV and it works perfectly. I think you will have the same feeling about your BV9. Not the latest tech but it´s cool and unique. 

I’m about to get the new Avant, and have made a few enquiries as to Avant’s future-proofness:

INPUTS:

For anyone who’s confused or uncertain about the 4K capabilities of the inputs on the new Avant, as of right now, the version of all HDMI-inputs is 1.4, with HDCP 1.4. HDMI inputs 1 - 5 can already receive UHD signal up to 30 fps with the current video engine software version.

There will be a software update to the video engine later this year, as has been already mentioned. It will update HDMI 1 - 5 to HDMI 2.0, of which HDMI 1 will also support HDCP 2.2. HDMI 2 - 5 will keep their HDCP 1.4 compliance, however they too will support UHD signals up to 60 fps after the update.

Note that HDMI 6, the “temporary” connection, does not and will not support UHD signals.

INTERNAL MEDIA PLAYER & CODEC SUPPORT:

The internal media player of Avant will not support H.265/HEVC, not even after software updates. This would require a hardware update to the video engine (perhaps Avant Mk II will have it). So for H.265/HEVC content, an external player is needed, and Avant will play with them nicely via PUC control.

...which brings me to 3RD PARTY PLAYERS:

I wonder if there will be, for example, a new Apple TV that supports H.265/HEVC launched sometime soon? Perhaps the WWDC in June will reveal something... It would be great if such new Apple TV would also still fit inside the Avant's compartment.

KMA wrote:

INTERNAL MEDIA PLAYER & CODEC SUPPORT:

The internal media player of Avant will not support H.265/HEVC, not even after software updates . This would require a hardware update to the video engine (perhaps Avant Mk II will have it). So for H.265/HEVC content, an external player is needed , and Avant will play with them nicely via PUC control.

Off course you can, if you read again.

But lets start with 1K content first.

KMA wrote:

I’m about to get the new Avant, and have made a few enquiries as to Avant’s future-proofness:

INPUTS:

For anyone who’s confused or uncertain about the 4K capabilities of the inputs on the new Avant, as of right now, the version of all HDMI-inputs is 1.4, with HDCP 1.4. HDMI inputs 1 - 5 can already receive UHD signal up to 30 fps with the current video engine software version.

There will be a software update to the video engine later this year, as has been already mentioned. It will update HDMI 1 - 5 to HDMI 2.0, of which HDMI 1 will also support HDCP 2.2. HDMI 2 - 5 will keep their HDCP 1.4 compliance, however they too will support UHD signals up to 60 fps after the update.

Note that HDMI 6, the “temporary” connection, does not and will not support UHD signals.

INTERNAL MEDIA PLAYER & CODEC SUPPORT:

The internal media player of Avant will not support H.265/HEVC, not even after software updates. This would require a hardware update to the video engine (perhaps Avant Mk II will have it). So for H.265/HEVC content, an external player is needed, and Avant will play with them nicely via PUC control.

...which brings me to 3RD PARTY PLAYERS:

I wonder if there will be, for example, a new Apple TV that supports H.265/HEVC launched sometime soon? Perhaps the WWDC in June will reveal something... It would be great if such new Apple TV would also still fit inside the Avant's compartment.

Im sorry but both HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 is hardware changes, so a software change won't do much. HDCP 2.2 is a new chip.

Out of interest, the first Avant's should start arriving shortly. Has anyone ordered an Avant and, if so, if you have received it, can you give us your first impressions?

Tomas wrote:

Im sorry but both HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 is hardware changes, so a software change won't do much. HDCP 2.2 is a new chip.

In that case, the hardware must already be up-to-date with Avant, and B&O will simply enable the compliance to HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 with a software update to the video engine. I know my original post to be correct 🙂 

EDIT: Interesting reading:

http://www.cnet.com/news/hdmi-2-0-what-you-need-to-know/ 

http://www.cnet.com/news/hdmi-2-0-upgrade-path-where-do-the-manufacturers-stand/

Worth noting that those articles are from September and October last year. Conclusion from manufacturers:

"Sony and Toshiba have committed to an upgrade path via free firmware available soon, Samsung says its path involves a new external input box (which likely isn't free), and the promises made by Sharp and LG are much more vague. TCL doesn't have an upgrade path, and while Seiki didn't reply, I'd be surprised if it offered an upgrade. Panasonic's lone 4K TV is also the only one said to support HDMI 2.0 right now."

And most importantly:

"If you fall somewhere between these two groups, it might save you some stress to focus on the companies with a clear upgrade path from HDMI 1.4 to 2.0."

B&O has a clear upgrade path via software update to the video engine.

As to how the upgrade is possible without changing hardware, only with a software update, an article from HDGuru explains:

"Since the HDMI 2.0 signal is electrically identical to HDMI 1.4, the change will be in how fast the HDMI chip operates. We speculate that Sony and others may have planned for HDMI 2.0 and used a faster chip in their UHD displays to prepare for it. This means the upgrade will be a simple firmware update that’s likely downloaded from the Internet."

B&O have already mentioned that Avant has an upgraded video engine (compared to BV11, BSys4) with more processing power – and processing power is what handling higher frame rate UHD signals eventually comes down to.

HDMI 2 allows for higher bandwith and I hope B&O has thought about this, as far as I understand some companies fake HDMI2 (reduced colors but 60 fps).

HDMI 2 and HDCP 2.2 is already on the market and the TV is being shipped just now. They don't have anything to blame for not having it.
I hope B&O will keep us updated and if there will be need for a MK2 Avant I want them to exchange it for free (or rather change the logic board to the newer one) since they should already be up to date with recent technology. I think the fact that they don't write anything about hdmi or hdcp versions on their tech specs but do spec everything else very good is annoying.