5 basic HD TV consumer questions you need to answer
When HDTV was introduced in 2000, little did consumers know what lay ahead.
Fast-forward to 2017. The array of format options is staggering, leading to consumer confusion.
Let’s drill down through the HD hype. Be sure to reference our graphics for a clearer understanding.
What’s the difference in HD TV formats?
Each HD format has its own technical name or names and associated resolutions.
- 720p TV: The lowest end of all the HD formats.
- 1080p TV: Sometimes called Full HD TV. This is the most popular format.
- 4K Ultra HD: Most broadcasters and content producers now use the 3840 x 2160 specs of UHD. 4K Ultra HD has 4 times the number of pixels as Full HD.
- 8K UHD: Japan is aggressively pursing 8K and even televised select portions of the 2016 Rio Olympics in 8K. TV makers Sony and Panasonic are partnering with others to further develop 8K broadcasting, with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in mind. An 8K display has 33 million pixels—Full HD a mere 2 million.
Are More Pixels Better?
It depends. Seating distance, screen size and the ability to perceive higher resolutions are interrelated. More importantly, there is a combination of screen size and viewing distance where the various HD formats are indistinguishable to the eye. Of course, some consumers will upgrade anyway simply for the bragging rights.
Regardless of size or seating distance, what really makes images pop are High Dynamic Range (HDR) and Wide Color Gamut (WCG) features. However, not all TVs incorporate these technologies.
HDR provides a higher level of contrast between light and dark images for a significantly more realistic, vibrant image. Typical sets may have 300 to 500 nits of brightness. Current HDR minimums for LCDs are about double. The human eye can handle 30,000 nits on a sunny day, so expect future upgrades.
WCG vastly improves the number of colors a TV can display and works hand in hand with HDR.
However, the source material must be specially coded for these two features to work.
The UHD Alliance, a consortium of key film studios, manufacturers and distributors, has established standards for HDR-compatible products. The goal is for all compatible products to bear the special Ultra HD Premium logo, making it easier for consumers to purchase matching components and content.
Is There Content for 4K Ultra HD Displays?
Yes! Not only are there 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players, there are streaming content providers. More will emerge in the future. Here’s a helpful overview.
And when it comes to streaming, a fast Internet connection is required. At least 25 Mbps is needed for 4K Ultra HD. 50 to 100 Mbps will be required for 8K.
Even Microsoft’s Xbox One S can handle 4K and is among the least expensive playback solutions currently available.
But remember, HDR/WCG is not embedded on all content. So if a customer purchases a TV with HDR/WCG, he or she needs to look for the special label—or read the fine print.
What’s Best—LCD, OLED or Quantum Dot (QD-LED) Displays? What About Curved?
Once the gold standard, plasma is history. The remaining contenders are LCD/LED-based TVs and OLED.
LCD TV pixels are illuminated by an LED backlight. With Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) technology, each pixel provides its own illumination. Many experts feel OLEDs have a better picture quality, but with HDR/WCG technology, LCDs can gain ground.One of the latest LED displays is called Quantum Dots. To quote Samsung, which uses this technology, “Quantum dots are nano-sized particles that express different colors depending on their size.”
Wired delves deeper. “Quantum dots have one job, and that is to emit one color. They excel at this. When a quantum dot is struck by light, it glows with a very specific color that can be finely tuned. When those blue LEDs shine on the quantum dots, the dots glow with the intensity of angry fireflies…The blue LED light drives the blue hues of the picture, but red and green light is created by the quantum dots…There are two sizes of dots in these TVs. The ‘big’ ones glow red, and they have a diameter of about 50 atoms. The smaller ones, which glow green, have a diameter of about 30 atoms.”
Curved screens are a personal preference. Suggested viewing distance is 1.5 times the diagonal size of the display. It’s best suited for viewers who sit dead center. Off-center watching provides better views of the far side of the screen but compromises the closer side. Some viewers in the central sweet spot may find their peripheral vision confused. Because of the narrower field of view, curved sets are not good for large rooms or crowds. They are also thicker, heavier and nearly twice as deep, creating potential wall-mounting problems.
Will 4K Ultra HD Come to Broadcast TV?
Cord-cutters will rejoice because it’s very possible.
There’s a proposal in front of the FCC for a voluntary implementation of 4K transmissions. Called Next Gen TV or ATSC 3.0, it would deliver 4K UHD over the air to TVs. It would also send live broadcasts to smartphones and tablets using Internet protocol-based technology.
Other improvements include better indoor reception, customizable audio, more channels and interactive features. Unlike the mandatory changeover to digital, this upgrade would be optional. And until sets are manufactured with Next Gen capability, consumers would be able buy—flashback!—a set-top converter box.
The Takeaway
- High-definition television quality continues to improve.
- More and more people are buying TVs larger than 40 inches, with the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) predicting that 76% of all TVs in 2020 will be over 40 inches.
- An estimated 10 million 4K UHD units shipped in 2016 alone, a 40% increase over 2015.
- By 2020, CTA projects 4K UHD sets will represent 75% of all sets sold. CTA also projects OLED TVs will gain momentum, with shipments topping one million by 2018.
So 4K Ultra HD TV is here to stay. It’s the ideal format when equipped with HDR. The debate still rages as to screen type, ultimately resting on what consumers see when they walk into a store.
Because of the industry’s tendency to rush to market, it’s a given that there will be more HD surprises. Regardless, Petra will continue to be your HD TV distributor. And we’ll provide you the background knowledge you need to stay on top of this ever-evolving technology.
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