Ultra HD Television Sets
- Thread starter tillson
- Start date
I now have my new Samsung TV installed and I'm very pleased with it. The upscaling of HD input is simply stunning. I don't think the build quality of the exterior is up to Sony standards, but the picture is unbelievable. The sound quality is excellent, which is a bonus.Programmes improve?In a sense some do actually. When a program has content that benefits from really good picture quality and good quality sound, a marginal program can become much more watchable.
.
However, I must disagree about a UHD tv making programmes more watchable. I'm sorry to have to report that Star Wars is still the same heap of infuriating horse dung that it was in standard definition. In fact it would still be unwatchable if the actors were in my lounge performing live. It's that bad.
Glad that you are enjoying the upscaling as much as I am, stunning it really is.
I agree about Star Wars, I only meant some marginal programs could become more watchable, that's certainly not a universal benefit.
.
Prior to needing a new TV I hadn't paid much regard to UHD, dismissing it as a gimmick like 3D TV. Because there is little UHD programming actually broadcast, I couldn't see the point.
That was until I read about and saw upscaling. This is not a gimmick, upscaling technology works well and is a major enhancement to the viewing experience. Definitely worth investigating if anyone is considering a new TV.
That's what I've been advising everyone over the last year and a half, and those who've seen mine don't need any convincing, seeing really is believing.
.
How can upscaling make that much difference? If the detail isn't there in the source material, it can't just be pulled out of thin air.
I've not got a 4k TV but I do have a 4k monitor on my PC. I've got to say planet earth bluray looks the same quality on there vs. Full HD TV. Initially I thought the 4k monitor was much better, but it was mainly because of proximity (my office is only 5 feet wide!)
I've not got a 4k TV but I do have a 4k monitor on my PC. I've got to say planet earth bluray looks the same quality on there vs. Full HD TV. Initially I thought the 4k monitor was much better, but it was mainly because of proximity (my office is only 5 feet wide!)
I take your point and I think the affects of up scaling are more noticeable on larger screen sets, probably 55" and above. Below that size the benefits may become less noticeable.
I guess that what is happening with the large screen sets is that the normal picture with a fixed number of pixels is stretched over the huge area and in standard or even HD that can start to look pixelated on some of these very large screen TVs. The upscaling interpolation fills in the gaps by guessing what should go in the void between pixels. Some make a fantastic job of it and others don't, that's why it's important to choose carefully.
All I can say is that on the 55" Samsung, the upscaling software works very well and make for a very pleasant viewing experience. But ultimately, you are right, the missing information isn't there, it is just a good guess as to what should be there.
Agreed, the interpolation is just good guessing, but in my experience Sony and Samsung seem to have algorithms that are particularly effective, producing surprisingly realistic results. They seem to be ahead of the best photo processing programs like Adobe Photoshop's resizing in this respect.
It may be that LG and Panasonic have caught up since my 18 months ago experiences of their products, so they shouldn't be disregarded by anyone currently buying.
.
It may be that LG and Panasonic have caught up since my 18 months ago experiences of their products, so they shouldn't be disregarded by anyone currently buying.
.
Last edited:
My next TV will be one of these 4K jobbies....... i did buy a new TV about 18 months ago and thought about 4K, but i felt it was too early for the 4K content and too expensive being new tech as well. So i just bought a HD..... But in a couple of years i'll go for one.
I always buy my TV's from either Richer Sounds or John Lewis.... both will price match anywhere and both give a free 5 yr warranty.
I always buy my TV's from either Richer Sounds or John Lewis.... both will price match anywhere and both give a free 5 yr warranty.