4K all the way
 

It is apparent to me that I have some self-control issues. Take my interest in 4K television as an example. I started out thinking it was time to upgrade the living room TV from a 52" 1080P set. After some procrastination, which I'm fairly good at, I decided to purchase a new 65" Sony 4K television and an Oppo UDP-203 4K Ultra Blu-ray player. That's a nice upgrade for the living room. When I got to the store to buy the 65" television I could not resist the urge to upgrade the 42" bedroom TV while I was at it, so I also bought a 49" Sony 4K set for the bedroom. Okay, now all is well. I got everything installed and was thoroughly impressed with the 4K televisions. A couple weeks went by and I kept thinking about the 52" Sony 1080P television in the studio, so like a house of cards in a stiff breeze I crumbled and purchased a 55" Sony 4K set for the studio and ordered another Oppo UDP-203 to go with it. Things are looking good, but something was still nagging at me. Things were not quite 100% complete, that is until today when my third Oppo UDP-203 arrived for the bedroom. Finally, the cherry on top. I am now enjoying 4K TV and Ultra Blu-ray discs in the living room, the bedroom, and the studio.

Phew, I think I'm good, at least for a little while. :p

4K all the way
 

:roflmao:

Chalk that up as payback for all the times your reviews and recommendations made us buy stuff we didn’t even know existed.

Mike.......Touché.

Normally, Marlene is the last to notice differences in television picture quality. She is more into the programming, so picture clarity and resolution aren't at the top of her priority list. Last night we watched the 4K version of Passengers. In the first couple of minutes she said to me that the picture looked so much sharper and brighter than DVD movies we watch. I was surprised she noticed and was impressed enough to comment on the picture quality because normally those things don't seem to concern her viewing enjoyment. Now that she has become aware of just what 4K is capable of delivering on the screen I think she will be quicker to identify picture quality differences between the various sources. I was pleased she noticed the improvement.

By the way, the movie Passengers was filmed and edited in 4K, not upconverted from 2K like many of the so-called 4K movies coming out. The color saturation, HDR black levels, and picture clarity are exceptional.

Enjoy the 4K Dan......when my wife notices positive differences in audio video quality, that’s how I know I’ve made a quality purchase since she doesn’t really care all that much!

- Buck

jdandy,

You picked a great movie for your wife to view. The opening scene with the flyby shows how good 4K and HDR can look when done properly. Pacific Rim is another good HDR demo however, I don't know if your wife will like it.

V Sharp

Dan, I recently got on the 4K/HDR train myself (Sony projector/LG TV) and I completely agree with you - the bang for the buck is definitely there. :thumbsup:

Hahaha, ain't that the truth! :D

Not yet seen it, and it's in Atmos to boot! Should I snag a copy?

Yes!

Dan...I have Passengers on Blu-ray, but not yet in 4K. I guess I'll have to spring for it.... :yes:

UPDATE: Order placed, arriving tomorrow....

Congrats to all on their 4K experiences. It sounds awesome! I enjoy reading these posts.

I remember going to one of the Value Electronics annual shoot-outs and had a side-by-side comparison with 4K and 1080p at 65". I had to get very close to the screen before the differences were obvious, about 3 feet. No one (I hope) sits that close to their screen. The factors of screen size and distance are huge. Just as with 1080p and 720p, depending upon how far back you sat, the difference was hard to see.

I still have my Pioneer Elite PRO-111FD plasma, which is still kicking out the jams after almost 10 years. That's a 50" screen, and I've enjoyed its picture the whole time. Recently, the idea has crept into my mind that going to a larger screen would be nice, but given my situation that means a 55" set, no bigger. At the most recent shootout I attended (two yeas ago now) I preferred the Sony 4K OLED over LG's because the Sony had better video processing and sound, though I thought the LG had better color. As for content, my primary interest is in "special interest" type stuff and music, though I've been buying some of the latest superhero blockbusters on blu-ray. A new TV is one of four possible last-gasp upgrades before the reality of approaching retirement hits and such purchases make no practical (or financial) sense. For the record, the other three upgrades would be a new turntable, equipment racks or speakers.

That the 4K idea hasn't gone away may not be a good sign, and this thread's not going to help. Maybe I should just stay away :D.

Don't forget that major advantages of 4K go beyond resolution. They also include high dynamic range and expanded color palette.

I made the move late last year from my Panasonic 65” VT50 plasma to a Sony 75” X900F in my living room. My calibrated VT50 was a stunning set, but it also presented the struggles with plasma burn-in avoidance that drove me crazy. I love the Sony even though it’s not an OLED panel. It calibrated very nicely, the picture on Dolby Vision content is stunning, and in my “smallish” living room the 4K picture definitely is discernible over the plasma. The only problem for me is it led me down the path of upgrading my AV receiver (MX121 to MX122) to 4K capable and upgrading my Oppo from a 105D to a 205. I also upgraded the patio TV to 4K. So, my one panel cost me a little more than anticipated! No retreats however!

I agree with you, actually. Resolution is only one piece of the pie, but I think it gets an inordinate amount of play relative to the other things 4K offers. The new tech is even referenced by its resolution because that will ring best with the public.

I have three obstacles to going after a new set: money, lack of content that I prefer (not big on movies generally), and the fact that my current TV still has an excellent picture with no hitches. I have a 4K-capable Pioneer Elite player, which I got in case I went for a new set, but those three obstacles are pesky and persistent. If I did spring for a new set, it would be because of the bigger screen.

4K HDR/Dolby Vision equipped tc's are nice , i got my first one in 2017 and is a Sony.
I prefer to buy sony's but when i saw the OLED's were the preferred choice among
plasma owners upgrading, i had to hunt OLED. I bought a 2016 LG OLED model with the curved screen. I was glad i found a 2016 model as it's the last yr 3D was supported.
the 4K OLED HDR/Dolby Vision is nicer than the sony 4K HDR, with no dolby vision support
in 2018 Sony released an OLED of their own but only in 2 sizes, 55" & 65"
as a previous Plasma owner/enjoyer, I do see why the OLED is preferred among
those upgrading.

Hbar

65" Sony 4K television, can you supply the model number please, my Father In Law wants to up-date his old Plasma before the Rugby World Cup starts later this year.

Ta

Nick

Pssss.... badly kept secret— Among the 4308 lines Ivan sells is Sony televisions.

Nick.......Mine is the Sony XBR65X900E. Last years model. I think the newest one is the Sony XBR65X930E

Thanks Dan, both are available in New Zealand- either model will be just perfect for the Father-In-Law!

I am SO relating to this post right now. Self-control is a key issue for me suddenly. Why? it starts with the fact that my Pioneer Elite BDP-88FD is on the fritz. The tray won't open. The unit doesn't respond to the remote or the open/close button, and rebooting the player (unplug then re-plug) worked only the first time I tried it. There's a service center in Manhattan that can fix it probably (they fixed my 20-year old LD player, also Pioneer Elite), but it would be more of a hassle to get it there than shipping it off someplace, as they're cash only so I have to lug it to them somehow to pay in person for the estimate, come back when it's ready to pay the final cost, then lug it home again.

In my laziness it's actually occurred to me to just move on and replace the 88FD with Pioneer's new 4K player, the UDP-LX500. I went to the Value Electronics website to be sure they still carry Pioneer Elite (they do) and the price listed is about what others are listing. But my relationship with the store could net me a bit of an additional discount. Unfortunately(!), in checking out the LX500, I noted, to my excitement, disappointment and great concern, the new Sony A9G OLEDs are due out next month, with the 55" version first, and at a price within reach under normal circumstances. Temptations are high right now, and I'm trying to settle down. Being on AA isn't going to help that, but I want to vent.:D

I can tell I'm going to start mental machinations over how to approach this. Meantime, I still have my BDP-09FD; an AA member was interested in it but doesn't PM, so no way to deal with that. Maybe the first move is to pray, then disconnect the 88FD, put my 09FD back in and play plenty of BDs and DVDs to remind me of what I have (a "cold shower" approach), even as my brain wants to work out a scenario where I can swing both new player and new TV despite having tight finances and a still very good TV that hasn't given me any trouble. Again, I'm not sure I care about 4K that much, it's the larger screen for me. But I'd take the 4K!

Charles.......Looking forward to your review on the new 55" Sony A9G 4K widescreen and Pioneer Elite UDP-LX500 4K Blu-ray player. . :D

Dan from your first post, we love that you have self control issues as we all do as well :D

Perfect illustration of "Being on AA isn't going to help that." :yes::D

I am leaning toward fixing the 88FD rather than going for the UDP-LX500 for now. The realization has hit that the LX500 is probably a "gateway drug;" to have a true 4K player (as opposed to the 88 which upscales to 4K) will increase the urge for a 4K TV to complete the set, as it were.

Being self-aware has its benefits :yes:, but only if you heed what that self-awareness tells you :scratch2:.

4K PQ is just stunning and well worth the investment.

Fortunately, funds don't encourage the move at this point :no:. An air conditioner replacement is imminent and that decreases the chances of a new TV even further.

I found the November 2008 issue of Home Theater, which featured my Pioneer Elite PRO-111FD plasma on the cover with the tagline, "World's Best HDTV?" and read it all over again. It was good to be reminded of how amazing this TV was (and is still, frankly) and it tended to reinforce the notion that replacing it isn't a necessity. But, there was this one bummer: the video processing was rated as only so-so. So even in the silver lining of the overall review, there is a dark cloud that hangs over the situation. :sigh:

4K update. Well, I added a fourth Sony 4K TV in my office, a 43 inch model that serves two purposes. The primary purpose is to be the monitor for my recently upgraded 4K network video recorder security system, and the second purpose is network connectivity for streaming Netflix, Hulu, and Prime in my office and watching 4K Blu-rays movies on the Oppo UDP-203.

This monitor really shines with the eight 4k security cameras. Day or night I get a tremendous picture from all cameras, and when I click a camera to go full screen on the Sony 4K monitor it's like looking out the window. Excellent picture quality. The 4K cameras allow zooming without loss of detail like my old 720p system did.

Nowhere else to put another 4K TV, so I think I am done.

Dan,

Which 4k security cameras did you use?

Terry.......The eight channel network video recorder with 2TB hard drive is by Lorex. The 4K cameras are Lorex 8 megapixel, model LNB8111B. I purchased the six camera system from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Lorex-Network...s%2C165&sr=8-5 . I purchased two additional cameras and a 8TB surveillance rated hard drive to replace the 2TB hard drive. The bigger hard drive allows 20 days of eight channel recording in 4K versus 5 days of backup from the 2TB drive. All camersa are power over Ethernet (PoE). The Lorex software is mature and intuitive. I can view live video, playback video, and receive notifications on my phone that are triggered by motion. I have had the 4K security system up and running now for two months with zero issues. I am pleased with the system.

Thanks, Dan. This sounds interesting. I have in mind a project I never completed because I couldn't find the system that allowed me to run powered cameras outside. Battery operated sounds very inconvenient to me. I also want a system that will output via HDMI.

Terry.......You can run the Lorex 4K cameras up to 300 feet with the camera's power being supplied by the Ethernet cable from the network video recorder. No need for power outlets at the camera locations. The cameras are waterproof so mounting them outside is not an issue. All of my cameras are outside mounted under the eaves. The cameras come with 100 feet of cat 5 Ethernet cable for each camera. You can purchase longer lengths if needed, and there is direct burial cat 5 Ethernet cable if needed. The Lorex NVR does provide HDMI output up to full 4K resolution..

This sounds like the system I should be getting. Did you install the system yourself?

Terry.......Yes I did. The most difficult part was running the Ethernet cables through the attic to the various location of the roof eaves. I got up two mornings in a row at 4:00 AM so I could work in the attic until about 9:00 AM before it got too hot to be up there. Crawling around on the joists and through fiberglass insulation is no fun. I picked a closet location for the NVR where I already had a power outlet for the alarm system, then routed all the Ethernet cable to that point. I used a USB extension cable to connect a wireless mouse receiver that sits on my desk, and use a Logitech wireless mouse to control the system. I also used a five meter HDMI cable from the NVR to the 43 inch Sony 4K monitor. There is some work involved to installing the cables and cameras but it isn't complicated, just tedious. The effort is worth it once the video surveillance system is up and running. This is a photo of a full screen view at my front door camera.


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...207838bc_c.jpg

Thanks, Dan. One for question -- where did you find the 8 gig system -- or did you just do your own hard drive upgrade?

Terry.......I purchased the Lorex eight channel 4K NVR with six of the 4K cameras from the Amazon link I provided in a post above, then added two additional cameras. That Lorex system comes with a 2TB hard drive installed. I purchased an 8TB hard drive and replaced the 2TB hard drive in the NVR. Doing that allows me 15 additional days for a total of 20 days of eight channel 4K storage before the hard drive begins to write over the oldest files. I purchased the Seagate SkyHawk 8TB Surveillance Internal Hard Drive from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Seagate-SkyHa...ateway&sr=8-15


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...3d90a605_c.jpg

Are there issues with voiding the warranty? With formatting the new drive?

Terry.......The installation instructions say the system can accept up to an 8TB hard drive, so I don't think installing a hard drive would impact the warranty.

The only issue I have experienced so far is fan noise. I removed the cover from the NVR chassis and that solved the issue. The fan itself is quiet, but the vent holes in the cover that the fan sits behind cause wind turbulence that is audible. With the cover removed there is no fan noise now.

Thanks. Closing in on time to spend some time and money.