HDR the Future is now.

[Staying Salty]

This thread is to help us make an informed decision when we decide to upgrade from Blu-ray to HDR 4K or upgrading our current 4K equipment. Let’s think about the future, primarily dynamic metadata. Hopefully it will help us have no buyer’s remorse and to enjoy our movies to the max. This thread primarily addresses physical disks although some overlap to streaming.

As of now a 4K Blu-ray has static metadata HDR10 and the option of also having dynamic metadata Dolby Vision. There possibly will be other dynamic metadata formats added in the future, such as HDR10+ and Technicolor (they require HDMI 2.1 for disk). Certainly dynamic metadata can add to the quality of the picture as demonstrated by Samsung in their dynamic metadata HDR10+ presentation. I do believe that there will be only one dynamic metadata format per disk. (For streaming HDR10 and Dolby Vision are supported by various streaming services. HDR10+ will be supported by Samsung and Amazon late summer.)

HDR10 has 10 bit color depth and 4.2.0 chroma subsampling. If the reviewers of a Dolby Vision disk state that Dolby’s 12-bit color depth and 4.2.2 chroma subsampling gives an increase in the quality of the picture that’s a bonus.

A certified Premium HDMI Cable is also necessary for any upgrade to a HDR 4k TV. If you upgrade to Dolby Vision (display, player) your receiver must be able to pass the Dolby Vision signal. A current work around is to run the video signal directly to your display from your player.

All of us will soon be purchasing Dolby Vision disks. If you want the Title in 4k and it is in Dolby Vision you have no choice. I assume it’s possible that some duplicate titles released outside of the United States might not have a dynamic metadata encode.

So my question is will you take in consideration the equipment’s ability to display active metadata when you upgrade your current equipment?

In the future I am going to expand this to show the equipment and the formats they support. (hopefully in a few year this will OBE and we will have universal HDR equipment.) Not trying to steal your thunder DanBA.

Displays:

TBD

Players:

TBD

[StingingVelvet]

Man, you're a one-trick pony.

[Staying Salty]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Man, you're a one-trick pony.

Well that is somewhat true. But I have no reason to believe that a Dolby Vision System would provide a worse picture than any other HDR version. The more versions we have, the more hassle and expense. Will the receivers have to be updated for HDR10+ and Technicolor? Would it not require a separate calibration for each HDR mode? Plus all these versions will create some confusion in the customers slowing down the adoption of 4K. We will see by years end if Dolby Vision delivers. Is my logic out of whack?

My main point is that we will all have Dolby Vision disks in our collection. Why not take full advantage of them, hopefully on a Samsung.

[Geoff D]

HDR10 on disc is 4:2:0. DV is reportedly 4:2:2.

[Staying Salty]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

HDR10 on disc is 4:2:0. DV is reportedly 4:2:2.

Corrected. I probably won’t live long enough to see 4.4.4.

[Sky_Captain]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Man, you're a one-trick pony.

And I thought Flat Earthers were persistent.

[Staying Salty]

The people have spoken. Time to bury this thread since it is dead. But I will explain the purpose. I really thought it would help people looking to upgrade to give them some information gathered from many sources. I have read more than a few posts were the theme was “I just purchased xxxxx and I didn’t know”. HDR is the most important item to get right with 4K Blu-ray in my opinion. I am selfish; I want Samsung to support DV, so when I purchase my upgrade I can select what I think is the very best from all the manufactures, within my budget of course. Enjoy your movies.

[RockyIII]

Once HDMI 2.1 rolls out and dynamic HDR10 comes around all our equipment will be useless

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J320A using Tapatalk

[HeatEquation]

Originally Posted by RockyIII

Once HDMI 2.1 rolls out and dynamic HDR10 comes around all our equipment will be useless

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J320A using Tapatalk

Not necessarily. Some TVs will be able to be firmware updated to support some of the HDMI 2.1 features (including dynamic HDR over HDMI.) There are HDMI 2.1 features that do not require 48Gbps cables (again, dynamic HDR is one of those features.)

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by HeatEquation

Not necessarily. Some TVs will be able to be firmware updated to support some of the HDMI 2.1 features (including dynamic HDR over HDMI.) There are HDMI 2.1 features that do not require 48Gbps cables (again, dynamic HDR is one of those features.)

So we get to keep our 2016 equipment after all?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J320A using Tapatalk

[HeatEquation]

Originally Posted by RockyIII

So we get to keep our 2016 equipment after all?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J320A using Tapatalk

It depends on the manufacturer. Not all TVs will be updated to support those features, but some might.

Samsung was also telling people in passing at CES 2017 that some of the current players might be able to support HDR10+ as well.

Nothing is certain yet.

[disrember]

The BBC last year launched a UHD trail that uses HLG and only TV's that support HLG will get the option to view the trail.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/planet_earth_4k

Samsung have said that a firmware update will be released to support HDR10+ and HLG and so.... I am guessing you will be able to tell when this firmware is released when UK customers can get the UHD iplayer.

if its any help, my 2015 samsung recently had the update to allow Netflix HDR, so that has introduced HDR10 to my TV, so presumably that could mean the firmware has already been released, just nothing to watch it on? I know we are awaiting the amazon video app to be updated for this

[HeatEquation]

Originally Posted by disrember

The BBC last year launched a UHD trail that uses HLG and only TV's that support HLG will get the option to view the trail.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/planet_earth_4k

Samsung have said that a firmware update will be released to support HDR10+ and HLG and so.... I am guessing you will be able to tell when this firmware is released when UK customers can get the UHD iplayer.

if its any help, my 2015 samsung recently had the update to allow Netflix HDR, so that has introduced HDR10 to my TV, so presumably that could mean the firmware has already been released, just nothing to watch it on? I know we are awaiting the amazon video app to be updated for this

2016 Samsung TVs already support HLG. Not sure about 2015 models.