CEDIA Surprise: Lumagen Unleashes New ArtisaN 8K Video Processor

(September 3, 2024) On the heels of its latest entry-level video processor announcement, the Radiance Pro 4140, Lumagen is once again topping CEDIA 2024 headlines by throwing down a thunderous digital fist. For the first time in the company's Illustrius existence, it's going the way of 8K with the reveal of the all-new flagship ArtisaN 8K Video Processor. Designed with filmmakers and cinema purists in mind, the ArtisaN is crafted to preserve the all-important "director's intent" with uncompromising precision, bringing high-level, future-facing functionality and performance into Lumagen's impressive stable of processor models.

Jim Peterson, Lumagen’s president, describes the ArtisaN as a meticulously crafted piece of technology that merges bespoke hardware, software, and video processing algorithms with the highest-quality 8K HDMI chips and Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology. “This all comes together to deliver the best in-motion video, complementing the artistic craft of the filmmaker, delivering the best home cinema experience,” says Peterson.

Supporting both 8K60 and 4K120 inputs and outputs while offering compatibility with Dolby LLDV sources, the ArtisaN represents a significant evolution of Lumagen’s acclaimed Radiance Pro series. It not only incorporates all the cutting-edge features of its predecessors but also introduces new capabilities, such as direct control of Seymour-Screen Excellence’s masking systems, making it a versatile tool for any high-end home cinema setup.

Peterson emphasizes ArtisaN’s prowess in Dynamic Tone Mapping (DTM), a feature that Lumagen has continually refined to stay ahead of the competition. This sophisticated technology analyzes multiple regions of each frame, optimizing every image with extreme levels of accuracy. Movie producer Jon Thompson, responsible for post-production image quality at a major studio, has praised Lumagen’s DTM, stating, “the other DTM options used today are not even in the same league as the Lumagen.”

With the rise of 8K displays, the ArtisaN also brings superior scaling capabilities to the forefront, building upon the Radiance Pro’s highly-regarded performance. Lumagen’s proprietary scaling algorithms are designed to ensure that all content, from 4K to standard definition, is precisely upscaled to 8K. The ArtisaN also features an edge-sharpening function, which restores details lost during digital compression, ensuring that every image is as sharp and detailed as possible.

While video-focused, audio performance hasn't been overlooked in the ArtisaN. By reducing HDMI output clock jitter, the processor minimizes distortion at the DACs, resulting in significantly improved audio quality, a crucial consideration for home theater enthusiasts seeking the best possible sound.

Thanks to its onboard FPGA technology, the ArtisaN has also been injected with an appealing level of future adaptability. This technology allows for hardware image processing and setup features to be added years after installation, keeping ArtisaN at the cutting edge of home cinema technology, even as standards evolve.

Manufactured in the USA and tagged with an aggressive starting price of $12,995 (MSRP), cinephiles and home theater fans will need to patiently wait for its official launch; as of now, Lumagen says ArtisaN will begin shipping in 2025. The wait will be worth it, though, as Lumagen will extend a "generous trade-in program" for current Radiance Pro owners.

Lumagen’s groundbreaking video processing technology can be experienced firsthand at the 2024 CEDIA Expo in Seymour-Screen Excellence’s Sound Room 4 and Booth 4409, as well as the Harman Booth 2512. For more information on the ArtisaN, visit Lumagen’s website or contact Jim Peterson directly at 503.574.2211.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

Just to clarify, control of the Seymour Screen Excellence masking systems is a new feature, but will also be available (in fact is now available) in the Radiance Pro series as well, regardless of generation. Jim posted the latest firmware update last week which includes control of the masking system.

 

[BennyS]

Just to clarify, control of the Seymour Screen Excellence masking systems is a new feature, but will also be available (in fact is now available) in the Radiance Pro series as well, regardless of generation. Jim posted the latest firmware update last week which includes control of the masking system.

Do you know how these talk to each other?
do I need to run a cat5 cable from screen to lumagen or a serial cable between them?

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

Do you know how these talk to each other?
do I need to run a cat5 cable from screen to lumagen or a serial cable between them?

It's an RS-232 connection.

In speaking with Evan at Seymour, the choice is between running a long RS-232 cable and installing the Seymour controller at the screen, or installing the controller in your rack and running long power leads. He recommended the long RS-232.

I'm also curious, since I have my Lumagen connected to my network via a Global Cache IP2SL converter, if the Seymour device would be capable of the same and have them communicate over the network.

 

[BennyS]

It's an RS-232 connection.

In speaking with Evan at Seymour, the choice is between running a long RS-232 cable and installing the Seymour controller at the screen, or installing the controller in your rack and running long power leads. He recommended the long RS-232.

I'm also curious, since I have my Lumagen connected to my network via a Global Cache IP2SL converter, if the Seymour device would be capable of the same and have them communicate over the network.

I would need 50' run, i beleive thats the max you should run RS-232
Global Cache would be ideal if it works.

thank you Travis
I got my lumagen connected to my Global Cashe also. By the way that was not easy LOL
I reached out to a HA programer to dial it in for me.
Next project is trying to install NSPanel to fire up my theater as I walk in

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

Next project is trying to install NSPanel to fire up my theater as I walk in

I use the mobile HA app to fire it up about 15 minutes before we go downstairs so it's ready to go without waiting.

 

[austinblackboxspace]

i'm still eager to see all of the Lumagen products compared to the entire line of Madvr.

 

[AVR tech]

This very expensive gear was confirmed to be 40 Gbps device, despite a pitch to gamers.

A reminder. Modern gaming graphics cards and displays, both TVs and monitors, feature HDMI 2.1 FRL6 signal on 48 Gbps ports as a standard since 2020... As 4K gaming has passed the threshold of 4K/120Hz and 4K/144Hz 10-bit, thus exhausting the bandwidth of HDMI 2.1 at 48 Gbps, new graphics cards from Nvidia feature DisplayPort 2.1 80 Gbps ports for 4K/165Hz, 4K/240Hz and 5K/120Hz gaming on already available QD-OLED displays from Samsung.

Even TVs are moving past 4K/144Hz and new LG line-up for 2025 has 4K/165Hz display, forcing DSC due to bandwidth limits on HDMI 2.1, signalling the need to move onto HDMI 2.2 in near future. LG and Samsung are known for in-house solutions and it's just a matter of time when new TVs are released with brand new HDMI 2.2 ports, most likely in 2027.

So, AV industry of intermediate and media hub devices, such as AVRs and AV processors will finally need to deliver either full speed 48 Gbps ports, five years later, or start preparing for HDMI 2.2 era with 96 Gbps ports. By the end of 2027 and beginning of 2028, new TVs, monitors, graphics cards and consoles will feature HDMI 2.2 ports.

The question I have is whether HDMI 2.2 chips for AV receivers and processors have been placed on R&D roadmaps by AV industry?

 

[Todd Anderson]

This very expensive gear was confirmed to be 40 Gbps device, despite a pitch to gamers.

A reminder. Modern gaming graphics cards and displays, both TVs and monitors, feature HDMI 2.1 FRL6 signal on 48 Gbps ports as a standard since 2020... As 4K gaming has passed the threshold of 4K/120Hz and 4K/144Hz 10-bit, thus exhausting the bandwidth of HDMI 2.1 at 48 Gbps, new graphics cards from Nvidia feature DisplayPort 2.1 80 Gbps ports for 4K/165Hz, 4K/240Hz and 5K/120Hz gaming on already available QD-OLED displays from Samsung.

Even TVs are moving past 4K/144Hz and new LG line-up for 2025 has 4K/165Hz display, forcing DSC due to bandwidth limits on HDMI 2.1, signalling the need to move onto HDMI 2.2 in near future. LG and Samsung are known for in-house solutions and it's just a matter of time when new TVs are released with brand new HDMI 2.2 ports, most likely in 2027.

So, AV industry of intermediate and media hub devices, such as AVRs and AV processors will finally need to deliver either full speed 48 Gbps ports, five years later, or start preparing for HDMI 2.2 era with 96 Gbps ports. By the end of 2027 and beginning of 2028, new TVs, monitors, graphics cards and consoles will feature HDMI 2.2 ports.

The question I have is whether HDMI 2.2 chips for AV receivers and processors have been placed on R&D roadmaps by AV industry?

Great points and questions.

The reality with HDMI 2.1, at the moment, is that most equipment (receivers, etc) out there aren't 48gbps... most top out at 40, which is fine for everyone but, as you point out, gamers. And that extends into high-end territory, where we've watched StormAudio release a 2.1 card with 40gbps (tho, Trinnov is a full 48).

I recently was on the hunt for a switcher for our Test Bench series, and all three switchers bought couldn't handle 48gbps, despite being advertised as 48gbps. I'd imagine company's straight up exaggerate because most everyone using the product can't hit 48 with their in-home equipment.

As for your question about 2.2 chips. I've had a few conversations with folks deep within the industry. It's going to be a while before we see 96Gbps. We are very early in the game... so, I'd imagine we are years away from seeing it actually come to fruition, let alone be a factor in the consumer space. The expense of full 96Gbps chips is going to be high for the foreseeable future. That expense is exactly why most 2.1 compatible cards are 40Gbps vs 48. It comes down to dollars and cents while considering what most, not all, but most, buyers are going to need or ever use.

With sales contraction within the AVR segment, I'd be shocked to see a load of new models landing in 2026 with 2.2 onboard. Even at that, I'd be skeptical that any 2.2 equipment wouldn't be hindered by performance issues.

Keep your eye out for cables landing first.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

This very expensive gear was confirmed to be 40 Gbps device, despite a pitch to gamers.

A reminder. Modern gaming graphics cards and displays, both TVs and monitors, feature HDMI 2.1 FRL6 signal on 48 Gbps ports as a standard since 2020... As 4K gaming has passed the threshold of 4K/120Hz and 4K/144Hz 10-bit, thus exhausting the bandwidth of HDMI 2.1 at 48 Gbps, new graphics cards from Nvidia feature DisplayPort 2.1 80 Gbps ports for 4K/165Hz, 4K/240Hz and 5K/120Hz gaming on already available QD-OLED displays from Samsung.

Even TVs are moving past 4K/144Hz and new LG line-up for 2025 has 4K/165Hz display, forcing DSC due to bandwidth limits on HDMI 2.1, signalling the need to move onto HDMI 2.2 in near future. LG and Samsung are known for in-house solutions and it's just a matter of time when new TVs are released with brand new HDMI 2.2 ports, most likely in 2027.

So, AV industry of intermediate and media hub devices, such as AVRs and AV processors will finally need to deliver either full speed 48 Gbps ports, five years later, or start preparing for HDMI 2.2 era with 96 Gbps ports. By the end of 2027 and beginning of 2028, new TVs, monitors, graphics cards and consoles will feature HDMI 2.2 ports.

The question I have is whether HDMI 2.2 chips for AV receivers and processors have been placed on R&D roadmaps by AV industry?

It's true that for the most intensive gaming, there's not a video processor on the market that can keep up. But in terms of lag, there are plenty of folks out there using the current lineup of Lumagen video processors while gaming with minimal lag, especially when compared with other VPs on the market.

Also of note is the Lumagen's upgradeability. The current lineup of Radiance Pro units have been available for 9+ years, I believe, and the first unit sold is still capable of running the most current firmware, and was easily user-upgradeable to faster I/O when it became necessary for certain throughputs. An upgrade from the 9G I/O to 18G I/O is $500 per port. So, while it won't ship with 48Gbps ports, it will most likely be fully upgradeable as an upgrade.

Lumagen has a proven reputation of being updatable and upgradeable, and I would expect no less from the Artisan. They've always done everything they can to add features and support the customers without requiring them to throw out the old hardware and replace with new.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Great points Travis.

It’s a modular platform - I wish most of the equipment out there was the same!

 

[austinblackboxspace]

my reaction to anything Lumagen or Sony...

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

 

[austinblackboxspace]

View attachment 82464

just announced, madvr extreme owners are exempt from all US tariffs on any future HT purchases. Lumagen owners pay double.

 

[AVR tech]

Lumagen has a proven reputation of being updatable and upgradeable, and I would expect no less from the Artisan. They've always done everything they can to add features and support the customers without requiring them to throw out the old hardware and replace with new.

Well, if one sells devices for ~$13,000, they'd better make sure it's upgradeable.

That expense is exactly why most 2.1 compatible cards are 40Gbps vs 48. It comes down to dollars and cents while considering what most, not all, but most, buyers are going to need or ever use.

I have heard this argument before and it does not seem to square the circle, especially when someone buys a flagship AVR for $6,000 or AV processor above $10,000... Source and sink devices with HDMI 2.1 48 Gbps and DisplayPort 80 Gbps cost from as little as $600 all the way to $3,000-4,000, depending on segments. Installing fast video ports in PC and TV industry is not a big deal. I am yet to hear a convincing explanation, after five years, as to why modern AVRs cannot have 48 Gbps ports. It's mind-boggling.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I wish I could tell - the most detailed conversation I’ve had about it came down to chip cost.

I know that design and testing proved to be a challenge for many when it came HDMI 2.1. Perhaps designs were made when 48gbps chips were exorbitant, and development time was so long that boards originally specified for 40gbps were kept in process.

 

[AVR tech]

Trinnov is a full 48

Is there any confirmation or evidence of this?
It would mean that there is a new HDMI 2.1 chip on video boards, something we have not heard of for many years.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Is there any confirmation or evidence of this?
It would mean that there is a new HDMI 2.1 chip on video boards, something we have not heard of for many years.

They report it as such… the Altitude 16 I have on loan is only 2.0, so I can’t test it.

I’ll ask for confirmation, but I’m fairly sure both Trinnov and Storm developed their boards in house.

 

[AVR tech]

They report it as such… the Altitude 16 I have on loan is only 2.0, so I can’t test it.
I’ll ask for confirmation, but I’m fairly sure both Trinnov and Storm developed their boards in house.

On a number of occasions, we have been fed with information that all ports are 40 Gbps, as they use CYP Cypress Technology video board with well-known Nuvoton HDMI 2.1 chips. As of now, there's no single indication or screenshot showing that this HDMI board is capable of FRL6 signal at 48 Gbps.

Trinnov Adds HDMI 2.1 for both Altitude16 and Altitude32 Processors - Residential Systems

For existing Altitude units, Trinnov will begin offering HDMI 2.1 upgrade kits at the end of January 2024.

www.residentialsystems.com

 

[Todd Anderson]

You’re right. I was going off memory… they developed it with CYP and it’s specified at 40.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I’ll poke around for some confirmation, but I’m sticking with my assumption that the boards are specified to what’s needed to operate the vast majority of modern max video needs: 4K video at 120 frames per second with 10-bit color and 4:4:4 chroma sampling, or 8K video at 60 frames per second with 10-bit color.

If I’m not mistaken, the max output of Xbox and PS is also 40gbps? In fact, I think PS5 is 32? Again, going off memory, but I think that’s correct.

Yes 2.1 is theoretically capable of handling 48… but I think the tech designs are gunning to handle what most buyers need.

 

[AVR tech]

If I’m not mistaken, the max output of Xbox and PS is also 40gbps? In fact, I think PS5 is 32? Again, going off memory, but I think that’s correct.

Yes, that is correct. However, as you know, consoles are just one type of gaming device, and not the most capable one. Besides, current consoles are almost at the end of their life cycle and new consoles are coming out roughly by the end of 2027. We have seen some leaks form Sony and Microsoft and we know that they are developing Play Station 6 and Xbox-next. Those new consoles are going to be more advanced and most likely feature new HDMI 2.2 ports, if not 48 Gbps ports. Are designers of future AVRs planning for this upcoming transition, like they did in 2020 when HDMI 2.1 was introduced? Please ask them this question. It's just roughly two years away, which is not long away from device cycle perspective.

Graphics cards in PCs are also gaming devices, more capable than consoles. Ever since 48 Gbps ports were introduced in 2020 and now DP 2.1 80 Gbps ports in 2025 due to higher bandwidth requirements, there have been more than 150 million cards sold worldwide. It's not less important gaming market than consoles, at all. It's a multi-billion dollar business, far bigger than AVR market has ever been, and yet the connectivity needs of this market are still ignored by AV industry. It's not surprising that AV industry has growing problems in finding new markets to sell devices to. One huge market is literally in front of their noses, and they chose not to look at it. As AVRs have connectivity restricted to castrated version of HDMI only, PC gamers do not find those devices interesting to consider due to bandwidth bottleneck of 40 Gbps and 4K/120 restriction.

I hope you can see where the problem is. It's on AVR manufacturers to make their future machines more attractive for new markets in order to convince PC gamers who use graphics cards to even consider connecting their PCs to AVR and not lose features and bandwidth. Currently, AVR folks conveniently ignore needs of PC gaming industry and hence very few PC gamers find AVRs interesting to consider. If AVR industry wants to grow, there's an opportunity here. Millions upon millions of potential buyers.

As explained in the post #8 above, graphics cards are more capable than consoles and require more bandwidth. Gaming on PCs has passed the point of 4K/120Hz 10-bit RGB video signal a few years ago. The new high-end standard right now is 4K/240Hz and Samsung and LG have already sold more than two million of those OLED displays. TVs are also gradually moving in this direction, with LG's line-up for 2025 featuring 4K/165Hz TVs. All signs on the sky show the direction of travel. Impossible to ignore. That's why HDMI Forum announced new 2.2 spec at CES in January, to enable this transition beyond 4K/120Hz. We need to look ahead, as AVRs are devices that sit in households for many years and need to have most future-proof connectivity for upcoming devices.

I am giving you ideas what to ask and how to ask challenging and honest questions when you visit CEDIA and other AV events. If AVR industry wants to stay in a small bubble of their own, what they currently do with AVRs is certainly not going to improve their situation. I am sure you are familiar with news on take overs, negative financial results, shifting assests and other hardship events in AVR industry in recent years. As an AV tech journalist and reporter whose articles and video interviews I thoroughly enjoy watching, I'd like to suggest that you keep asking those questions about near to mid-term future plans of AV folks. At some point this year and next year, they will have to start talking about development of full speed 48 Gbps video boards and future HDMI 2.2 video boards for source and sink devices coming up in 2027/2028. There is no running away from it. Sticking head in sand is not going to make near-future reality go away. They need to be able to see current trends beyond consoles, upcoming trends and at least recognize it. You are in a position to drive conversations in this direction.

There are no major new audio and video standards to be introduced in AV world, apart from minor audio update in spacious sound from Samsung and Google. The industry is pretty mature and has much plateaued in this regard. As such, the only serious breakthrough they could possibly make in a few years is introducing more modern connectivity on video boards, new and diverse AVR designs and attempt to conquer new markets.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

Yes, that is correct. However, as you know, consoles are just one type of gaming device, and not the most capable one. Besides, current consoles are almost at the end of their life cycle and new consoles are coming out roughly by the end of 2027. We have seen some leaks form Sony and Microsoft and we know that they are developing Play Station 6 and Xbox-next. Those new consoles are going to be more advanced and most likely feature new HDMI 2.2 ports, if not 48 Gbps ports. Are designers of future AVRs planning for this upcoming transition, like they did in 2020 when HDMI 2.1 was introduced? Please ask them this question. It's just roughly two years away, which is not long away from device cycle perspective.

All the more reason to release this in 2025 with 40Gbps ports for the vast majority of the user base, and then follow-up in 2027 with an affordable upgrade path that matches console performance for the small fraction of users who would want/need that level of performance.

Who knows what will change in those road maps for 2027 release plans. With an easily user-upgradable infrastructure like Lumagen’s, it makes sense for them to wait for the dust to settle rather than add cost to the product for consoles that don’t exist yet.

For the PC gamers today who desire that performance, how many are actually taking full advantage of a 48Gbps output, how many of those would be legitimate Lumagen customers, and while we’re at it, what are the current options available on the market today?

 

[AVR tech]

All the more reason to release this in 2025 with 40Gbps ports for the vast majority of the user base, and then follow-up in 2027 with an affordable upgrade path that matches console performance for the small fraction of users who would want/need that level of performance.

Next gen consoles is not "small fraction". Lumagen is a small fraction, super niche device. Consoles will sell at least 150 million units in one year alone. Lumagen buyers are halo users who have more advanced PC systems at home, outperformimg consoles.

Who knows what will change in those road maps for 2027 release plans. With an easily user-upgradable infrastructure like Lumagen’s, it makes sense for them to wait for the dust to settle rather than add cost to the product for consoles that don’t exist yet.

Nothing much will change in console roadmaps. There's already a well-established upgrade cycle. Look it up. Lumagem and any other AV company doesn't need to look into consoles at all in order to find out what's happening in the industry. It's enough if they follow trends in TV and monitor industry, as well as in graphics cards segment. Those are always more advanced than any consoles.

For the PC gamers today who desire that performance, how many are actually taking full advantage of a 48Gbps output, how many of those would be legitimate Lumagen customers, and while we’re at it, what are the current options available on the market today?

Good questions. Has any AVR or AV processor company done any serious research on this topic? Are you familiar with it? It's in their interest to find out what's happening in tech world right now and what's going to happen in next couple of years based on current trends and announced technologies.

Every single modern graphics card in the world has 48 Gbps port. All new Nvidia 5000 cards also have 80 Gbps DP ports. Mid range graphics cards that cost $600 and upwards can deliver above 4K/120Hz experience in many games. Do you realize this?

Current options in the entire AV market are devices limited to 40 Gbps due to Nuvoton chips and lack of competition in HDMI chips design. Sad, but true. Entire AV industry is dependent on one major manufacturer of chips. This will need to change if this AV industry segment wants to experience any more serious adoption among consumers on any tier of financial affordability. It's not about Lumagen per se, but its a wider issue to consider.