I don't understand the point of 4k

crinkleshoes said:
Sounds like you have a poor video source and/or playback device...

You can match the quality you saw in the shop - but it requires decent source files & playback...
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The playback device is my PC which has Windows 10, a GTX980TI, running at native resolution at 60HZ. The source files are a selection taken mainly from http://www.demo-uhd3d.com, and are running off a SSD.
 
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maj said:
I have a 49" LG 4K LED TV (can't remember model) and even when I'm using Netflix for 4K it still looks 1080p to me too. Mine's nearly a year old now so maybe not one of the newer 4K panels and 49" probably too small to be of any real benefit but TV is only used in bedroom for now till I get my own place in the summer. Could broadband speeds be an issue? With Prime it actually tells you if it's running at 1080p or not, Netflix doesn't seem to have such an option. Have a cheapish 4K HDMI cable I bought from the auction place but is the right standard from what I know. I stream everything via wireless, will ethernet be a better option?
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Yes, broadband speeds could make a difference - especially with pixellation and other things - although a decent buffer size should help with that.

Netflix is one of the lowest quality 4k sources... it's not the best. Same for 1080p, it's not that great...

Ethernet will help, yes... I don't even like streaming 1080p content over wireless from my own local network.

marcus2704 said:
The playback device is my PC which has Windows 10, a GTX980TI, running at native resolution at 60HZ. The source files are a selection taken mainly from http://www.demo-uhd3d.com, and are running off a SSD.
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Then it is either the software you are using or you have another issue.

Some software can be quite good at doing this - especially if you have un-necessary codec packs installed.

I've downloaded the videos you were referring to... the demos you find in shops and have played them back while streaming from a NAS with VLC without any issue.
 
marcus2704 said:
Having owned a 4k Panasonic 65" screen since the weekend I have to say so far I am far from overwhelmed. I recall being in a Currys store and being amazed by a 4K demo of a city panoramic, you could see minute detail right back into the horizon. I have sampled a number of 4K cinema trailers and clips but none come close to that, I would struggle to tell the difference between 4K and 1080P in many cases. Pixellation, grain effect on dark/shadow scenes and worst of all sample files that judder and breakup when the scene gets busy are what i have experienced so far. Perhaps I was expecting too much but all the talk of there being 4x the visible detail of 1080P so far to me feels wide of the reality.
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In my experience (I have a 4k 58" Panny AX802B) they aren't calibrated very well out of the box.

Most people recommend professional calibration, but I thought that was a bit of a waste of money.

However, though all TV's are different I found some settings on AV Forums which I used and it dramatically improved the picture quality and it needed a lot of changes in the advanced menu.

I have a PC connected to mine as well for 4k gaming/video and it looks great at native resolution. 1080p looks good as well to be fair.
 
VincentHanna said:
In my experience (I have a 4k 58" Panny AX802B) they aren't calibrated very well out of the box.

Most people recommend professional calibration, but I thought that was a bit of a waste of money.

However, though all TV's are different I found some settings on AV Forums which I used and it dramatically improved the picture quality and it needed a lot of changes in the advanced menu.

I have a PC connected to mine as well for 4k gaming/video and it looks great at native resolution. 1080p looks good as well to be fair.
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What refresh rate is your screen set to? Refresh rates and how they work with frame rates are something I have never really understood to be honest, I just set my desktop to 60HZ but most of the video files I play are a selection of 24, 29, 30 and so on and I am fairly convinced that the higher frequency of the desktop may be the reason for judder. I have another PC which I run Plex on, and have set so that it changes the screen refresh rate to match the refresh rate of the souce file and its pretty smooth tbh, albeit at 1080P.
 
crinkleshoes said:
Yes, broadband speeds could make a difference - especially with pixellation and other things - although a decent buffer size should help with that.

Netflix is one of the lowest quality 4k sources... it's not the best. Same for 1080p, it's not that great...

Ethernet will help, yes... I don't even like streaming 1080p content over wireless from my own local network.
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I'll get the TV specs when I'm home from work. I know it won't be a true 4K picture and will just be one that upscales but I did rush out and buy it spur of moment rather than ask on here and do regret it. Could have got a bigger 55" one for the price which is what I'm thinking of getting and cutting my losses.

I'll do a speed test too. Ethernet may be an issue based on distance from router to where TV is (would have to run the cable up the wall on outside of house). I did consider powerlines but from what I know they need to be run off mains rather than from a power extension and I only have the one mains socket.

Netflix and Prime are the only 4K sources I know of unless I just watch video clips that's been mentioned in the last few posts or ones on YouTube which just seems a waste but then 4K may be a waste all together at the mo anyway.
 
marcus2704 said:
What refresh rate is your screen set to? Refresh rates and how they work with frame rates are something I have never really understood to be honest, I just set my desktop to 60HZ but most of the video files I play are a selection of 24, 29, 30 and so on and I am fairly convinced that the higher frequency of the desktop may be the reason for judder. I have another PC which I run Plex on, and have set so that it changes the screen refresh rate to match the refresh rate of the souce file and its pretty smooth tbh, albeit at 1080P.
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Usually 60hz

I have Cyberlink PowerDVD 15 which can change the refresh rate if required.

24p for Blu-rays etc.
 
crinkleshoes said:
Yes, broadband speeds could make a difference - especially with pixellation and other things - although a decent buffer size should help with that.

Netflix is one of the lowest quality 4k sources... it's not the best. Same for 1080p, it's not that great...
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Netflix WAS ok, I watched Bloodlines which looked really good, loads of detail and super sharp, I'm now up to EP10 of Jessica Jones and it looks no better than 1080p.

Amazon is better, Mad Dogs Us remake looks stunning in UHD as did orphan black series 1, Can't wait for UHD blueray though, should be able to get a player quite cheap thank's to work discount.
 
So did speed test with 51mb download and 3mb upload. Should be enough to stream 4K yeah? Although if streaming services aren't true 4K then I don't know where to look. Short videos just seem a bit pointless although I do realise it's a bit of a gimmick technology at the mo.

It is the LG 49UB820V that I have. It is also classed as Ultra HD which I guess means it won't be true 4K anyway. Research on the topic suggests any 4K TV should support HDCP 2.2 but I'm struggling to find if this TV has it but based on how Prime and Netflix give me the option (with the right subscription package) to play 4K titles I'm going to assume it has. It is listed as having 3 4K jacks so again I'm assuming it won't matter what one is used. On that topic though I stream Netflix and Prime from the app on the TV rather than a dedicated source and not sure if that will make any difference or not? As I won't need any 4K cable connected anyway.

On the specs it says this:

H.264 Codec 4K/30p
HEVC Codec 4K 30P (USB and Internet Streaming Only)
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That seem ok?
 
Technicalities aside, some people who have invested in 4K systems want to convince themselves they have upgraded. I'm not stating this about anyone in this thread, this is down to conversations I've had with people at work/friendship groups.

They're convinced that their TV is so good, but still just feed it via non 4K amps, and sources. They won't listen to reason and go on about upscaling and so on.

That said if you can afford all the kit and you want to get a 4k tv then good for you!
 
I primarily bought a 4k TV (Samsung 65 JS9000) to future proof. The reality is that aside from the demonstration videos I haven't seen anything yet to showcase what it can do.

I have a 52 inch sammy LCD in my bedroom, and there isnt a lot of different IMO in quality with a 1080p source.

That being said the main cable/satellite TV channel service (Tata Sky) in India is about to broadcast IPL in 4k. Shame is.....I hate cricket!
 
No such thing as future proof with TV's IMO as when 4k does become mainstream, the sets available at the time will be considerably better than the current ones.

I bought a 4k TV to use for PC gaming. If I hadn't done that I would have held on to my Panasonic VT50 plasma as my main screen.
 
4k wont be mainstream for yonks. HD isn't even mainstream yet. Technology is now accelerating at a pace faster than widespread market adoption can keep up, so we will just end up with small volumes of people at the edge of the technology curve, while the majority just stay at basically the pace of mainstream TV.
 
I've just gone 4K, but mostly because I wanted 65" OLED.

I was quite surprised how much content is on Amazon already, directly through the TV. I though from others comments it was basically Daredevil, breaking bad and House of Cards, but there's quite a few series and movies including my favourite film, Lawrence of Arabia, and that Nazi alternative reality series, Man in the High Tower, that I'm planning to watch over xmas. No idea yet what the quality is like, but the streaming demos are good.
 
Was in Richer Sounds today and caught a glimpse of one of the new LG OLED TV's, and they had a 4K demo on, and that's the first time I've been properly impressed with the picture and the benefit of 4K, looked incredible! If it wasn't for the gaming issues I'd have probably walked away with it :p
 
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