On this installment of You Requested: How will you decide for those who’re getting 4K or HDR in your TV? Why is Dolby Atmos music so arduous to get? Are there any first rate Common remotes anymore?
Distant shortcuts for enter codecs
John Engstrom writes: Simply received a Sony X90L and was questioning learn how to get the TV to indicate me the decision and the format of the enter sign (HDMI or streaming app). Is there a button on the distant that can present me that data, or probably someplace within the menu? I haven’t discovered it but, however it looks like it needs to be there someplace.
You’ll suppose that button or menu merchandise exists as a result of these sorts of buttons and data screens was once pretty widespread! However to the very best of my information, it doesn’t. No less than not on Sony TVs. And actually, anecdotally, I really feel like most TV producers have stopped making that sort of info accessible — or in the event that they do, it’s buried deep in a menu someplace.
As with all issues tech, although, there typically are hacks we are able to use to determine it out. Or no less than give ourselves some assurances that we’re getting the sign we would like. Certainly one of them includes having an AV receiver that reads the EDID — that’s brief for prolonged show identification knowledge — and supplies that data. Or you could possibly spend hundreds on gadgets like those Murideo makes for video professionals. I’m assuming you’re not focused on any of that.
So, for the format — SDR, HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Imaginative and prescient — one of the simplest ways to seek out out what you’re getting is to click on the Wrench icon in your Sony distant, then click on Image and soundscroll all the way down to Image and click on that after which look within the higher proper. If it’s HDR, it is going to say HDR; whether it is Dolby Imaginative and prescient, it is going to say so up there. If it’s SDR, it is going to say nothing.
As for decision, I don’t have something for you there. For those who’re on YouTube, you possibly can verify the decision and even drive it to the one you need by clicking up, then on the settings cog icon, and deciding on the decision. Then, there are the stats for the nerds part, which can also be accessible on YouTube TV and may be accessed for those who scroll down a bit additional. This may inform you the decision, the codec in use, the colour house, your connection pace, and many others.
Typically, apps offers you some management over the default video decision you get. As an illustration, you possibly can signal into your Netflix account on its web site, click on Accountclick on in your Profile iconthen scroll all the way down to Playback settingsand select Excessive (versus Auto). This makes it so chances are you’ll get some buffering at first, however Netflix will play on the highest accessible high quality. (Assuming you may have the plan that helps 4K.) It’s not a fantastic thought when you have bandwidth caps. And sometimes, 1080p HDR may be indiscernible from 4K HDR when all different elements are equal. However I digress — every streaming service is totally different.
However this jogs my memory of one thing I actually like about LG’s TVs: They’ve a graphic that pops up while you begin watching content material that tells you fairly clearly what the format is, even when it doesn’t inform you the decision. TCL does so, too.
Anyway, I hope that’s of some assist. I’ve reached out to Sony to seek out out if it is going to share any secret recommendations on learn how to entry this data on its fashionable TVs. I’ll replace this submit if I get a response.
Why is it so arduous to get Atmos music
Richie writes: I just lately purchased an Onkyo AVR and a few new ceiling audio system, and I believed I might be up and operating with Dolby Atmos music. However it wasn’t that straightforward. I believed as a result of my receiver has Tidal inbuilt, it could work simply. However, no. I’ve a Roku Extremely with the Tidal app, and it gained’t work. Lengthy story brief, I had to purchase an Apple TV with the intention to get Dolby Atmos music to work! Why is it so arduous to get Dolby Atmos music to work? Particularly since Dolby Atmos assist appears to be all over the place! I really feel like with telephone “casting” and Airplay, it needs to be straightforward.
What’s the take care of Atmos music being so arduous to take heed to?
What can I say however I knowproper? It’s sort of ridiculous. Apple, Tidal, and Amazon Music Limitless all supply Atmos Music as a function. You’ll suppose any gadget with apps for these providers would supply the complete suite of options. However they don’t. Not even shut. I can perceive if, say, the Tidal app in an AV receiver is simply not highly effective sufficient to be coded to coordinate with Tidal in a means that authorizes and receives the Atmos Music encoded stream. OK. However, while you’re speaking about Roku and Google TV/Android TV platforms, the place the gadgets that run these platforms are tremendous highly effective, I believe it ought to be a no brainer.
I believe the rationale why, say, the Tidal app on Roku doesn’t work for Atmos music might be a bit of totally different from why the Tidal App on an Amazon Hearth TV Dice may not work. I may see Amazon maintaining its finest options for its personal {hardware}. However on the finish of the day, as shoppers, we don’t care, proper?
That is another reason I like to recommend the Apple TV field. It’s, persistently, the one gadget and platform the place essentially the most quantity of stuff simply works. It requires the least quantity of workarounds. It’s simply the most secure guess. And I believe all that counts for lots within the client electronics market. (It’s additionally not that rather more costly than the opposite producers’ high merchandise.) If you will get Atmos music over Wi-Fi utilizing the Sonos app controlling a Sonos Atmos sound system, however you possibly can’t get the identical expertise utilizing a Samsung Atmos soundbar with a Samsung TV with out leaping by means of a bunch of hoops — properly, I can perceive why people may pay extra for Sonos. I believe people are keen to pay a premium for fewer hoops, fewer questions, and fewer frustrations.
Anyway, I’m sorry getting Dolby Atmos music is difficult. And I believe it’s dumb when getting Dolby Atmos for films and TVs is, no less than comparatively talking, so extremely straightforward now. It’s silly, and I hate it, too.
Is VR the house theater of the longer term?
Chad asks: What are the professionals and cons of utilizing an Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional as a house movie show as a substitute of shopping for a big projector, Dolby encompass sound, and many others? Is it attainable that that is the house theater of the longer term? Can this method be cheaper and higher high quality than what the standard house movie show presents?
I believe the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional will present wonderful image high quality. I imply, if the pixel density is true, we’re speaking about close-range video the place no mild depth is misplaced over lengthy distances and completely managed ambient mild ranges. In different phrases, complete darkness. So, the Imaginative and prescient Professional may supply the final word HDR video expertise. And thru noise-canceling, computational audio-enabled Apple Airpods Professional or AirPods Max, we already know we are able to get an unimaginable Dolby Atmos and spatial audio expertise. The standard will in all probability be excellent.
Right here’s the factor, although. That is the one factor that can forestall the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional from ever meaningfully competing with a house leisure house. That little Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional house theater? It’s a theater for one. You’re all by your self.
Now, there’s nothing fallacious with having fun with content material by yourself! In truth, it sounds superior in some situations. However, identical to watching an enormous sporting occasion with pals or in a crowd is commonly extra thrilling and, to some, extra significant than watching alone, so too is watching films and TV. There’s one thing superior about experiencing a film along with pals or household. Talking personally, a few of my favourite life recollections come from these shared experiences.
Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional won’t ever have the ability to absolutely change these shared experiences. Certain, possibly you possibly can look to your left and proper and see avatars and even real-life representations of your mates or household. Possibly you’ll even have the ability to hear them if Apple integrates voice audio amongst individuals — I’m betting it’ll do exactly that. However that sort of expertise won’t ever be the identical or as significant as observing the identical house collectively.
So, a complement to a standard house leisure rig? For positive. A alternative? No probability.
Common remotes
Ben writes: Are there any common remotes you advocate to regulate all of the gadgets in a setup, equivalent to an AVR, TV, Blu-Ray participant, and Apple TV? I appear to recall them being pretty common a few years in the past, even being able to controlling good TVs and good gadgets just like the Apple TV 4K. In your opinion, is there any good approach to get across the rigamarole of juggling 3 totally different remotes simply to observe one present, or is {that a} misplaced battle?
Frankly, I’m not conscious of any first rate common remotes. Nevertheless, there’s a Kickstarter venture by Martin Borzak, which he calls Yio. Please word that I’m not endorsing this till I’ve vetted it additional.
No person has swooped in to fill the void that Logitech left when the Concord common remotes have been discontinued. Sure, some killer remotes can be found for built-in methods, like these made by Control4, Savant, Crestron, and many others. However consumer-level remotes just like the Concord model not exist. I imply, Wirecutter’s high choose is the Couch beatand that’s primary out of two remotes, which I believe tells us loads.
Why did Logitech get out of Common Remotes? I’ll ask. Logitech has headquarters throughout the river from me for its UE division. However I think it’s as a result of gross sales declined as HDMI CEC implementation — regardless that it’s buggy and problematic — permits us to regulate a number of gadgets with one distant. I can management a TV, Blu-ray participant, Apple TV, and even some PS5 options with one distant simply by means of HDMI CEC.
I believe this pushed common remotes to the margins. As soon as once more, we lovers discover the big-box client electronics house a really lonely one certainly. Which, if I needed to guess, is why Marton Borzak is doing his factor.
TVs with built-in Dolby Atmos audio system
Jaimi Martinez Gomez writes: I went to a retailer, and the man on the retailer instructed me that the LG C3 has Dolby Atmos Constructed audio system, and once I heard it, it didn’t sound exactly as Dolby Atmos. I simply need to know if they’re telling me the reality or if there’s any TV with Dolby Atmos built-in audio system.
As a result of I additionally had the chance to strive the A80L and the acoustic floor audio was wonderful, however I believe that it isn’t Dolby Atmos both.
Right here’s the deal: Dolby has determined to license the Dolby Atmos title to applied sciences that, for my part, do not likely ship what I believe most people aware of Dolby Atmos predict. I really like Dolby. I really like the folks there. I really like Dolby Atmos. I really like Dolby Atmos Music. I’ve some actually superior issues to say about Dolby Flex Join in a submit popping out quickly.
However (and I perceive that is possibly a wise enterprise choice) I hate, hate, hate that Dolby Atmos as a expertise and model has been so watered all the way down to the purpose {that a} TV with some tiny, dinky audio system that don’t actually ship something remotely near high-quality sound is getting the Dolby Atmos badge. I imply, name it Dolby Audio or one thing else. Dolby continues to be a flex within the audio world. You possibly can convey this TV has higher than common sound high quality by saying it has Dolby on-board sound. You don’t have to make use of Dolby Atmos for that.
If it have been as much as me — and Dolby might be simply positive with it not being as much as me — I’d not slap the Dolby Atmos badge on any TV outdoors of simply promoting that it helps Dolby Atmos. Saying the audio system constructed into any TV ship a significant Dolby Atmos expertise is, I believe, disingenuous and weakens the model.
