You bought a new monitor and it came with a DisplayPort cable. You search the internet to see if it can support audio — however, you need to be careful as the information might not be reliable. You can also end up spending more.
Our experts did the legwork to answer this question and explore whether or not it allows transmission.
DisplayPort Audio
Does DisplayPort carry audio? To answer this question, these cables can indeed can carry sound much like that of HDMI cables. It can carry video and audio output to an external audio device. Hence, you no longer need a separate audio cable connected to your default audio device.
A DisplayPort audio cable has the latest video and audio transmission improvements that an HDMI cable has. There is no need for special adapters like that of HDMI adapters. You just need to connect it to the device’s DisplayPort output port and you are good to go.
The DisplayPort cables 1.0 and 1.1 have a maximum sample rate of 192 kHZ, eight audio channels, and size of 24 bits. DisplayPort cables 1.2 and 1.2a retained most of the DisplayPort technology and increased the sample rate to 768 kHz.
The DisplayPort audio cable 1.4 even has more advanced audio features as the sample rate has increased to 1536 kHz and 32 audio channels. It is also backward compatible with other DisplayPort devices.
DisplayPort 2.0 on the other hand may even surpass the audio transmission capabilities of HDMI 2.1.
Benefits of DisplayPort
The use of the DisplayPort comes with a lot of benefits. Our electronic engineers listed some of them below:
The DisplayPort 2.0 can support 8K resolutions for external displays. Most video and audio devices nowadays can only support up to 4K resolution so this cable can do much better than just passing audio at low resolutions.
If you want to play games without experiencing lags, then using DisplayPort connectors is the right choice for you.
Another benefit you can experience by using a DisplayPort connector is its maximum refresh rate. This cable type can support all sample rates that output devices like computer monitors or TVs have.
A 1080p resolution can easily be supported by DisplayPort 1.0 while resolutions 1440p or any higher resolutions are supported by version 1.2 and higher. Technically speaking, the limitations of using DisplayPort cable are non-existent.
The refresh rate will now depend on the available display ports on your device. If it both supports DisplayPort and HDMI 2.1, then use the DisplayPort output as it can provide the highest refresh rate possible.
Types of DisplayPort
There are two main types of cables using the DisplayPort Protocol, the standard cable and the mini DisplayPort. The standard cable is usually sold by consumer electronics stores. The mini is best used for smaller devices and Apple electronics as they are highly compatible.
Both types can display equal level resolutions and size. However, the mini is restricted to the amount of bandwidth and audio out it can give as compared to the standard DisplayPort wire.
The choice should depend on the available port but if both types of display ports are available, then go for the standard DisplayPort as it will be more compatible with newer versions and thus, allow higher resolutions.
Products that Support DisplayPort
Nowadays, there is an increase in the number of electronics that only support DisplayPort as the only digital interface choice. Many manufacturers are choosing this as it provides a high-speed audio and video interface.
Many companies are also slowly trying to phase-out VGA because it only gives low VGA maximum resolutions, DVI, or even HDMI cables so more and more devices are now only offering DisplayPort interface.
The devices that support DisplayPort are Google Chromebook Pixel, Microsoft Surface Pro with Windows 8, Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook, Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon Ultrabook, and the like. Macbooks are also DisplayPort compatible.
DisplayPort vs HDMI Audio
DisplayPort and HDMI wires are two of the most popular connectors nowadays. They both provide high-resolution video and audio data, and customizable sound settings. DisplayPorts provide better specs but the resolutions available now are still within the range that HDMI can support.
The latest HDMI can support up to 48 Gbps of bandwidth while DisplayPort 2.0 can support bandwidth [1] of 77 Gbps. While both can run 4K resolutions, once 8K resolution is available, only DisplayPorts will be able to support that.
There will also be a need for an HDMI adapter when you need to run it for long distances as it will encounter signal interference. This is not observed in the other cable type.
Which is Better?
In terms of specs, DisplayPort is better. However, with the resolution level and displays that we have for our media today, you won’t run any limitations into using HDMI.
So when comparing Displayport to HDMI and choosing which type of cable you are going to use, it should depend on the user’s needs and preferences as well as the device’s compatibility.
FAQ
Is a DisplayPort better than HDMI?
Yes, DisplayPort is better than HDMI in terms of specs as it can achieve higher bandwidth, thus being able to transfer audio and video data faster. Theoretically, it can also support greater resolutions of up to 8K.
Can I plug HDMI into DisplayPort?
No, you cannot plug HDMI into DisplayPort. The DisplayPort receptacle on devices will not accept and accommodate the HDMI male port. Forcing it to fit in the DisplayPort receptacle or plug will just destroy both the cable and the plug.
What's the difference between HDMI and DisplayPort?
The main difference between HDMI and DisplayPort is that the latter can achieve higher bandwidth. With a higher bandwidth, it can transfer digital data faster and accommodate better resolutions too.
Conclusion
There is no need to worry if your new device only has a DisplayPort even if you are not very familiar with this. Our experts compiled the information about them and answered the question of “does DisplayPort carry audio?” so you will only need a single connection to connect your devices.
Looking for the best product to add to your home entertainment system? Well, you can check the list we curated here for you:
