4K source options

[tential]

When do you guys think we will get cable and tv broadcast in 4k?

When are they going to come out with a sub $5k 4k projector?

4k.broadcasts won't be that widespread until there are boxes that can hardware decode h265.

Thats my guess 4k right now on current boxes is a bandwidth mess. or it'll be 4k in name only with very low quality content.

I'd head over to avsforum for the latest 4k projector rumors

 

[Kaido]

Right now I'd just go with an Android player if I wanted 4K. Here's the latest:

http://www.androidheadlines.com/201...lds-first-octa-core-android-media-player.html

 

[Kaido]

4k.broadcasts won't be that widespread until there are boxes that can hardware decode h265.

Thats my guess 4k right now on current boxes is a bandwidth mess. or it'll be 4k in name only with very low quality content.

I'd head over to avsforum for the latest 4k projector rumors

fwiw from the link above:

The device can playback 1080p H.265 and 4K H.264 content at 30fps.

Only $149:

http://www.geekbuying.com/item/Tron...1AC-H-265-Bluetooth-SATA-OTA-DLNA-336152.html

 

[poofyhairguy]

Right now I'd just go with an Android player if I wanted 4K.

All that is is a player. It doesn't provide the content.

No way I would want that as a 4k HTPC anyway. If you want to do 4K right you are using a full PC with a modern NVIDIA card that has a Pure Video E feature, one mid-range or better. I mean, those Android devices can support certains standards for 4k but since we don't HAVE a standard for 4k like we have with 1080p and Blu Ray there is no way to be certain it will play future available 4k content. Especially since it can't do 4k H.265, which is probably going to be the standard for 4k.

That Android box is a HORRIBLE buy. Terrible. Waste of $150. Buy a Chromebox instead.

Honestly if you have a 4K TV today, the best constant "source" for 4K content is a gaming HTPC. That way you get what modern consoles won't do (gaming at 4k), you get power for MadVR to upscale 1080p content you have, and you get access to "other" sources of 4k content like Youtube, Amazon Prime (soon), and well sites I can't talk about on this forum.

The year for "regular" users of 4k, aka the ones who don't have $1k of computer hooked to their tv, will come in 2015 or 2016. Until then it is a waiting game.

 

[tential]

fwiw from the link above:



Only $149:

The device can playback 1080p H.265 and 4K H.264 content at 30fps.

http://www.geekbuying.com/item/Tron...1AC-H-265-Bluetooth-SATA-OTA-DLNA-336152.html

Lets try reading what I posted please.

4k.broadcasts won't be that widespread until there are boxes that can hardware decode h265.

Thats my guess 4k right now on current boxes is a bandwidth mess. or it'll be 4k in name only with very low quality content.

I'd head over to avsforum for the latest 4k projector rumors

Specifically the point in BOLD.

Now look back at what you posted and read the point I BOLDED.

You see the codec difference? H265 vs H264?

What I stated STILL stands, no one has hardware decoding yet of the h265.

Also, what Poofyguy said STILL stands as well. That's a joke of a box for $150 dollars. Chromebox would be a far better purchase.

The WORST part though is that you don't even have to look far to know the device doesn't support h265. It's an Android media player for christ sake, even fullfledged PCs can struggle with some h265 content since we're still using software decoding.

http://www.cnx-software.com/2014/04/12/tronsmart-vega-s89-review/

You can read more on it's capability of playing back content.

The short version though is NEVER just read a specsheet without doing your own research or just your own critical thinking.

 

[poofyhairguy]

What I stated STILL stands, no one has hardware decoding yet of the h265.

Yup. If you have a 4K TV you should have a Mini ITX (or bigger) HTPC so that when that Pure Video F hits with h265 support you can swap out the GPU.

ANYTHING bought now for 4K playback will be obsolete soon. Heck, even the "next gen" consoles aren't ready for 4k. Nothing is except maybe an i7 in software mode.

The best you can do is not box yourself in with what will be obsolete tech.

 

[s44]

Well this thread answers my question.
I'm sticking with non-4K for my new TV.

I disagree. With 4K content, the difference is noticeable - and awesome. (So far it's basically just The Blacklist on Netflix.) This article is apropos:
http://www.homecinemaguru.com/can-we-see-4kuhd-on-a-normal-sized-screen-you-betcha/

I would absolutely not buy any new 1080p set unless it's a small super-budget thing. Just wait a year.

ANYTHING bought now for 4K playback will be obsolete soon.

FYI the 4K Vizio sets play h265 files. In fact, some people were complaining that they don't do h264.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I would absolutely not buy any new 1080p set unless it's a small super-budget thing.

Or unless you want to jump on a Samsung plasma before they are all gone, as all but the very best 4k TVs don't come near the top Samsung plasma when you talk about motion resolution.

FYI the 4K Vizio sets play h265 files.

Sure, but to what bitrate? What standard?

That is the issue, until we have an optical format we won't have a standard for encodes. It is possible all current h265 decoders will work, or maybe the future standard won't be supported by current decoders. Its a guess either way.

 

[tential]

Or unless you want to jump on a Samsung plasma before they are all gone, as all but the very best 4k TVs don't come near the top Samsung plasma when you talk about motion resolution.



Sure, but to what bitrate? What standard?

That is the issue, until we have an optical format we won't have a standard for encodes. It is possible all current h265 decoders will work, or maybe the future standard won't be supported by current decoders. Its a guess either way.

It plays HEVC content through USB stick only. If it's on your network or something it's a no go.

So unless you keep your whole media server attached directly to your HDTV then again, it's a no go....

 

[Brian Stirling]

HDTV was 720p. The ps3 has been out since 2006 and it pretty much coincided with the release of 1080p TVs. And like I said, 1080p actually made a difference. That is the key.

1080 TV'S were available years before BR was even adopted - sold them at Fry's back in 2005/2006.

There was another HD format, HD DVD if I remeber, but it wasn't until 2009 that BR was formally adopted and disks began to appear in volume. Don't confuse this with 720.

Briam

 

[Brian Stirling]

Upscaling does not improve picture quality. That is a myth.

It's a myth that it's a myth. No, up-calling isn't the same and the picture isn't as good but it can be better than the original.

This is true for still images as well, but once again, up scaling from 1080 to 4K isn't going to make pictures as good as 4K but generally better than 1080.


Brian

 

[BurnItDwn]

Upscaling is good indeed. Prog upscaled to 1080P, Bluray looks damn good. Yes, not quite as sharp, or detailed as 1080p source at 1080p, but, they look pretty close on a 106 inch display.


DVDat native res vs upscaled, night and day difference...

In any case, I believe the best use for 4K is for a PC to get more screen real estate... But a 55inch is not a good size for PC, for PC you want 100+ inches, and then sit back on a recliner 6 feet back .. or you want max of about 40 inches, though 3x20-24 inches is probably ideal ...

 

[tential]

100+ inches at 6 feet? I don't think that'd be that great. I'm 6 feet from my 80 inch right now and I can only see the center of the screen. To see the whole screen I'm sitting 8 feet back (where I normally sit on my bed).

It's sad that 4K HDTV didn't bring in larger screen sizes. 50 inches is essentially useless for 4K. I wish the Vizio P Series Lineup had went up to 80 inches minimum.

 

[BurnItDwn]

100+ inches at 6 feet? I don't think that'd be that great. I'm 6 feet from my 80 inch right now and I can only see the center of the screen. To see the whole screen I'm sitting 8 feet back (where I normally sit on my bed).

It's sad that 4K HDTV didn't bring in larger screen sizes. 50 inches is essentially useless for 4K. I wish the Vizio P Series Lineup had went up to 80 inches minimum.

I sit about 10 feet back normally (front of the recliner 8.5 feet from the screen) ...

but, at 4k , that is too far of a distance to make out the resolution .... who says you have to see or use the entirety of the screen???

note: I am running only 1080P ...

 

[tential]

What size screen?

 

[BurnItDwn]

What size screen?

mine is 106 inches, front row eyes 10 feet from screen, second row on riser, eye level about 14-15 feet from screen, then behind the 2nd row sofa, I have a couple bar stools and a table .. eyes about 19-20 feet from the screen

Its an entry level 1080p projector, so nothing high end or anything .. also my eyes are not what they once were (used to be 20/10 in both eyes, now i'm 20/30 in one and like 20/40 in other, in 10-15 years I will probably need glasses) ....

 

[tential]

I'd say that at 10 feet, that's enough to see a difference for 4K.

Just one of the resolution charts you could use.

For any of us sitting as close as we are, 4K is great. We just need projectors that do 4K at a decent price, or TVs that aren't tiny as hell at 4K resolution (Seriously 50 4K HDTVs? How can I use that effectively....)