STACK #160 Feb 2018

DVD & BD FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

ALLTHE WAYWITH

TV technology moves so fast that it really can be hard to keep up. The big thing now is 4K Ultra HD, but what exactly is it? Words Amy Flower

S imply put, it means a picture that’s more incredibly detailed than you’ll have ever seen before, as there are many more dots – or ‘pixels’ – used to make up the image. Whereas the jump from DVD to Blu-ray saw a picture that was around six times better, the jump from Blu- ray to 4K Ultra HD sees another four times improvement over Blu-ray. You’ll be able to see how hairy your favourite actors are like never before! The other huge leap with 4K Ultra HD

available. Or if you just want to keep up with the latest tech, then 4K Ultra HD is a must- have. The best thing is that you can enter its world without dropping too much folding stuff – or you can go nuts and immerse yourself in the latest in sound technology to go with your super new TV and get your very own cinema-like experience happening. As a guide to your 4K Ultra HD options, we’ve put together this selection of basic, intermediate and advanced setups, all of which are available at JB Hi-Fi.

is the addition of HDR – or ‘High Dynamic Range’ – to most new TVs. This means whiter whites and blacker blacks, offering much more lifelike images than we’ve been accustomed to. Some say that it’s an even more impressive leap than 4K Ultra HD vision itself, and when you combine the two, the effect can be truly jaw-dropping. Just look at the twinkles in those eyes and try not to be impressed! If you’re a movie lover, you want the ultimate in home entertainment quality

BASIC

INTERMEDIATE

Sony X7000E 55” 4K Ultra HD LED LCDTV, Xbox One X games console/4K Ultra HD player, Sony HTRT40 5.1 channel soundbar with tall boy speakers

Hisense N6 43” 4K Ultra HD LED LCD TV and Xbox One S games console/4K Ultra HD player

If you’re thinking bigger – literally and figuratively – then you’ll want a nice big screen for your 4K Ultra HD experience, and better sound than just pumping it through TV speakers. The Sony X7000E is a perfect bigger screen, and more than enough if you’re relatively tight on room space. It includes HDR support and several bells and whistles including upscaling – plus it looks great. Billed by Microsoft as “the world’s most powerful console”, the Xbox One X is much more than just a games machine, providing a top notch 4K Ultra HD Blu- ray player and media hub, as well as delivering all the latest games in stunning 4K. Just clap your eyes on the likes of the Australia-set car game Forza Horizon 3 and try not to be impressed. Your new big screen needs some big sound, and that’s what you’ll get with the Sony HTRT40. It’s a 5.1 channel setup, meaning that you get left, centre and right audio from the main soundbar unit, rear left and right surround sound from the two tall boy speakers, and rumbling bass from the subwoofer. You don’t need to spend a fortune to approximate a cinema-like experience at home.

If you’re on a budget but are busting to enter the world of 4K Ultra HD, you can get going with an affordable TV that supports the format, like this 43” Hisense model. It includes HDR support and is also capable of upscaling your DVDs and Blu-rays, meaning that while they won’t knock your socks off like true 4K Ultra HD content, they’ll still look

better than they did on your old TV. Microsoft’s Xbox One S console,

meanwhile, makes for a great entry-level 4K Ultra HD disc player – and as a bonus you get a current generation games machine to play with. Score!

Cost: ~ $1000

Cost: ~ $2500

036

FEBRUARY 2018

jbhifi.com.au