The HD-AUD-IO, manufactured by Hall Research Technologies, is a recipient of the Future Best of Show Awards, presented at the 2019 InfoComm Show by Sound and Video Contractor Magazine. 

Future’s Best of Show Awards are evaluated by a panel of judges and editors, experts in the pro-AV industry, and are selected from submitted products based on a range of criteria including innovation, ease of use, quality, return on investment, and market relevance.

“The Future Best of Show Awards at InfoComm are in their sixth year,” said Adam Goldstein, Future VP market leader for AV, Pro Audio and CE . “The program focuses attention on superb innovations in technology as seen around the exhibit floor of the industry’s top trade show. The list of 2019 winners and nominees shows where our industry is headed.”

The HD-AUD-IO provides one HDMI input with a corresponding HDMI output. The HDMI input audio signal simultaneously extracts to both 2-channel L/R analog and Digital SPDIF (TOSLINK). It provides two audio inputs (analog and digital). Users can select which audio to embed in the HDMI output. It can be the same as the original HDMI audio (pass-thru), SPDIF digital, or 3.5mm L/R analog.

Advanced EDID management allows users to control the video portion as well as the audio part of the EDID. The EDID presented to the video source connected to the HDMI input can pass from the downstream device or emulate an EDID from internal memory. The device can also “Learn” the EDID connected to its HDMI output.

The product has a video bandwidth of 18 Gbps and supports resolutions up to 4K@60 Hz 4:4:4 with HDR. It supports HDCP 2.2 as well as HDCP 1.4 if needed.

It has the ability to generate and output a blank HDMI signal with audio embedded even if there is no HDMI input; often referred to as “HDMI Audio Bridging”. This is a convenient means to distribute audio only signals over an HDMI network.

The HD-AUD-IO has a configurable digital input terminal that can mute the audio and/or video. This allows users to quickly mute the audio on HDMI output by just sensing a contact closure making it ideal for priority page or emergency announcement situations.

CEO Ali Haghjoo notes that " The HD-AUD-IO is the next generation of our 2013 award winning EMX-HD-AUD and will soon be a favorite of integrators and designers".