Why I bought an AppleTV 4K in case you are trying to decide if you should buy one.

[Patrick Turner]

Again has nothing to do with what you wrote...How to explain when something isn't true? It simply isn't true...If you like fake HDR mode on SDR material please enjoy, but don't pretend it is the same as displaying SDR as SDR...

There is nothing fake about mapping SDR into HDR to replicate the content creator's intent.

If you are seeing differences on your TVs, blame the TV manufacturers for the additional processing they do.

Don't be too surprised though if the TV manufacturers come up with FW updates to correct their errors.

 

[gim]

There is nothing fake about mapping SDR into HDR to replicate the content creator's intent.

If you are seeing differences on your TVs, blame the TV manufacturers for the additional processing they do.

Don't be too surprised though if the TV manufacturers come up with FW updates to correct their errors.

Yeah sure, blame the TV, just because the Apple TV is incapable of automatically disabling HDR when SDR content is displayed. That’s ridiculous, just like the rest of your “arguments“. There are devices out there, that output SDR properly. The ATV isn’t one of them. That’s a fact. End of discussion.

 

[randy98mtu]

I just scored a pair of ATV 4Ks from my local Apple store. I’m excited to try them with my Sony Bravia 4k TVs. My biggest concern is requiring my systems to send the hdmi to the tv first and then on to the sound system. Hopefully the audio return line works well.

 

[priitv8]

I just scored a pair of ATV 4Ks from my local Apple store. I’m excited to try them with my Sony Bravia 4k TVs. My biggest concern is requiring my systems to send the hdmi to the tv first and then on to the sound system. Hopefully the audio return line works well.

It works well within its limitations. MY 2016-2017 Sony Bravias are limited to passing through to ARC port PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS signals.
But for this particular appleTV this is more than enough.

Here is the corresponding snippet from the EDID of mine:

Data Block Collection #2 - Type 1
    Audio Type Block
        Supported format:    Linear Pulse Code Modulation (LPƒ), on 6 channels
        Supported freq:        32kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz
        Supported samples:    16 bit, 20 bit, 24 bit

        Supported format:    AC3, on 6 channels
        Supported freq:        32kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz
        Maximum bitrate:    640kHz

        Supported format:    DTS, on 6 channels
        Supported freq:        32kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz
        Maximum bitrate:    1504kHz

        Supported format:    DD+, on 8 channels
        Supported freq:        44.1kHz, 48kHz

 

[randy98mtu]

I'm watching on my Bravia with ARC to a Sony Soundbar right now. The picture is fantastic even with "upscaled" 1080p footage on Hulu. I queued up House of Cards in 4k from Netflix and it looks really awesome. The only thing I'm noticing with the Hulu program is some very slight voice sync issues. I haven't set up the second one on my "main" TV downstairs. I honestly use the TV in our bedroom most.

I was poking through some of the movies I own in iTunes though and some that indicate 4k when I look in the iTunes store do not show 4k on my Apple TV. Some do show it though. The one that is particularly strange is Furious 8, which I bought the 4K disc, only shows HD. Furious 7, which I think I only bought the standard bluray of, shows 4k. Both show 4k in the iTunes store.

Going to give it some more time obviously. I suspect I'll return the second one and keep this one.

 

[Donfor39]

I can thankfully post my Apple tv 4k user review from next week.
Successful e-bay purchase today.
64GB 4K ap tv.
UK-£123.

 

[scott911]

And the next thing you‘re going to say is that these fake 3D picture modes for 2D content looked great a few years back when 3D was all the hype?

This Apple TV problem is pretty similar. Every person with some knowledge about picture quality will say that this enforced HDR mode looks really, really bad. It’s just the truth. You don’t have to feel bad if you think that it looks great. Just don’t try to convince people who know better

well said.

back in the day, there was a term known as Fuji Colors. Fuji's film artificially made sky look bluer and grass greener. it was fake - but you'd look back and say - "wow,- what a beautiful day that graduation was. " Lots of people preferred Fuji for that reason.

But anyone someone who was really interested in the true image, good photography, etc. would not appropriate this falseness.

 

[jyyz]

Looks great to me on my Sony. My HDR settings aren’t set “vividly.” The ATV4K adds to highlights, and deepens the darks. In my opinion it looks great, and I am happy I stumbled upon getting it. For those who have had a different experience, fortunately you can return and get your money back!

 

[NameUndecided]

Looks great to me on my Sony. My HDR settings aren’t set “vividly.” The ATV4K adds to highlights, and deepens the darks. In my opinion it looks great, and I am happy I stumbled upon getting it. For those who have had a different experience, fortunately you can return and get your money back!

I don't mean to brag or beat a dead horse or nothing, but I got my own TV's darks as deep as they need to be by adjusting the contrast, brightness, and gamma settings with the test pattern on my Toy Story 3 blu-ray. It's super cool because it only took me a couple minutes and now it's set to actual non-random standards so I know I'm not missing any intended details in darker scenes.

 

[priitv8]

Looks great to me on my Sony. My HDR settings aren’t set “vividly.” The ATV4K adds to highlights, and deepens the darks. ...

What Sony do you have? The more I look at mine, the more I think that as a minimum, I shall use my ColorMunki to measure the brightness of diffuse white screen and make sure it is set at 100nits maximum. I have the feeling that Sony's default max brightness in HDR mode is way over the top.
PS Here is a good writing on UHD TV and HDR from calibrator's perspective: https://www.lightillusion.com/uhdtv.html

 

[raymanster]

I can thankfully post my Apple tv 4k user review from next week.
Successful e-bay purchase today.
64GB 4K ap tv.
UK-£123.

Great deal, was that used or brand new?

 

[Donfor39]

Great deal, was that used or brand new?

Advertised as not used much.
I missed a few 32gb
Very happy 4K 64gb from Aberdeen

 

[benji888]

I think some here are being over critical of the OP. I’ve read in various forums about experiences with the ATV 4K, and it seems that the HDR playback of SDR content has different results, this seems to be more dependent on the display. Most with OLEDs say it looks horrible, but, others say it’s improved, and, in many cases, settings on the TV make a difference, sometimes it has to do with DV or HDR10 (some displays only do DV at 30 or 24Hz). Since the ATV is currently not capable of automatically switching modes for content, if one can find a setting that looks good enough for them to leave it alone, let them.

One thing, apps need to be updated to take advantage of the ATV 4K’s new capabilities. Some have said VUDU looks terrible, but, that app just came out for the ATV 4 (not 4K) and will need to be updated. Other apps have been around for up to 2 years on ATV 1080p, so, will need updates.

That being said, resolution upscaling make look better also, dependent on the TV, (the ATV 4K is doing the upscaling though, unless you manually select output at 1080p), however, it has been my experience that upscaling to HD from SD content can look better or, sometimes, worse, so, I imagine the same is true of HD to UHD.

FYI: the narrative about “director’s intent” when talking about HDR is a false narrative. We are comparing new digital to old digital when we should be comparing new digital to film, as, digital has had lower color range, and very much lower dynamic range than film. Only now are professional digital cameras getting closer to the color and dynamic range of film, which is why some directors still shoot on film. Many movies have been shot on film (live action) and then scanned for digital playback. When older films are scanned for 4K & HDR, they are actually going to look more like they did in the theater when they were played on film projectors.

HDR is not better than film, we’ve become so used to the lower color and dynamic range of digital that we forgot what we’ve been missing. HDR (& WCG), lastly 4K resolution, gets all things digital closer to that of film. If we had home theaters that used film projectors, that would be a proper comparison.