Before diving into the necessity of a 4K-capable display, its imperative to define exactly what 4K means. 4K refers to the dimension of the transmitted image from a source component to the display. It’s similar to the concept of resolution found on computer screens. The resolution of 4K is 4096 pixels x 2160 pixels. The resolution of Ultra HD is 3840 pixels x 2160 pixels. 4K is a professional display standard, that is, you will see 4K at the local movie theater but you won’t see it in your home…yet. The industry giants have settled on Ultra-HD as the consumer standard, which cuts a little bit of the top of the image off to fit a standard format. Thus, while used interchangeably in common conversation and industry marketing, 4K and Ultra-HD are not the same thing. That being said, we’ll refer to it as the same from now on.
Do you need a 4K (Ultra-HD) compliant display? Maybe. 4K does have four times more pixels than a 1080p (Full-HD) display. More pixels per square inch (dpi) means finer detail, fuller color, more intricate images, and the ability to maintain a crisp image as TV sizes increase. It also means that the appropriate viewing distance is decreasing even though display sizes are increasing because we can take advantage of all the added detail. All displays will become 4K in the near future, so we do generally suggest purchasing a 4K TV if budget and project design allow. The argument for 4K is stronger with a client that wants the best picture, will be keeping the TV for a long time, or where the seating position is 10 feet or less from the display. To discuss your particular situation, please contact us.