While HDMI continues to dominate connectivity in traditional AV systems, USB-C technology is rapidly emerging as a transformative new alternative. A significant improvement over earlier USB standards, USB-C now offers professional AV integrators a user-friendly and versatile platform for a wide array of applications. Its ability to seamlessly connect fragmented products while handling power and bandwidth-intensive data and video through a single cable presents new opportunities for integrators to create cleaner, more efficient and user-friendly installations. The rising prevalence of USB-C-enabled devices, combined with the technology’s performance and installation advantages, is driving its adoption in corporate environments where laptops, tablets, monitors and AV equipment are all commonly deployed.
However, according to the connectivity company Kordz, the new technology hasn’t emerged without a few teething issues. The complexity of the USB connection makes it difficult for manufacturers to create certified full-featured USB3.x or USB4 cables more than two meters (6.56 feet) long, which is important for commercial installations. To date, many have tried to get around the problem by offering non-certified and non-full-featured products at longer lengths. Furthermore, some have designed a larger connector than the specification allows, making installations difficult when using recessed USB-C ports. As a result, it has been immensely difficult for integrators to identify the correct cables for the specific needs of their project.
In its new article, ‘USB-C Demystified: Understanding the Fundamentals’, the connectivity experts at Kordz provide a comprehensive exploration of USB-C technology, tracing its genesis from the introduction of USB’s original technology in 1996. Over the years, USB connectors have evolved to become more robust and user-friendly, culminating in the versatile USB-C standard increasingly dominant in corporate environments today. The article discusses the limitations of early USB solutions, key drivers for the adoption of USB-C, and the performance advantages that now make it a game-changer for AV installations.
“The impact of USB-C on the AV industry is hard to ignore,” says James Chen, Managing Director of Kordz. “Its compact, symmetrical design allows devices to become smaller while eliminating directional insertion issues and improving usability. With support for higher data and video transfer rates, increased power delivery capabilities and backward compatibility with older USB versions, USB-C simplifies device design and reduces clutter, cost and environmental impact. Its introduction marks a pivotal shift toward universal connectivity, reducing reliance on proprietary solutions and encouraging interoperability across devices and platforms.”
The full article can be read here.
