watching shows and movies on these new TV

[Coug]

Not a bad idea to wait until the platform is a bit more stabilized. I haven't had any issues but some folks have reported HDMI conflicts. Mostly due to HDMI cables. The player itself was a breeze to set up. The price point needs to hit at $200 bucks and I don't think Samsung would be able to keep up with production, at least until other manufactures jump in. Panasonic and a couple others are set to release this summer or fall. Sony is waiting and my guess is that the PS will get revamped, again, to include the UHD player.

A friend of mine mentioned something about a specific HDMI cable to use for these new 4K devices though I'm not sure of the validity of it.

 

[KoachKletus]

A friend of mine mentioned something about a specific HDMI cable to use for these new 4K devices though I'm not sure of the validity of it.

Just has to be high speed, capable of 18gps. I picked up 3 off Amazon, total price was under $35. The only time I would be particular about HDMI cables is if you have a long run, over 25 feet, to a projector or some other component. People do not need to spend $$$ on overpriced Monster or other brand name cables.

 

[KoachKletus]

Just wanted to bump this thread to gauge interest in the 4k world.
As it stands - Samsung is the only UHD disc player currently available in the US and I am absolutely loving it. Some of you are aware that X-Box will be releasing a new player this fall but I would caution anybody that the machine will be crippled out of the gate. It will play UHD BD's but the audio will be crippled - no bitstream option.
Panasonic has released a UHD BD player (currently in Europe) with plans for a US release later this summer or fall. Some say the build quality is better than Samsungs but the video performance is the same. The Panasonic does offer analog outs which the Samsung doesn't but there is a steep price difference.

With the upcoming football season - and the Olympics - if anybody is considering a new panel, I would highly recommend making the jump. Cable, Broadcast and Satcos are not sending 4k signals yet, but the enhanced (wider color gamut), IMO, are worth much more than the added pixels.

FWIW, never thought I would give up my plasma for an LCD panel, but now that I've been torturing this 4k for the past 9 months all I can say is that it's the real deal.

 

[CagleMtnVol]

The Future of 4K Is For Enthusiasts Only

The Future of 4K Is For Enthusiasts Only


The guy next to me huffed loudly—an explosive grunt of displeasure that had me halfway between amusement and horror. We were in a meeting room at the Hilton in Newark, NJ, seated in front of a giant TV with a giant sound system, and we’d just seen footage on Panasonic’s UB900 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray player. Compared to the competitor, it had performed well and everyone in attendance was eager to get their hands on one for testing at home.

But Panasonic had just told us the price, and this journalist was pissed. “So this is clearly for enthusiasts,” he said with disdain.

The Panasonic reps all nodded. Yes, Panasonic’s entrance in the 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray market is for enthusiasts only. It’s expected to retail for $699 when it ships in September, and the only person willing to spend that much on a media playback device with less than a hundred blu-rays currently available is going to be a...fan.

But the same could be said for the competition. Toshiba’s reportedly “just okay” 4k Ultra HD player retails for $150, and Samsung’s current industry darling goes for $400. That’s a lot more than the $130 I can spend on a Roku 4—which gives me access to nearly all the same 4K content as a 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray player.

An enthusiast would point out that Blu-Ray players like Panasonic’s new UB900 and Samsung’s UBD-K8500 actually play back 4K Ultra HD footage at higher quality than a Roku 4 or any other streamer. The Blu-Ray can hold way more data than a stream from Netflix, but the only people who will appreciate that are the enthusiasts who already spent thousands on a surround sound system and 60-inch display with 10-bit HDR playback, and the broke-ass people who understand what I just wrote.

So yeah. Huff away fellow journalist. Get mad that an exceptional product comes with an exceptional price tag. Or maybe accept that the future of media is in streaming, and everything else is for fans only.

I don't understand the fuss the prices aren't all that different to when other formats (Blu-ray, DVD, VHS) debuted and in some cases a little cheaper.

Give it another couple of years and they will all be under $200.00. I think its funny now that a lot of people still haven't switched from DVD to Blu-ray when you can get a good Blu-ray player for under $35 and you can regularly find Blu-ray titles for under $5 & $10.

I don't buy that the future is streaming if a studio decides to delete a film do to political correctness or even drop an entire library from a streaming service do to said service unwilling to pay a higher carriage fee then your screwed out of luck. A studio might even create their own service and pull titles from another or make an exclusive deal with one single service.


.

 

[BenGrimm]

The Future of 4K Is For Enthusiasts Only



I don't understand the fuss the prices aren't all that different to when other formats (Blu-ray, DVD, VHS) debuted and in some cases a little cheaper.

Give it another couple of years and they will all be under $200.00. I think its funny now that a lot of people still haven't switched from DVD to Blu-ray when you can get a good Blu-ray player for under $35 and you can regularly find Blu-ray titles for under $5 & $10.

I don't buy that the future is streaming if a studio decides to delete a film do to political correctness or even drop an entire library from a streaming service do to said service unwilling to pay a higher carriage fee then your screwed out of luck. A studio might even create their own service and pull titles from another or make an exclusive deal with one single service.


.

It's convenience. And tiring of ever changing formats. Most people only watch a movie once. No reason to own anymore when your disc collection will be obsolete in 7-8 years.

It's the same thing that happened to the music industry. Most people don't care if MP3 is "poor" quality.

720p is enough for the average joeso 1080p is icing.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

It's convenience. And tiring of ever changing formats. Most people only watch a movie once. No reason to own anymore when your disc collection will be obsolete in 7-8 years.

It's the same thing that happened to the music industry. Most people don't care if MP3 is "poor" quality.

720p is enough for the average joeso 1080p is icing.

Agreed. I used to consider myself somewhat of an "enthusiast" or as my wife more bluntly calls it , a slave to technology. However I've officially put myself into the casual demographic. I finally decided that 1080p is my "good enough" threshold and stopped chasing the dragon, so to speak. I dont even buy blu rays anymore. I look at my collection of dvd/blu rays that I have no doubt spent thousands on and watch very little and I'm like, whats the point? Im actually considering selling off a good chunk of it.

As for 4K UHD, I've seen it and its undoubtedly better but I just dont care, honestly. In the grand scheme of things it's not important enough to upgrade my equipment yet AGAIN after going through VHS, laserdisk, DVD, and Blu Ray. The escalation of video technology is such that I'm tired of trying to keep up. Now there's talk of 8K TV's in development, LOL. Its getting beyond ridiculous.

 

[Coug]

Yes, 4K is ahead of it's time. So far in fact that there are still TV networks broadcasting in 720P rather than 1080p. The upside to buying a 4K TV right now is that you likely won't have to upgrade for the next 7 years. For the next couple of years though I'd hold off on upgrading unless you just have to.

I think Kletus should post some screenshots of his setup though at some point.

 

[KoachKletus]

Yes, 4K is ahead of it's time. So far in fact that there are still TV networks broadcasting in 720P rather than 1080p. The upside to buying a 4K TV right now is that you likely won't have to upgrade for the next 7 years. For the next couple of years though I'd hold off on upgrading unless you just have to.

I think Kletus should post some screenshots of his setup though at some point.

I'll get some screenshots up but computer monitors/cell phone screens do a serious injustice to 4k. I understand everybody's reluctance to once again buy into a new format - and I do caution anybody not to just jump in. You have to have a reason and means. If your old set is on the fritz and you need (and can afford) a new set, 4k with WCG and HDR is the only way to go.

Two things stand out - the color and dynamics. Forget the added pixels, 4k is just a name. High dynamic range and the wider color gamut is what these new fangled tv's are all about. Not to mention the added audio codecs which is a treat all in itself.

Audio -
I recently swapped out my Onkyo avr for a new Marantz (better for two channel music) that decodes Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Atmos is fun but DTS:X is the real deal. Bullets blazing, helicopters hovering, ships creaking,,,drives my cats crazy. I also,just yesterday ordered two more speakers (haven't told the wife yet). These will be DIY. Means that I have some work to do and sawdust to create. Sometime in the near future, when I get all this put together, I just may invite a few gents over for a view and a listen. And probably a few suds. I'm not to far out of Knoxville. Keep tuned.

 

[KoachKletus]

Agreed. I used to consider myself somewhat of an "enthusiast" or as my wife more bluntly calls it , a slave to technology. However I've officially put myself into the casual demographic. I finally decided that 1080p is my "good enough" threshold and stopped chasing the dragon, so to speak. I dont even buy blu rays anymore. I look at my collection of dvd/blu rays that I have no doubt spent thousands on and watch very little and I'm like, whats the point? Im actually considering selling off a good chunk of it.

As for 4K UHD, I've seen it and its undoubtedly better but I just dont care, honestly. In the grand scheme of things it's not important enough to upgrade my equipment yet AGAIN after going through VHS, laserdisk, DVD, and Blu Ray. The escalation of video technology is such that I'm tired of trying to keep up. Now there's talk of 8K TV's in development, LOL. Its getting beyond ridiculous.

What no Beta?? I've been through it all but, you know, we ain't getting any younger. I raised two boys by myself and it wasn't easy. Now that they are both well established and in their 30's, I just figure it's time to pay myself and continue a hobby that I started decades ago. Don't sell yerself short.

 

[KoachKletus]

It's convenience. And tiring of ever changing formats. Most people only watch a movie once. No reason to own anymore when your disc collection will be obsolete in 7-8 years.

It's the same thing that happened to the music industry. Most people don't care if MP3 is "poor" quality.

720p is enough for the average joeso 1080p is icing.

Disagree. 720 - 1080 - 2160, those are just numbers. It's the colors and dynamics that make a difference. As for mp3's, ouch. Fine for listening on a cell phone. Put an mp3 an a stereo of half decent quality,,,that's where the ouch comes in.

 

[BenGrimm]

Disagree. 720 - 1080 - 2160, those are just numbers. It's the colors and dynamics that make a difference. As for mp3's, ouch. Fine for listening on a cell phone. Put an mp3 an a stereo of half decent quality,,,that's where the ouch comes in.

That's just it though. The average Joe doesn't really listen to music on big fancy steroes any more. MP3 is more than capable for car steroes and head phones.

NPR did a cool audio quiz a few months back playing snippets of of songs at various qualities. The comments of the self proclaimed audiophiles making excuses why they only got 4/10 or less correct where hilarious.

Now I don't begrudge anyone's hobby. I just bought an old stereo console to refurbish so I can start getting into vinyl. Not for a superior sound purpose butore for nostalgia. Obviously that's not something most people would be into. If AV equipment is your thing and it makes you happy then have at it. That just gets back to the original point that a lot of this new advanced AV tech is going to be more for enthusiast then the average consumer.

 

[KoachKletus]

You may just be surprised at how good you can make that old console sound with a few tweaks. I admit, my obsession is over the top but have always thought about re-doing a console. Just can't find one with a tube amp. What make and model did you pick up?

 

[KoachKletus]

Sales up 35% in the quarter - UHD BD added big bounce -

Observers say the launch in March of Ultra HD Blu-ray also may have been a factor. Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc is the next-generation disc format with four times the pixel density of HD Blu-ray as well as High Dynamic Range (HDR), with greater contrast and deeper, more life-like colors. The format got off to a successful start in the first quarter of this year, with the first volley of Ultra HD Blu-ray discs hitting stores in March and selling far better than expected, according to studio executives.

The format’s launch was even more successful than regular Blu-ray Disc back in 2006.