st211-DigitalProof

ESSENTIAL 2022 TV BUYING GUIDE STACK’S

LIFE TECH FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

continued

FEATURE FULL When you’ve finally se tled on a screen size and display, it’s time to drill down into some of the other key features to pay attention to.

of times a TV refreshes the image’s frame rate per second, measured in hertz (Hz). Most TVs have a native refresh rate of 60Hz or 120Hz, which means the picture refreshes 60 or 120 times per second. Why it’s important: It reduces motion blur and flicker that can occur when viewing fast moving images in sports broadcasts, gaming, and frenetic action scenes in movies. Video content and games with a frame rate higher than the standard will be displayed as intended. Picture modes What is it? Ultra High Definition TVs feature a number of convenient preset picture modes that will automatically optimise the image quality – simply select which one is best suited to the type of content you’re watching. The most common picture modes are: Dynamic Sharpens and boosts the image’s brightness and colour to high levels and is best used for brightly lit and outdoor environments. Standard/Natural Delivers a strong, bright image that’s good for everyday TV broadcasts and daytime viewing. Sports Ultilises motion smoothing on content with higher frame rates and fast moving images. Best for bars or outdoor viewing on the deck. Games Reduces input lag, which is the time it takes for the TV to process an image sent from the console to the screen. Movie/Cinema Delivers accurate colour reproduction and the most warm and natural looking picture. Ideal for use across all types of content. Set and forget.

HDR (High Dynamic Range) What is it? Simply put, HDR heightens a picture’s dynamic range – the contrast between bright whites and deep blacks – revealing more details in the bright and dark areas of an image. It also significantly expands the range of colour, especially on TVs with wide colour gamut. There are presently three types of HDR: HDR10 The standard for streaming content and 4K UHD discs, using static metadata to set brightness and colour levels at a specific value. HDR10+ Developed by Samsung, HDR10+ adds dynamic metadata – scene-by-scene image optimisation – to further enhance the picture, giving it the edge over HDR10. DOLBY VISION Dolby Laboratories’ certified HDR format, which does for video what Dolby Surround did for audio. Like HDR10+, Dolby Vision uses dynamic metadata to optimise each scene in a movie, rather than a set value for the whole film. Note: HDR can sometimes make an image appear considerably darker, but still more warm and natural looking in terms of colour and contrast. Tip: If your TV has the option to turn off ambient light detection, disabling this function will brighten the image somewhat while still retaining those “brightest brights and deepest darks.”

Why it’s important: HDR is one of the most important features to look for when choosing a 4K UHDTV. When the content you’re watching supports HDR, you’ll notice the difference immediately – it’s like a stunning matte finish has been added to an already vibrant and detailed image, making finer details and colours really pop (particularly in dark scenes) and giving the picture a warmer and more natural look. Movies on 4K UHD discs more closely resemble how they looked in the cinema, and HDR support is now common on content offered by the more popular streaming services (if you have a speedy internet connection). Local Dimming What is it? A feature of LCD/LEDTVs, local dimming reduces the LED light in dark areas of the screen while keeping the bright bits bright, creating a better contrast ratio. This is particularly noticeable when watching HDR supported content on a 4K LCD/LEDTV. Why it’s important: Full Array Local Dimming – used in most top-end LCD/LEDTVs – utilises an array of LEDs behind the LCD panel that are divided into zones. Where required, the specific areas of the picture that need to be darker are dimmed without compromising the areas that need to be brighter. Refresh rate What is it? Refresh rate refers to the number

14 MAY 2022

jbhifi.com.au