Forget 3D Your dream TV should be 4K

The Sony`s 84-inch XBR-84X900 is the first 4K resolution.

If you find your 55″ 1080p TV set is just too small and pixelated, you’ll be thrilled to know the next generation of ridiculously enormous, ultra-high-resolution smart TVs are on the way. Get ready for 4K TV.

On Wednesday, Sony introduced the 84-inch XBR-84X900, a 3840 x 2160 resolution LCD TV. It incorporates a detachable 10-speaker audio system that offers “virtual” 5.1 surround sound. It also features built-in WiFi so you can slurp down video and music from Netflix, Pandora, and around 50 other providers through the Sony Entertainment Network.

The 84-inch display will provide a much more immersive, cinema-like experience for the home. But much to the chagrin of some cinephiles, the set also offers 3-D, which you’ll need to enjoy with the accompanying 3D glasses. Consumers have repeatedly shown that they’re not into popping on a pair of glasses just to attempt to enjoy 3-D at home.

For the unfamiliar, 4K resolution displays boast 8 million pixels and a resolution four times that of full HD. And the number itself can be a little confusing. 720p and 1080p displays are for the number of vertical pixels, but the 4K term refers to the number of horizontal pixels. 

Also available is the  LG Electronic's new 84-inch flat-screen TVs, which can show 8 million pixels per frame, or four times the quality of current high definition broadcasts, for US$22,100.

But you'll have to wait for something to watch on it.

The Korean electronics maker said Wednesday at a press conference in Seoul that the new TV will go on sale in Korea and global markets from next month. The TV has an impressively large screen that can display 3840 by 2160 pixels, along with a customizable 3D feature that allows viewers to set the depth of field and Internet "smart TV" connectivity.

 

Samsung's 70-inch 4K

WHAT IS 4K?

4K refers to one of two high definition resolutions: 3840 x 2160 pixels or 4096 x 2160 pixels. 4K is four times the high definition resolution of 1080p (1920x1080 pixels) that is one of main current consumer high definition resolution standards. The other high definition resolutions currently is use are 720p and 1080i. 4K is also referred to at times as 4K x 2K or Quad High Definition.

4K resolution is now being employed in an increasing basis in commercial digital cinema projection, where more and more films are shot or mastered in 4K, or upscaled from 2K (1998x1080 for 1.85:1 aspect ratio or 2048 x 858 for 2.35:1 aspect ratio).

Also, 4K is beginning to be implemented into the home theater environment via both a growing number of home theater receivers that have either 4K pass-through and/or 4K video upscaling capability, as well as some 3D-TVs and 3D video projectors.

Why 4K?

What makes 4K significant is that with the use of ever larger TV screen sizes as well as video projectors, 4K provides much more detailed and less pixel visible images than 1080p. 1080p looks great up to about 80-inches, and can still look good in larger screen screen sizes, but 4K can deliver an even better looking image for those larger screen sizes.

Also, 3D TVs and Video Projectors currently in use that employ the Passive Polarized Glasses method of viewing, resolution of the resultant 3D image is cut to 540p (960x540 pixels) for each eye, which is 1/2 1080p resolution. In comparison, the same TV displays a 2D image in 1080p resolution.

However, by employing a 4K resolution panel or screen, 3D images viewed via Passive Polarized Glasses can be displayed with 1080p (1920x1080) resolution for each eye. The additional bonus is that when viewing 2D images on the same TV, the viewer will see a full 4K resolution image.

4K Implementation Issues

However, it is important to note that there is no video source material available for the consumer market that is actually in 4K resolution, whether from a Disc or TV transmission. The TV, video projector, or outboard video processor, has to upscale the incoming 3D or 2D signal to the desired 4K resolution.

It is interesting to note is that Blu-ray Discs do have the physical capability to accommodate 4K resolution content, but additional disc layers would have be added to provide enough space for a full length movie. Also, current Blu-ray disc players would probably not be able to play back native 4K content (which means you would have to buy a new player), but in an interesting twist, there are limited number of Blu-ray Disc players have incorporated built-in 1080p to 4K upscaling capability. In other words, such players can upscale current Blu-ray discs to 4K for display on a 4K TV. However, 4K TVs and video projectors, and, as mentioned above, a growing number of home theater receivers also have this upscaling capability.

As far as providing 4K over broadcast, satellite, cable, or even streamed via the internet - the required extra bandwidth that would be required would necessitate big infrastructure costs, and with the cost incurred by broadcasters and other providers for the recent required DTV transition, there is no enthusiasm to do it all over again for 4K. On other hand, there is the possibility of the development of new video compression techniques that might actually be able to squeeze all that additional data into the current HDTV transmission infrastructure - but then agreement for a specific standard would have to be settled before it could be widely adopted, including provisions for some form of backwards compatibility with current technology.

What 4K Really Means for Consumers

The increasing availability of 4K can deliver consumers a greatly improved video display image for larger screen applications, and can greatly reduce the ability for viewers to see any visible pixel structure on the screen, unless you place yourself extremely close to the screen. This means even smoother edges and depth - in fact, when combined with faster screen refresh rates, 4K has the potential to deliver almost as much depth as 3D - without the need for glasses.

The implementation of 4K doesn't make your TV obsolete, you will still be able to use it and current HDTV infrastructure will not be abandoned anytime soon. If and when 4K is implemented on a wide basis, it will be in addition to, not in place of, current technology, just as 3D is currently. Of course, just as with the recent DTV transition, there may come a date and time certain where 4K may become the default standard, but that means a lot of infrastructure needs to be in place, and there must be standardization throughout the entire production and delivery chain, as well as consumer acceptance.

Beyond 4K

Yes, they are already thinking beyond 4K - how about 8K? 8K is 16 times the resolution of 1080p. For more on this development, read my article 8K Resolution, as well as a peak at an 8K TV prototype that was on display at CES 2012.

Video Resolution vs Megapixels

Before you leave this article ready to throw up your hands, when you compare 1080p, 4K, and 8K resolution to the pixel resolution of even modestly priced digital still cameras, 1080p (1920x1080) is only 2.1 megapixels, 4K (3840 x 2160 or 4096 x 2160) is about 8.5 megapixels. Only with 8K (7680 x 4320 pixels - 4320p) do you get into the pixel resolution range of the best professional digital still cameras - 33.2 megapixels. In other words, you are most likely taking photos with much higher resolution that you can see on your TV screen, when it comes to video content.

Of course, all the above being said, you are the one that needs to be satisfied with what you are seeing on your TV screen - resolution is one part, but other factors, such as video processing and upscaling quality, color consistency, black level response, contrast, screen size, and let us not forget how the TV physically looks in your room, are also factors to take into consideration.