Advice for new 4k Ultra HD TV

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2981 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1354307 29-Jul-2015 12:03

Most new tvs can't do 4:4:4 36 bit colour 4k res at 60hz. You have to drop down to 30hz.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

Kopkiwi

2617 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1354372 29-Jul-2015 13:11

4:4:4 doesn't really matter as the specs were 4:2:0 I believe?

Masterpiece

247 posts

Master Geek

#1354518 29-Jul-2015 15:43

Yeah pretty much all content delivery for the general public is currently 4:2:0 @ 8bit
Currently the best practice is to set video transport to 4:2:2, saves on bandwidth, let the display finish it off. You probably can't see or percieve a difference between the itterations because the display isolates you from any difference.

Me:"I'm not a robot!"

ET: "Maybe; you have some freewill, but you chose your path by arrangement"

Me "That sounds like a program with no freewill?"

ET: "We will catch up when you end this cycle"

Me: "Sounds like a 'KPI'!"

ET: "Did you read the terms and conditions?"

Me: .....

macuser

2120 posts

Uber Geek

#1361987 10-Aug-2015 11:47

After a bit more than a week with my 2015 Sony 4k Android TV

40K60 32-bit colour works via HDMI fine, just doesn't do 4:4:4, there were some drivers giving me issues I think

Skygo app runs great on the TV, you do need to plug in a mouse (or use a bluetooth mouse) to move around the app though - playback works great though they need to improve the quality because 1500Kbps should be the minimum - this is probably one of my favourite features of the TV because previously we had to run a PC to view Skygo which becomes powerbill expensive if your flatmates like to watch cricket all night.

Netflix 4K runs great, though doesn't look hugely different from 1080P on my 49" TV, and close up it doesn't look much better either - credits and titles look sharper though so seems like it's actually a limitation of the camera equipment used to record 4K.

Spotify runs on the TV and can be controlled with a cellphone or another spotify device if you're using premium - once again requires a mouse if you want to control from TV.

I have both a PS1 and N64 emulator installed on the TV, playing with my xbox 360 controller, it works great and is plenty of fun - you still need a mouse though.

If you can't find an app using the play store on the TV, you can usually install it from your pc browser using 'install on device'. If not that, then sideload the APK.

Sideloaded and install from browser apps are hidden from the main launcher scree, so you need an app called sideload launcher to view these apps - this is dumb and needs to be changed.

There is no obvious way to quit an app, there is also no 'card view' so you can't switch apps or check what is open.

My 49X8300C has 1.5GB ram and usually has about 1GB used and the CPU sits at about 70% usage when doing not much. This needs to be improved by optimisation. Sony has a lot of junk apps running in the background that you can't disable.

No way to customise the launcher which is a PITA but I'm sure it will come.

TV stays on the entire time with the screen turning off when you hit the power button - like sleeping a phone. Holding down the power button on the remote will turn off the TV. The boot time is like a cellphone -30 or 40 seconds, so it's not practical to properly turn off the TV when you aren't using it because turning it on takes so long.

Touch remote is useless compared to the IR remote - it's touch but isn't as mouse cursor, so you have to swipe left, right, up and down to move about rather than an HTPC touchpad which would make most sense.

Doesn't automatically turn off when no input is detected, so you will need to buy a Pulse-Eight CEC controller for your HTPC because GPU's don't support CEC.

I'm not sure what is the link speed of the Ethernet connector, but playing a 4K HVEC movie over the network wouldn't play fluidly due to constant buffering (my pc is more than capable to serve it as it is on a gigabit switch with that movie on an SSD) - locally stored 4K HVEC works very well.

You need at least an Nvidia GTX 960 to playback 4K HVEC fluidly on PC, as that's the minimum card to have a hardware HVEC decoder - it's a total slideshow on the 750TI

The TV tuner is essentially an input on the TV, like HDMI 1,2,3,4 and it is basically has its own software (it now has freeview plus, which has a guide and then a Sony EPG guide which isn't great)

There is no Freeview recording functionality on the TV - it says it will be enabled in a future update but don't count on it.

It has a headphone jack, which can be used as a speaker out which will either power the speakers along side the TV speakers, or turn off the tv speakers and run all audio through the headphone jack.

There is an opera browser, but because the TV uses so much ram and CPU without doing anything...the browser isn't worth using - there is no Chrome browser.

Slingshot global mode works after forwarding 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 to the Slingshot DNS, but you can't have global mode on but set to NZ services as it will not work. You need to either have Global mode off and watch NZ TVNZ on demand and Netflix, or Global Mode on and watch US netflix. Skygo works regardless which is handy.

Android Device manager works on the TV which seems to have a GPS. You can locate very accurately, lock, call and remote wipe the TV. This could be helpful if theives don't realise the TV is running android and you want to locate it (if they connect to network) , or if you want to piss off your flatmates because the call function turns the TV volume to max and pumps out the loudest chime you've ever heard.

Kopkiwi

2617 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1362559 11-Aug-2015 08:32

I thought the Netflix 4k stuff was only upscaled 1080p? Which is already compressed to buggery. The 4k streamable content isn't even comparable to natural 1080p blu-rays so I wouldn't use Netflix as a basis for what 4k is going to look like.

rokki

374 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1363331 12-Aug-2015 04:19

Kopkiwi: I thought the Netflix 4k stuff was only upscaled 1080p? Which is already compressed to buggery. The 4k streamable content isn't even comparable to natural 1080p blu-rays so I wouldn't use Netflix as a basis for what 4k is going to look like.

Netflix 4K on my Samsung looks stunning.

My gear 55" Samsung 4K SUHD LCD HDR , Denon AVR-4200W Reciever in 7.1.2 Surround , Denon 2 Channel Amp to power ceiling speakers , Combination of Polk Audio Fronts And Tannoy Surrounds plus 2 Cambridge Audio Ceiling Speakers Pioneer Downfiring Subwoofer , Oppo UDP-203 UHD Player , Roku Ultra , Apple TV 3

Kopkiwi

2617 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1365249 13-Aug-2015 09:08

rokki:
Kopkiwi: I thought the Netflix 4k stuff was only upscaled 1080p? Which is already compressed to buggery. The 4k streamable content isn't even comparable to natural 1080p blu-rays so I wouldn't use Netflix as a basis for what 4k is going to look like.

Netflix 4K on my Samsung looks stunning.

Yeah because netflix enable HDR on Samsung streams. And based on early reviews HDR content is INSANE> Keep waiting for it come on my Sony 930C

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DaveB

1139 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1366314 14-Aug-2015 13:04

rokki:
Kopkiwi: I thought the Netflix 4k stuff was only upscaled 1080p? Which is already compressed to buggery. The 4k streamable content isn't even comparable to natural 1080p blu-rays so I wouldn't use Netflix as a basis for what 4k is going to look like.

Netflix 4K on my Samsung looks stunning.

I have to agree and am very pleased with my new UHD. The inbuilt upscaling on the new Sammy's is nothing short of astonishing and far surpasses the other two 1080p Sammy's we have at home. Now that I have worked out how to change the region on the new Tizen Smart TV side, I am 100% satisfied and no looking back. Highly recommended. Just watched a nature / underwater documentary on BBC and the upscaled HD blew us away!

langers1972

1039 posts

Uber Geek

#1368517 18-Aug-2015 11:55

DaveB:
rokki:
Kopkiwi: I thought the Netflix 4k stuff was only upscaled 1080p? Which is already compressed to buggery. The 4k streamable content isn't even comparable to natural 1080p blu-rays so I wouldn't use Netflix as a basis for what 4k is going to look like.

Netflix 4K on my Samsung looks stunning.

I have to agree and am very pleased with my new UHD. The inbuilt upscaling on the new Sammy's is nothing short of astonishing and far surpasses the other two 1080p Sammy's we have at home. Now that I have worked out how to change the region on the new Tizen Smart TV side, I am 100% satisfied and no looking back. Highly recommended. Just watched a nature / underwater documentary on BBC and the upscaled HD blew us away!

Can I ask which model you got?

DaveB

1139 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1368857 18-Aug-2015 21:26

langers1972:
DaveB:
rokki:
Kopkiwi: I thought the Netflix 4k stuff was only upscaled 1080p? Which is already compressed to buggery. The 4k streamable content isn't even comparable to natural 1080p blu-rays so I wouldn't use Netflix as a basis for what 4k is going to look like.

Netflix 4K on my Samsung looks stunning.

I have to agree and am very pleased with my new UHD. The inbuilt upscaling on the new Sammy's is nothing short of astonishing and far surpasses the other two 1080p Sammy's we have at home. Now that I have worked out how to change the region on the new Tizen Smart TV side, I am 100% satisfied and no looking back. Highly recommended. Just watched a nature / underwater documentary on BBC and the upscaled HD blew us away!

Can I ask which model you got?

Sure, I purchased the 55 Curved UHD Sammy ( http://www.samsung.com/nz/consumer/tv-av/tv/uhd/UA55JU6600SXNZ ) It was on special at DSE for $2,600 a couple of weeks ago. Only went in there for a couple of USB sticks!

rokki

374 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1368981 19-Aug-2015 05:36

langers1972:
DaveB:
rokki:
Kopkiwi: I thought the Netflix 4k stuff was only upscaled 1080p? Which is already compressed to buggery. The 4k streamable content isn't even comparable to natural 1080p blu-rays so I wouldn't use Netflix as a basis for what 4k is going to look like.

Netflix 4K on my Samsung looks stunning.

I have to agree and am very pleased with my new UHD. The inbuilt upscaling on the new Sammy's is nothing short of astonishing and far surpasses the other two 1080p Sammy's we have at home. Now that I have worked out how to change the region on the new Tizen Smart TV side, I am 100% satisfied and no looking back. Highly recommended. Just watched a nature / underwater documentary on BBC and the upscaled HD blew us away!

Can I ask which model you got?

Hi yes I got this http://www.avworld.co.nz/shop/product/samsung-ua55js8000w/overview

ashnizzle

196 posts

Master Geek

#1371810 21-Aug-2015 20:32

rokki:
langers1972:
DaveB:
rokki:
Kopkiwi: I thought the Netflix 4k stuff was only upscaled 1080p? Which is already compressed to buggery. The 4k streamable content isn't even comparable to natural 1080p blu-rays so I wouldn't use Netflix as a basis for what 4k is going to look like.

Netflix 4K on my Samsung looks stunning.

I have to agree and am very pleased with my new UHD. The inbuilt upscaling on the new Sammy's is nothing short of astonishing and far surpasses the other two 1080p Sammy's we have at home. Now that I have worked out how to change the region on the new Tizen Smart TV side, I am 100% satisfied and no looking back. Highly recommended. Just watched a nature / underwater documentary on BBC and the upscaled HD blew us away!

Can I ask which model you got?

Hi yes I got this http://www.avworld.co.nz/shop/product/samsung-ua55js8000w/overview

Do you know if it has HDMI 2.0? i guess thats in terms of 4K at 60FPS?

kiwijunglist

2981 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1371835 21-Aug-2015 21:11

Noel 25% off sale.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

rokki

374 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1371901 22-Aug-2015 05:44

ashnizzle:
rokki:
langers1972:
DaveB:
rokki:
Kopkiwi: I thought the Netflix 4k stuff was only upscaled 1080p? Which is already compressed to buggery. The 4k streamable content isn't even comparable to natural 1080p blu-rays so I wouldn't use Netflix as a basis for what 4k is going to look like.

Netflix 4K on my Samsung looks stunning.

I have to agree and am very pleased with my new UHD. The inbuilt upscaling on the new Sammy's is nothing short of astonishing and far surpasses the other two 1080p Sammy's we have at home. Now that I have worked out how to change the region on the new Tizen Smart TV side, I am 100% satisfied and no looking back. Highly recommended. Just watched a nature / underwater documentary on BBC and the upscaled HD blew us away!

Can I ask which model you got?

Hi yes I got this http://www.avworld.co.nz/shop/product/samsung-ua55js8000w/overview

Do you know if it has HDMI 2.0? i guess thats in terms of 4K at 60FPS?

Hi yes it has HDMI2.0a

ashnizzle

196 posts

Master Geek

#1371973 22-Aug-2015 11:33

rokki:
ashnizzle:
rokki:
langers1972:
DaveB:
rokki:
Kopkiwi: I thought the Netflix 4k stuff was only upscaled 1080p? Which is already compressed to buggery. The 4k streamable content isn't even comparable to natural 1080p blu-rays so I wouldn't use Netflix as a basis for what 4k is going to look like.

Netflix 4K on my Samsung looks stunning.

I have to agree and am very pleased with my new UHD. The inbuilt upscaling on the new Sammy's is nothing short of astonishing and far surpasses the other two 1080p Sammy's we have at home. Now that I have worked out how to change the region on the new Tizen Smart TV side, I am 100% satisfied and no looking back. Highly recommended. Just watched a nature / underwater documentary on BBC and the upscaled HD blew us away!

Can I ask which model you got?

Hi yes I got this http://www.avworld.co.nz/shop/product/samsung-ua55js8000w/overview

Do you know if it has HDMI 2.0? i guess thats in terms of 4K at 60FPS?

Hi yes it has HDMI2.0a

Awesome! i could be getting one of these too. Prob one of the best TV's in the market i'd say

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