HDR Technology: Is it worth the money, or better to buy a TV that supports 4K

Modern technology is so firmly established in our lives, it is sometimes difficult to understand in all their diversity. For example, choosing a TV, you have to pay attention to many parameters, some of which may perplex the unprepared buyer. In this article we will talk about HDR technology, which has become very topical in the last year and a half.

In practice, its introduction before the start of 2016 it was the prerogative of individual models of televisions and the corresponding content was too little. Fortunately, in the course of the year the situation began to change: more and more manufacturers equip their TVs support for HDR. Manufacturers of video game consoles have also implemented support for the technology in the updated model. Sony has gone a step further and included HDR support the original PlayStation 4 by a software update.

Most importantly - it appeared and continues to appear relevant content that can be revealed on the HDR-enabled devices.

So is it worth all the fuss around HDR investment buyers money to a compatible device?

How does it look?

Let's try to understand and begin to explain the essence of technology.

Any TV is characterized by indicators of contrast and color accuracy. Contrast affects how bright and dark colors can show the device while keeping them visible to the viewer. Color accuracy, in turn, refers to how close to the real colors will be displayed on the screen.

It is interesting that the majority of potential buyers if they offer a choice of TV with more high resolution and lower resolution TV, but higher contrast, will choose second. That richness and variety of colors are a priority in the selection. Thus, the brightness of the picture still remains rather higher resolution 4K. Customers choose eyes.

What is the essence?

HDR technology (High Dynamic Range), or an extended dynamic range, allows you to set forth above is even more obvious: it makes the light colors lighter still, and dark - darker. HDR increases the color range and maximum contrast, which makes the image more profound and intense. Standard colors - red, blue and green - shades obtained further and combinations thereof, that directly affects the image quality.

Hand in hand with the HDR technology goes WCG (Wide Color Gamut). Last further expands the available range of colors. Viewers never been faced with these technologies, will be pleasantly surprised at how increasing the number of shades of the same seems to be the usual colors.

It is important to understand that the HDR technologies introduced in modern TVs and devices connected to them, seriously differs from what has already been present for some time in the cells of our smartphones.

So, HDR television technology enhances contrast and palette of available colors to make the image on the screen is more realistic to show it in the natural colors. HDR technology in the cells, in turn, is used to combine multiple images at once to get the best image that combines the most successful elements of all made frames. Thus, the difference between HDR schematic obtained.

How to implement?

HDR technology consists of two integral parts: the display and content.

In fact, the TV - this is the most simple part of the two. He is required to be able to highlight certain areas of the screen more clearly than does its conventional counterparts, does not have the support of HDR.

Everything is much more complicated in the case of content that must have the support of the HDR, to display dynamic range on the screen. Most of the films, many series, shot in the last decade, have the support of HDR. It can also be added without any artificial inclusions in the original picture. The fact that the main obstacle to the HDR-content to your TV becomes only the data transfer.

Videos created with the use of high dynamic range is compressed to then be transferred to your TV, computer or other device. As a result, the user sees in the best case, the picture that is trying to play its display using embedded therein technologies and systems to improve the image quality.

Thus, only the content of certain sources will be displayed with the HDR present, because your the TV will receive additional metadata that will tell him exactly how to display each a particular scene. Of course, this meant support playback device technology.

In addition, there are certain requirements for equipment. Not only your TV, but also a player or set-top box must have a connector HDMI, version 2.0 or later. Most of equipment, issued from 2015 to the present, has the support of HDMI 2.0 standard, which can be software upgraded to HDMI 2.0a. The latest version of the standard required for the transmission of the most metadata mentioned above.

The producers have already decided to assign TVs, has the support 4K resolution and HDR technology, certificate UHD Premium. In his presence is necessary to pay attention to when buying. Also note that the format of 4K Blu-ray also has default support for HDR.

Summarize

Certainly, HDR technology in TVs until not so vital as it teaches producers, but that it is now a major force in the industry. The race for higher resolution 4K receded into the background, giving way to an extended dynamic range.

And although the best results will be achieved by combining two advanced standards, at this stage, preferable to choose a TV that supports the HDR, if you are not willing to overpay for the presence of higher than 4K resolution. The picture quality when using the appropriate content will surprise you in any way. The eyes do not be fooled: brighter, more saturated colors, as well as their diversity will be preferable to the presence of ultra-high-resolution matrix.

Thus, buying a new TV at the end of 2016, it is advisable to attend at least the presence of HDR support, and higher resolution 4K yet it remains pleasant, but still complement, that is too much effect on the total cost of the purchase, but do not bring the same emotions.