Posted Thu Oct 5, 2017 at 02:19 PM PDT by Steven Cohen
Keeping track of the latest audio and video tech can be daunting. Thankfully, High-Def Digest has you covered. Welcome to our Home Theater 101 series, where we explain emerging technologies, AV formats, digital streaming platforms, and more.
This page is designed to act as a central hub for all of our Home Theater 101 articles. If you don't know the difference between Dolby Vision and HDR10+, or DTS:X and Dolby Atmos, click on the guides below for full in-depth breakdowns on each subject. Cheers & thanks so very much for reading!
This was our original explanation of the new 4K format, written six months before its debut!
Inspired by a reader's question on Facebook, we explore the history as well as the benefits and pitfalls of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and streaming content.
Over the last few years, Dolby Atmos has taken the surround sound experience to the next level through addition of overhead audio. But just what exactly is Dolby Atmos and how does it work? And what do A/V enthusiasts mean when they throw around terms like object-based mixing and up-firing drivers? This guide is here to breakdown the ins and outs of the format.
Like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X takes the surround sound experience to the next level through the use of overhead audio and object-based mixing. But while both formats are very similar, are there any notable differences? And what products support the tech? This guide covers all the basics of DTS:X technology and gear.
Though the differences between native Dolby Atmos and DTS:X tech might not be appreciable, both company's now offer their own new immersive audio up-mixing solutions as well. Designed to add height effects to traditional surround sound mixes, Dolby Surround, and DTS:Neural:X both aim to deliver similar experiences -- but is there a clear winner between the two?
High Dynamic Range is the biggest display advancement in years, offering enhanced contrast and colors. But how does the process really work? And what's the deal with all of the competing formats? From nits to color gamuts, this guide is here to explain what HDR is and how it's used to improve the 4K TV experience.
With the basics of HDR out of the way, this section dives deep into the intricacies of Dolby's own proprietary high dynamic range format, addressing what makes the Dolby Vision process unique. If you don't know the difference between static metadata and dynamic metadata, this is the guide for you.
As an emerging royalty-free dynamic metadata high dynamic range format, HDR10+ offers similar features as Dolby Vision. But just what are the differences between the two, and what gear and content currently support the format? This guide is here to highlight all the ins and outs of the industry's newest HDR solution.
Are all HDR formats created equally? Pitting HDR10 against Dolby Vision, this article examines the drawbacks and limitations of static metadata solutions versus dynamic metadata tech.
As 4K HDR TV and immersive audio adoption continues to grow, more and more content providers have begun to embrace Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos content. And when it comes to streaming services, few digital platforms offer a library as robust as Netflix. This list highlights all of the titles currently available on the service with Dolby Vision, HDR, and/or Dolby Atmos support.
Though not quite as large as Netflix's library, Amazon also offers a growing collection of HDR and Atmos titles. Likewise, it's the only platform currently offering support for the new HDR10+ format. With that in mind, this list highlights all of the titles available on the service with HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and/or Dolby Atmos support.
More and more streaming platforms are adding support for 4K playback, but selections, compatibility, and pricing vary quite a bit from service to service. To help size up the current crop of digital providers, this list covers the key pros and cons of each competing platform, allowing readers to decide which service is the best for them.
So you've got a fancy new 4K TV and an Ultra HD Blu-ray player with plenty of discs -- but are the movies you're watching actually in 4K? Well, it turns out more often than not, the answer is... no. While 4K production and mastering are becoming more popular, the majority of modern movies are still either photographed digitally at 2K or have a 2K Digital Intermediate. This article lists some examples and elaborates on why resoltuion isn't everything when it comes to the benefits of the Ultra HD format.
Though OLED displays offer some key benefits, the most common and popular panel type in the Ultra HD TV market remains LCD. But just what exactly is an LCD TV? And what's the distinction between the tech's varying panel types and LED backlight options? If you don't know the difference between edge-lit LED panels and full-array local dimming panels, this guide is here to cover all the basics of LCD TVs.
While virtual reality in some form or another has been around for decades, the format has recently seen a major revival and performance overhaul as display and computing technologies have advanced -- providing a new level of immersion. But just what exactly is VR? And which headset is right for you? If you don't know the difference between an Oculus Rift and a Daydream View, this guide is here to breakdown the ins and outs of Virtual Reality.
The latest news on all things 4K Ultra HD, blu-ray and Gear.