Thought some of you might get a kick out of the crazy things I wind up doing in my system, but some pointers as well if you are trying to address similar issues.
This is about the video chain in my home theater, where a few years ago a I deployed a JVC 4810 4K projector. This thing is not 'really' 4K, but rather Faux K, as it wobulates the 1080P panels to create 4K worth of pixels on the screen. This is fine, as I have a perforated, acoustically transparent screen, and the higher fill-rate helps mask the holes. It's also only accepts 1080P inputs, as it predates the HDMI specs for UHD.
I also recently upgraded the theater to an Atmos setup, with four overhead speakers, so I'm looking to buy as many movies with Atmos soundtracks as I can. The problem is that the studios want to push the sale of UHD BluRays, so they only put the Atmos soundtrack on the UHD disc, and even if you buy the UHD set, the included BluRay does NOT have Atmos, only the UHD disc has it
So I have a growing stack of UHD discs with Atmos soundtracks and no way to play them back. I really want an Oppo BD-203, but until I have an true 4K PJ (waiting on Laser to come down in price), doesn't seem like the time to make that investment. So on a lark, looked at UHD players on Amazon this week, and the Sony UBP-X800 was on sale at $149, so I snagged one to be able to play back these discs.
But as I get ready to deploy it, the path from film master to my screen seemed pretty funny, so here it goes:
Film Master (often actual film, but anything with CGI is usually a 2K DI)
Upconverted to 4K for UHD
UHD BluRay with 4K and Atmos Content - Played back on UPB-X800 and downrezed to 2K 1080P
Marantz AV8802A preamp (1080P)
Video splitter (PJ and 21" LCD monitor)
Darbee (1080P)
JVC PJ, 1080P input -> Upconvert to 4K
So true Faux 4K
But hey, the video is sometimes a tad bit better than the 1080P BluRay, and the main goal, Atmos soundtracks is achieved
So what are you guys doing for immersive audio and 4K video?
This is about the video chain in my home theater, where a few years ago a I deployed a JVC 4810 4K projector. This thing is not 'really' 4K, but rather Faux K, as it wobulates the 1080P panels to create 4K worth of pixels on the screen. This is fine, as I have a perforated, acoustically transparent screen, and the higher fill-rate helps mask the holes. It's also only accepts 1080P inputs, as it predates the HDMI specs for UHD.
I also recently upgraded the theater to an Atmos setup, with four overhead speakers, so I'm looking to buy as many movies with Atmos soundtracks as I can. The problem is that the studios want to push the sale of UHD BluRays, so they only put the Atmos soundtrack on the UHD disc, and even if you buy the UHD set, the included BluRay does NOT have Atmos, only the UHD disc has it
So I have a growing stack of UHD discs with Atmos soundtracks and no way to play them back. I really want an Oppo BD-203, but until I have an true 4K PJ (waiting on Laser to come down in price), doesn't seem like the time to make that investment. So on a lark, looked at UHD players on Amazon this week, and the Sony UBP-X800 was on sale at $149, so I snagged one to be able to play back these discs.
But as I get ready to deploy it, the path from film master to my screen seemed pretty funny, so here it goes:
Film Master (often actual film, but anything with CGI is usually a 2K DI)
Upconverted to 4K for UHD
UHD BluRay with 4K and Atmos Content - Played back on UPB-X800 and downrezed to 2K 1080P
Marantz AV8802A preamp (1080P)
Video splitter (PJ and 21" LCD monitor)
Darbee (1080P)
JVC PJ, 1080P input -> Upconvert to 4K
So true Faux 4K
But hey, the video is sometimes a tad bit better than the 1080P BluRay, and the main goal, Atmos soundtracks is achieved
So what are you guys doing for immersive audio and 4K video?