4K/UHD Televisions. What’s the big deal?
When you go shopping for a new television you will see that the television industry has
gone through a lot of changes, even in the last year, and it is hard to keep up. Didn’t I just buy a new TV 2 years ago? Now smaller TVs are becoming obsolete, the 3D fad is virtually dead except for projectors and in movie theaters. There is a new kid in town and it’s called 4K or UHD. The 4K nomenclature refers to a new technology that will deliver roughly four times the resolution of high definition and UHD stands for Ultra High Definition. So what’s the big deal?
When you see a true 4K/UHD image it could very well take your breath away.
Pixels are those little dots that come together to create the image on our TV screen, and the more dots there are, the higher the resolution of the screen. Sony has successfully increased this resolution to over eight million! What does that mean? It means that there is now a much denser filed of pixels per square inch at about 4x the density of HD TVs. But it is more than that, it is also the enhanced processing offered in cutting edge, 4K X-Reality, Pro, X-tended Dynamic Range PRO, and TRILUMINOUS technologies. As a result, 4K TVs make everything look better. Movies, shows, photos, content from your smartphone – it is all upscaled to 4K quality, thanks to this new technology. The higher density of pixels and enhanced processing will give you favorite movies and shows a new look with intense detail and stunning picture quality. Sit closer to the screen – everything stays sharp and crisp – and recreate an immersive movie theater experience. In fact, this amazing level of detail is one of the reasons 3D is pretty much going away in consumer televisions. With a 4K/UHD TV, the sense of depth, the sense of looking into the images is immediately apparent.
The best TVs available on the market are using computers to analyze and manage the signal coming into the TV. In fact, these computers are going to “up convert” non 4K/UHD signals delivered to the TV via HDMI cables to near 4K/UHD performance. That means that even when you don’t have a consistent source for 4K/UHD material, the majority of what you watch will deliver an image that is close to true 4K/UHD. Having said that, you still can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, and this refers to the quality of the recorded image itself. My cable company doesn’t broadcast anything in 4K/UHD. Yours may not as either. So what’s the big deal?
If you are fan of older black and white TV shows like I Love Lucy for example, you will not see an amazing transformation of those old TV shows. The good news is that even if your provider does not offer a 4K single, you will still be able to view the Super Bowl in 4K/UHD because the technology built into your 4K/UHD television up-converts the high definition signal to approximate 4K/UHD and you will have an image that is absolutely stunning and I promise i
t will take your breath away.
Of course, the quality of the image is still dependent on proper set up. That’s why, when you purchase a 4K/UHD television you should hire a professional to install and calibrate your new TV as well. Then you will enjoy the highest level of picture quality.
Part of the long term success of 4K/UHD is that the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is hard at work on creating broadcast standards for this new technology. In other words, in won’t be long before local stations will begin to broadcast more programming in 4K/UHD.
In addition, internet providers like Netflix have whole heartedly embraced 4K/UHD. DirecTV and Dish Network have dedicated 4K/UHD channels so clearly this is the new direction. Electronics manufacturers are introducing 4K/UHD Blu Ray disc players now. And yes, these new 4K/UHD Blu Ray Players also play standard DVD discs.
So again, what’s the big deal? The original standard for broadcast color television was introduced in 1941. For 57 years we lived with the same standard for television broadcast until the introduction of high definition in 1998. Here, in 2017, the FCC is looking at the next broadcast standard less than 20 years after the high definition revolution began. It’s a big deal.
Give your favorite movies and shows a new look with the power of your new Sony 4K Television. Artistic Systems is an authorized Sony Dealer in Telluride, Colorado. Give us a call at 970-728-0400 and we will stop by and help you select your new TV.
Reggie Knowles is the Sales Manager for Artistic Systems in Telluride, CO. Reggie’s love of good music and good sound brings passion to his ability to create a system that fits your lifestyle and your imagination. Originally from Texas, Reggie has been fulfilling dreams at www.artisticsystems.net for over 10 years. Give him a call on his cell at 970-729-2248 or call our offices at 970-728-0400 for more information about designing your musical lifestyle.
In The Media Room | by Artistic Systems 