You Should Wait Before Buying A 4K TV

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As with all new tech, I think this should be fairly obvious. Wait for the tech to mature, prices to come down and the content to be there.

If you jump in now, you’ll need to consider exclusivity deals, bandwidth demands, which big-gun content providers are behind which TVs, and the nuances of each built-in smart platform. Until all the major services—Netflix, Amazon, etc.—run on every 4K set, until there’s a simple plug-and-play 4K device like a streaming box or a console, and until lower bitrates or beefier bandwidth are universal, you’ll be buying into a UHD construction zone.
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The reason I have held off on 4k is simply because hdmi 1.4a spec can only do 4k at 30 frames and so I will wait for hdmi 2.0 before I consider it.

No reason to buy it now for at a premium.
 
I want to avoid 4K as the content isn't there but my FIOS only does 1080i. I think IPTV will be the way to go when it comes to 1080p/4K viewing.
 
blah blah blah blah blah...

While he has some points... but not really.

The TV is probably the least upgraded device in your entertainment system, only surpassed by your stereo/receiver.

EVERY year tech gets better and cheaper, TVs are slightly slower but its the same, you will get something better/cheaper if you wait...

Smart apps and exclusivity is a slight issue now but once there is a decent amount of actual content those issues will be non-existent.

Trying to plan a purchasing decision on smarts apps isn't very smart unless you don't really care (then you just buy the cheapest anyways). In one year your TV software will not be supported or upgraded... out of the what 5-8+ years of ownership? That's a long time, you will be passed up on software, prompting you to get a roku or something similar anyways.

If you HAVE to buy now, and you get new TV every 5-8 years, then getting a 4k TV isn't a bad idea. Obviously you shouldn't break the bank to future proof...

One word of 4k warning... you WILL notice how crappy your TV service is... After I got my 4k, I pretty much pirate all my TV shows since they have better "hd" encodes then my Dish service.
 
Pfft, 4K is already cheap as hell. But I'm not upgrading until I can find a 4:4:4 4K set that does 60hz on displayport or hdmi 2.0.

All my TVs are connected to small computers, and they have no issues running 4K resolutions and scaling desktop/etc accordingly.
 
and the content to be there
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Kind of this first.

I mean reminds me of early DVD content "look at this amazing tech demo... and that's all we have for now, but we'll get plenty later!
 
Help me out guys, I know some things but I don't know everything.

I use my TV for one thing, BlueRays and the occasional older DVD. I do have a Western Digital TV Live connected but I only used it to play some stuff off a HD or stream some Netflix. I mostly just watch Netflix off my Laptop.

So where are the pitfalls in buying a 4K as long as I check and make sure Netflix supports it?
 
HDMI 2.0 was my only major obstacle, although since my TV is also my PC monitor I'd also like to see what 1080p looks like on one, too. 4K PC gaming needs too much horsepower to rely on it.
 
lcpiper said:
Help me out guys, I know some things but I don't know everything.

I use my TV for one thing, BlueRays and the occasional older DVD. I do have a Western Digital TV Live connected but I only used it to play some stuff off a HD or stream some Netflix. I mostly just watch Netflix off my Laptop.

So where are the pitfalls in buying a 4K as long as I check and make sure Netflix supports it?
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None really, depending on the TV some could possibly notice a slight blurring when the TV upscales the image to 4k. Though I would say if you were that sensitive to it you would know and not be asking this question lol.

You could also consider the $$$ premium you spend for a 4k set could probably be used on a larger or better HD set.

I sort of lied before... it wasn't 4k that made me pirate and call disk HD service crap... it was the 12" increase in TV size more than anything that showed all the flaws.

Honestly if you don't need a new TV, I would probably wait for OLED or a year or 2 more to let 4k mature a bit, but if you need a TV now, getting 4k isn't a complete waste of money.
 
dandirk said:
...I sort of lied before... it wasn't 4k that made me pirate and call disk HD service crap... it was the 12" increase in TV size more than anything that showed all the flaws.....
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What size are you talking there? Personally I thought I'd love a 70"+ 1080p screen, till I saw one. Pixilation is ridiculous
 
lcpiper said:
Help me out guys, I know some things but I don't know everything.
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Fortunately for you, you've found the internet...plenty of experts here, in our own heads, how can we be of service.....

I use my TV for one thing, BlueRays and the occasional older DVD. I do have a Western Digital TV Live connected but I only used it to play some stuff off a HD or stream some Netflix. I mostly just watch Netflix off my Laptop.So where are the pitfalls in buying a 4K as long as I check and make sure Netflix supports it?
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Big Issue #1 = Input Lag, I think the Vizio P Series is the first affordable 4K set that doesn't have hellacious input lag.....assuming you're a gamer, this is a big deal.

Big Issue #2 = Everything you watch will be scaled, as everything will have to be upconverted to use 8 million pixels instead of whatever your device is churning out.....so if its a blu ray, its 1080p......and that will get scaled to 4k.

Then every other issue with every other set also applies..flashlighting, clouding, uneven backlighting, viewing angles.......

In the end, unless you're planning on doing some serious 4K gaming on an uber-PC, smart move is still on the 1080p sets (which are in their, what, 12th generation or so?)...versus 4K....year 2....
 
Panasonic seem to be on top of the game in that market, the AX800 TV's are really nice. Samsungs closest offerings lacks Display Port and has close to 3 times the input latency.
 
There are already 4k TVs with HDMI 2.0, same with A/V receivers...am I missing something in this conversation?
 
Most people already sit so far away from their 1080p TV that they only see 720p resolution or less, so content or not, 4K remains kind of pointless for most people.
 
Considering that most people with HDTVs are running them in 480i, with the sharpness and contrast cranked all the way up, yes, maybe they should wait before buying anything else.
 
waiting for a 4K OLED set at a relatively affordable price...until then my 55" Panasonic plasma is still going strong
 
4K for gaming, that's about it. Blu-Ray won't handle it, doubt my 50-60MB down would either.
 
I can't watch TV for some reason it changes my vision even if it's led not sure what the problem is,
Radio and the net is my friend plus I seen this one house on a corner with the flat screen on 24/7 you can see that glow so I'm like take a walk or something.
 
There is a lack of content combined with a lack of compelling reason to upgrade. At least it's better than three-dee-tee-vee. Besides, we just replaced the 480i teevees with 1080p teevees.
 
I just got myself finally a 1080p Samsung LED tv last year after retiring my 7 year old Sony 720p rear projector, so your damn right I'm gonna wait a while.
 
From what I've seen, the platform and related content just aren't mature enough. Yes, prices are dropping fast and there is a lot of awareness of the technology, but that doesn't mean it's worth jumping in quite yet.
 
Why buy a 2015 car now for 30k when i can get next year for 20k? Because I want a goose that lays golden eggs and I want it now!

Same goes for anything...that instant gratification hole must be filled! BBL going to McD's to fill the hole with some triple cheeseburgers.
 
The human eye can't resolve 4K over 1080 at most viewing distances for most TV sizes. I'd much rather see engineers work issues with picture quality right now that will actually affect the viewing experience. 4K is just an easy sell since it's a "bigger number" than the previous.
 
4K TVs are going to be a hell of a lot cheaper next year and there is no content available for them and won't be for at least a few years. That's reason enough for most people.
 
I wouldn't mind one for the bedroom. I'd notice a slight difference, but nothing major.

As for the theater room? No way. Projector is $5,000 for a cheaper JVC model. With very little to not much at all content? I can't justify the purchase. When 4K media is released (physical media, not shitty Netflix/YouTube 4K), then I will bite.
 
TheOneKnownAsMe said:
From what I've seen, the platform and related content just aren't mature enough. Yes, prices are dropping fast and there is a lot of awareness of the technology, but that doesn't mean it's worth jumping in quite yet.
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People had the same hype shit for 3D TV just a few years ago and look how that turned out...
 
ol1bit said:
4K for gaming, that's about it. Blu-Ray won't handle it, doubt my 50-60MB down would either.
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4K Blu-Ray is expected before Xmas. Assuming it looks better than 1080p (and I expect it to, on 65"+ sets, since it'll have a better gamut and higher acuity), then it's a win for studios, because ISPs want to cap your ass and that means the only way around it is disks.
 
Steve said:
As with all new tech, I think this should be fairly obvious. Wait for the tech to mature, prices to come down and the content to be there.
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This is very defensive, equivalent to the statement: "don't buy any new tech before it matures". If everybody would follow this, no new tech could be made as there would be no market place to start. Fortunately, there are brave industrious people who are early adopters for the fun of tinkering, solving issues and being first.

Just the proper statement here should be "Don't buy 4K TV yet unless you belong ot the distinct Tribe of Early Adopters".

Disclaimer: I do not have 4K TV yet since I have a 65" HD set. For real change and for seeing the 4K in full glory in my living room I would need much bigger 4K set of size in the range of 100" but there are no such sets yet (I do not count hand made models costing $100K).
 
IIRC back in 2006 we went to a tech show in London that had a 50" LCD screen on show for £50000.

Now you can get one with 4 litres of motor oil.
 
My LCD TV is a 960x540 (yep true) set so I don't like to jump in too quick either.
 
Anyone remember this Philips Flat Screen commercial from 1998? I remember going into Circuit City, seeing the television, then seeing the price tag of $10,000. Now, that price tag would easily purchase a much bigger and better television.

I also consider myself an early adopter of DVD, having purchased my first discs in November, 1998, and my first player in March, 1999. Today, you can pick up a DVD player for a song, and even then, I would recommend BluRay over DVD. Of course, everyone is going streaming media nowadays.
 
Arct1c0n said:
People had the same hype shit for 3D TV just a few years ago and look how that turned out...
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I use my 3D feature sometimes. It's not expensive, it's enjoyable. It's just not something you use with every viewing. It's pretty cool. It's just not a OMG! 3D! MUST HAVE!

4K is similar right now. Definitely not a must have, but it's cool. You can tell a difference depending on your setup. In the bedroom? I'm upgrading the TV anyway, and at 55" fairly close? There is a difference. In motion? Doubt I'll care. But, the price is right at that size. Not much more than a decent 1080P.
 
OK, 1st, Thanx to the guys who responded to my question.

2nd, I have another question sort of.

IWhat is with these comments about sitting so far away you are watching in 720P?
(Makes no sense, you see what is presented period, if you are presented with 1080p then that is what you see no matter how far away because it's ALL Relative)

Need to wait for HDMI2.0, (Well what are the stores using that are showing 4K for display?, It's gota be something and it has to be available so ....)

Every time I go into Best Buy I see obvious and undeniably superior picture quality out of the 4K TVs and it's way beyond what cranking up some display settings can accomplish, besides, they do that anyway, they have for years, so again, it's all relative.

So the 64 million dollar question is .... Drum Roll Please ..... If Best Buy and Sears, etc. are all demonstrating 4K how and what are they doing it with? And why can't I do the same?
 
lcpiper said:
2nd, I have another question sort of.

IWhat is with these comments about sitting so far away you are watching in 720P?
(Makes no sense, you see what is presented period, if you are presented with 1080p then that is what you see no matter how far away because it's ALL Relative)
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Its more a question of how good human eyesight is, if you sit a foot away from a large 1080p screen then you are going to notice that the quality isnt great. sit 8-10 foot away from that screen and you probably at around the optimum distance and the screen would look really good(your unable to see the issues because your too far away).


you can use a viewing distance calculator http://myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html


personally I have a 51inch plasma downstairs for movie watching and a 32inch tv as a monitor for my pc which im only a couple of feet away from and its fine.
 
My current 46" 1080p set is five years old. Maybe in another five years I'll change it out and go to 4K, and maybe in five years they'll have a UHD/4K standard that makes sense, plus optical *and* broadcast media to go with it. UHD/4K has to be more than just upping the pixels. (which is what everyone focuses on)

But there's nothing wrong with getting a 4K set now. IOW, it's not worth waiting five years for TPTB to get it right and acceptable to consumers if your current set is old and busted.
 
lcpiper said:
So the 64 million dollar question is .... Drum Roll Please ..... If Best Buy and Sears, etc. are all demonstrating 4K how and what are they doing it with? And why can't I do the same?
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http://www.amazon.com/Sony-BDPS6200...=1421251250&sr=8-1&keywords=4k+upscale+bluray

Either something like that, or a standard Blu-ray player.

You can get your PC to output 4K, so that's also a possibility. But, I think a lot of it is upscaling at this point. There isn't a lot of 4K media out there. I'm sure that there will be some demo discs available for retailers to push over a small HTPC style device, though. When HDTV first came out, Sears played a beautiful, stunning, nature/scenic demo. Beaches, huge landscapes, Scotland highlands, etc.. Just amazing quality. I expect something similar for 4K - show them the best of what it can do with some great scenery.

So, my answer - I don't know, just guessing. :)
 
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