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Ok, here is your seasonal streaming TV hardware buying guide from a Disney+ software engineer who works on this stuff daily.
Now that COVID work from home is a semi-permanent situation,...
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Now that COVID work from home is a semi-permanent situation,...
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I have 15 smart TVs and 16 other various streaming boxes at home for software development and testing. An embarrassing data point, but maybe something I can make useful.
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If you can splurge, get a TV with an OLED screen. Last I checked, only available on LG and Sony.
The tonal range between the blackest blacks and whitest whites is astonishing.
The downside of OLED: If it will be in a room alongside large windows, you might get a glare
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The tonal range between the blackest blacks and whitest whites is astonishing.
The downside of OLED: If it will be in a room alongside large windows, you might get a glare
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QLED (Samsung) is similar to OLED, although I find the tonal range and clarity of color to fall considerably short of the OLED screens.
Most of my Disney+ co-workers agree.
That said, QLED screens do not suffer from the window glare as much as an OLED.
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Most of my Disney+ co-workers agree.
That said, QLED screens do not suffer from the window glare as much as an OLED.
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Almost every TV you get these days will be 4k, (aka "UHD").
In my opinion that matters less than the color range (HDR10 or Dolby Vision). Although, most UHD TV's also have both HDR10 and Dolby Vision capability.
Samsung is the odd-ball with HDR10 but not Dolby Vision.
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In my opinion that matters less than the color range (HDR10 or Dolby Vision). Although, most UHD TV's also have both HDR10 and Dolby Vision capability.
Samsung is the odd-ball with HDR10 but not Dolby Vision.
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The high dynamic range technologies (HDR10 or Dolby Vision) are truly amazing, and worth paying for.
Although, you may find that you don't have to pay extra, since most UHD models have high dynamic range capability as well.
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Although, you may find that you don't have to pay extra, since most UHD models have high dynamic range capability as well.
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If you need to save money on a TV, cut down the size, but avoid scrimping on UHD, HDR10, or Dolby Vision.
To save money on large TVs, manufacturers use some tricks like downcast backlighting to save money. These tricks severely wash out your color and tonal range.
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To save money on large TVs, manufacturers use some tricks like downcast backlighting to save money. These tricks severely wash out your color and tonal range.
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If you have a mid or high end smart TV, you should use that for your primary streaming platform rather than some other connected device. It will save money, and most of the grade A apps (Disney+, Hulu, Netflix) will work great.
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For TVs which are not in the high or or mid range price/quality level, consider getting one of these devices to connect to it (ordered by personal preference):
1. Apple TV 4k
2. New Google TV/Chromecast with 4k
3. Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick with 4k
4. Xbox
5. Roku 4k
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1. Apple TV 4k
2. New Google TV/Chromecast with 4k
3. Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick with 4k
4. Xbox
5. Roku 4k
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Most people are buying the surround sound bars for their home theatre these days. I have one, and it's definitely an upgrade from the internal speakers on the TV.
That said, the Atmos surround sound technology is amazing, and I feel the sound bars are missing most of it.
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That said, the Atmos surround sound technology is amazing, and I feel the sound bars are missing most of it.
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If you're enough of an audiophile to dish out $1k+ for a surround sound system, then do it.
I've been to the Dolby labs for a demo of their Atmos technology in all its glory. And it is glorious.
16 channels of studio mixed surround sound in 3d space.
Mind blowing.
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I've been to the Dolby labs for a demo of their Atmos technology in all its glory. And it is glorious.
16 channels of studio mixed surround sound in 3d space.
Mind blowing.
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I 'm biased, but I think Disney+ and Hulu have the best UHD, high dynamic range video and Atmos audio of any streaming service out there. Disney Studio Ops does an amazing job mixing, and our back-end team has created the best encoder pipeline in the biz.
Next level.
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Next level.
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What is your favorite home theater hardware setup? Did I miss anything?
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