It improves on the existing ANSI/CEA-2030: Multi-Room Audio Cabling Standard, which addressed how to wire a multi-room audio system. The updated standard covers much more, providing sample documentation and diagrams of multi-room audio systems.

“Of all the cross-industry best practices, this is the one must-have tool for anyone in the multi-room installation business,” says Michael Braithwaite, chair of the R10 Residential Systems committee working group. “From basic wall-mounted speaker volume controls to the latest in time-sensitive synchronous A/V streaming, this standard will ensure installers are ready to handle any A/V system on the market.”

The CEA/CEDIA-2030-A: Multi-Room Audio Cabling Standard document is available in the CEDIA Marketplace at cedia.org/marketplace and is $57.

In another project, CEDIA has a whitepaper on HDMI Design and Initialization Sequence. The document discusses the basic design of HDMI devices, the HDMI initialization sequence, and features in the HDMI 1.4a specification. HDMI Design and Initialization Sequence is the second in CEDIA's series of white papers on the topic of HDMI. The paper covers three types of HDMI devices as well as the authentication process of displaying the best possible audio and video format and a list of third-party HDCP key limits. It is available through the CEDIA Marketplace free to members and $9.99 for non-members.

There are many High Definition Multimedia Interface devices, with more coming, as well as advances in the cabling itself, which transfers uncompressed multi-audio and video in one cable. Low cost and elimination of cable clutter are benefits since a single HDMI connection replaces three video connections for high definition video and six audio connections for high resolution audio.

Just this month, Crestron of Rockleigh, N.J., rolled out a new line of HDMI extenders to transmit up to 330 feet without loss of signal quality. Standard HDMI cables may lose signal quality after just 30 feet. For new construction and retrofits, as either a standalone system or as part of an integrated home automation or building control system, the transmitter mounts in a single-gang wall box, inside an equipment rack, or attaches to any flat surface. A compact receiver mounts behind a display device, projector or wherever necessary.