The gaming world is growing rapidly, and you should be a part of that growth. In the past, video games may have been associated with kids and young adults, but the past is behind us, and those kids have grown up. According to Industry Facts, "The average gamer is 34 years old, and 72 percent are age 18 or older. More than 150 million Americans play video games, and 64 percent of American households are home to at least one person who plays video games regularly or at least three hours per week. 60 percent of Americans play video games DAILY." There is definitely a lot of gaming going on.

What Gamers Want

Gamers are interested in quality, clarity and speed. They are being immersed into worlds they could only imagine. Worlds that were once impossible become possible through these games. And gamers want to experience ALL the features in these games in the best way possible. They are willing to spend lots of money on their gaming systems but may not realize they aren't getting the full experience if they don't also invest in cables that can truly support the specs of their system.

The Bandwidth Challenge

The single biggest issue facing gaming enthusiasts is performance vs. bandwidth. More and more TVs and gaming consoles are moving to 4K and Ultra HD. To state it simply, 4K and Ultra High Definition are four times the resolution of Full High Definition. A standard Full HD screen will have a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 (a total of 2,073,600 pixels). Ultra HD and 4K screens have a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 (a total of 8,294,400 pixels). Thus the more pixels there are, the more detail the picture contains, and gamers want MORE detail.

4K gaming has continued to grow in popularity, and with it, the display technology has had to improve to meet gamer expectations. Computer graphic scenes are now being rendered in high-dynamic-range rendering (HDRR or HDR rendering), also known as high-dynamic-range lighting. This allows the details to remain that may have been lost due to limiting contrast ratios. Increasing the number of colors per pixel increases the quality of the realistic picture and overall greater playing experience.

Gamers using the Xbox One X and even the Sony PlayStation 4Pro have experienced issues with the performance of their equipment connectivity levels. Gamers are having to pick and choose which display options they want because their specs are limited in what they can produce, i.e. doubling the frame rate and cutting the color gamut in half only delivers a bandwidth wash, and yet the quality still doesn’t improve. With statistics like this, the market for quality gaming accessories is higher than it has been before. And these adults are willing to pay to make their gaming experience the best it can be.

The Standard Bandwidth Basic HDMI 2.0 specifications provide:

• Up to 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution
  (number of pixels being used to create the picture)
• FPS (frames per second) options of 24, 30 and 60
  (how many times a second the picture is rebuilt, i.e. faster = better)
• Color Depth: 8 bit, 10 bit, 12 bit, 14 bit and 16 bit
  (how many colors are being created by the display)
• Color Gamut options: 4:2:0, 4:2:2, and 4:4:4
  (4:4:4 provides accurate color information to every single pixel on display)
• HDR10 and now Dolby Vision
  (improve “Depth of Field” by greatly expanding lighting and shadow control)

The Bandwidth Solution

Gamers with the standard bandwidth basics must balance the performance quality with the ability to transmit and display the signal. Again they must pick and choose what they can display. This affects the quality, definition and speed and ultimately affects their gaming experience. This is where Metra Home Theater Group® steps up to meet the needs these consumers have. Retailers need to be in on this game. Don’t ignore this opportunity to provide new, high-end HDMI cables to support 4K video content.

Metra Home Theater Group (MHTG) can help. As a pioneer in HDMI cable technology, we have a strong commitment to research and investment in the development of cutting-edge solutions. We have a history of providing first-to-market solutions for HDMI cables and electronics, winning numerous industry awards for our products. We have what gamers need, and you can meet that need with our MHTG connectivity options that support the expanded bandwidth that gamers desire. Gamers no longer have to pick and choose; they can have it all.

MHTG Long Distance HDMI Cables designed for custom integrators:

• Velox Fiber Cables - ultra-premium cables for very long distance runs
  (carries 24Gbps up to 100 meters, DPL Certified)
• Velox Active Copper Cables - ultra-premium cables for longer runs
  (carries 24Gbps up to 30 meters, DPL Certified)
• Velox Passive Cables - ultra-premium cables ideal for in-wall use
  (carries 24Gbps up to 10 meters, DPL Certified)
• MHY Cables - best value with a slim design
  (carries 24Gbps up to 12 meters, DPL Certified)
• MHX Series Cables - best mix of value and performance for shorter distances
  (carries 24Gbps up to 7.5 meters, DPL Certified)
• Install Bay Fiber Cables - the most affordable solution for pre-wiring new homes
  (carries 24Gbps up to 260 feet)

For retailers, MHTG’s Helios brand can fill the gap between cheap cables and your 4K home theater and gaming equipment. Our new displays and retail products are designed to sell!

MHTG Helios Short Distance Fiber HDMI Cables:

• Designed for retail with award-winning packaging
• Active Fiber “Light Speed” HDMI cables
• 24Gbps (4x6Gbps) bandwidth - providing the fastest HDMI signal
• Support 4K/60, 10 bit, 4:4:4 and all known versions of HDR - no external power required
• Compatible with the new enhanced audio return channels (ARC and eARC) as well as the current HDMI specification with Ethernet
• Ultra-energy efficient Rx/Tx chipset - no external power required
• Cleaner and simpler installation
• Robust head shell and durable cloth braided jacket to protect the cable and its built-in electronics
• Gold plated connectors
• Strong braided cotton outer jacket to provide flexibility for the thin cable (making it easier to install in tight locations)

We are here to make the technology at the gamer’s fingertips the best possible quality it can be for an overall "out of this world" experience.

Metra Home Theatre Theater Group is a division of Metra Electronics®. We are the world leader and “The Installer’s Choice” for vehicle installation kits and car audio accessories for more than 70 years. Our brands include Ethereal Home Theater®, Helios®, Spyclops Surveillance Systems® and The Install Bay®.

Questions? Give us a call, and you won’t speak to an overseas call center of people reading from scripts. Our technical support team is located in the Metra Electronics corporate headquarters in Holly Hill, FL. This allows our team to work closely with the same people who developed and engineered our products. We provide expert answers and fast support.

Email or Call us for Technical Support:
htsupport@metrahometheater.com

tel: 386-257-1187 or 866-839-9187