January 17, 2014

Five Things to Know About Ultra HD TVs

"It was no good, because I threw it away a few minutes later. But if the same thing happened today, I should keep it."

LATE JANUARY, just before the Super Bowl, is one of the most popular times to shop for a big-screen television. But this year, A/V connoisseurs in the market for a humongous, high-end flat-screen might want to hold off until well after the game. The latest Ultra High-Definition TVs (sometimes called Ultra HD, UHD or 4K) will hit stores this spring. For shoppers who want the latest and greatest, these models might be worth the wait and higher price. Ultra HD sets provide a substantial boost in detail, and, unlike the smattering of quality sets that came out last year, not all of the newest ones will carry stratospheric prices. Below, five key points you need to know about the near-future of home entertainment.

"Well, I wouldn't!" said Julia. "I'm quite ready to take risks, but only for something worth while, not for bits of old newspaper. What could you have done with it even if you had kept it?"

1. Ultra HD looks amazing. Images in this new format are super-detailed and vivid. These screens pack in the same number of pixels as four hi-def sets. Result: a sense of realism that rivals the movie theater.

"Not much, perhaps. But it was evidence. It might have planted a few doubts here and there, supposing that I'd dared to show it to anybody. I don't imagine that we can alter anything in our own lifetime. But one can imagine little knots of resistance springing up here and there----small groups of people banding themselves together, and gradually growing, and even leaving a few records behind, so that the next generations can carry on where we leave off."

2. But...you'll need a gigantic TV set. There's no need to upgrade to Ultra HD unless you're in the market for a huge TV----say, 65 inches or larger diagonally. That's because the format's resolution boost is all but impossible to notice on smaller sets (unless you sit headache-inducingly close to the screen). Granted, some eagle-eyed viewers may be able to discern a difference, and the technology does offer other visual enhancements. But it'll be hard to justify the premium at more modest screen sizes.