4k vs Blu-ray on 55" TV, is it worth it?

[bsmooth]

I'm pondering whether to even get any 4K releases, because the biggest set I can fit is 55". I am also setting up a Hard drive to hold them all on.
So sitting at say 8 feet away, will I even notice the difference ?
I understand on a larger screen the 4K will be much better.
Plus I can save space on my hard drive as well hooked up to my Zidoo Z9X Pro 4K.
What do you think ?

[hagios]

Originally Posted by bsmooth

I'm pondering whether to even get any 4K releases, because the biggest set I can fit is 55". I am also setting up a Hard drive to hold them all on.
So sitting at say 8 feet away, will I even notice the difference ?
I understand on a larger screen the 4K will be much better.
Plus I can save space on my hard drive as well hooked up to my Zidoo Z9X Pro 4K.
What do you think ?

We actually have an even smaller 4K TV in our front room the Sony 48” which fits us just fine and we enjoy/love it… I get as many 4K movies as I possibly can and I think you would enjoy them quite a lot also!

[JulesAndJim]

The most visible difference by far, in my experience, on UHD is not resolution but HDR, which will be noticeable regardless of screen size.

[The hitcher]

What do you usually watch? Newer movies?

[bsmooth]

I'm a huge fan of all movies, but I also like the older ones as well.Casablanca right up to Hacksaw Ridge. and lots in between. I also like anime, Studio Ghibli especially.
But I'm not sure I've actually seen anything in HDR,not sur my present set even supports it.
Hopefully a Sony Bravia 7 is in the future.

[CatBus]

I never really understood taking your TV into account when choosing media formats. Sure, today you might be watching on a 9-inch black-and-white portable CRT... but if you're buying a movie and the 4K is clearly the best version out there, why not get the 4K? Grab yourself a composite cable and you've got yourself the nicest-looking 9-inch black-and-white image that your little portable CRT is capable of displaying.

And then, later, when you a) buy another TV, because TV's now break faster than home video media, b) move to another house with space for a set that didn't fit in your previous house, c) get a projector for the back yard for movie nights, or d) something else, you're all set. You don't need to rebuy your media, you don't even need to buy a new player. You just hook up your existing player and watch your existing media on your new set, and you see the difference the new set brings.

[AcornGR]

I also definitely agree on the futureproofing physical media. When i first started collecting (pretty late) i was getting blu-rays despite only owning a 720p display. I also bought a blu ray player purely to be able to play them because i knew i was gonna get a home theater setup some day so why limit myself to dvd quality? Reaping the fruits of that foresight rn

[bsmooth]

I think at some point you have to decide whats good enough.How much detail do you need? Its already gotten to the point where the extra detail is showing the actual faults in the film itself.
Then theres storage. Its true HD are cheaper now, but you'll need lots of space for all 4K or 8K in the future.
Then theres all the time you need to get the movies all done.
I have to admit your way is very future proof, so its something to think about.

[meremortal]

I've watched plenty of of blus on non-hd crt tvs over the years. You'll be fine.

[CatBus]

Originally Posted by bsmooth

I think at some point you have to decide whats good enough.How much detail do you need? Its already gotten to the point where the extra detail is showing the actual faults in the film itself.
Then theres storage. Its true HD are cheaper now, but you'll need lots of space for all 4K or 8K in the future.
Then theres all the time you need to get the movies all done.
I have to admit your way is very future proof, so its something to think about.

FWIW, I personally believe 4K is the end of the line for me. I'd honestly say well-done 1080p was probably good enough for me, but dang I have to admit that a well-done 4K/HDR job is a verr nice luxury, and there are plenty of 1080p discs that are NOT well-done, so the 4K upgrade was often justified simply by being done competently for a change, but I'd have been just as happy if the 1080p disc was just remastered and encoded well, but it wasn't (Big Lebowski, for example).

And I have a few very nice well-done 1080p discs that will never see a 4K upgrade, and I'm okay with that. It's the Life of Brian botch jobs I still fret about.

AFAICT 8K is the exact same colorspace and dynamic range as 4K, so it brings nothing to the table except resolution. And the resolution bump was already 4K's weakest selling point to me, so I'm very okay saying I'd turn down 8K media if it turned up some day. I think a lot of collectors are in that boat.

[wattsndrive90]

I have a 65 and a 58in TV's - I watch mostly blu ray, some dvd, and few 4k. The HDR10 grading nor the Dolby Vision on my 58in make have sold me on 4k, both up close (6 feet) - and far away (12ft). Point is its hard for me to recommend 4k - although....there are fine 4k's that blow the BD's out of the water such as:

Constantine, currently watching this on 4k on my 65in HDR10 TV and its perfection.

Another in my collection while not the best movie is a huge upgrade - Monster Hunter, great 4k, but the blu ray will suffice should someone choose that.

My motto is watch what you want on whatever size TV, DVD's would even look decent on a 55in.