In this installment of You Asked : How can you shape if you ’re getting 4 K or HDR on your tv set ? Why is Dolby Atmos music so hard to get ? Are there any decent Universal remotes any longer ?
Remote shortcuts for input formats
John Engstrom write : Just got aSony X90Land was wondering how to get the TV to show me the closure and the format of the input signal ( HDMI or streaming app ) . Is there a button on the remote that will show me that information , or possibly somewhere in the menu ? I have n’t found it yet , but it seems like it has to be there somewhere .
You would think that button or menu point live because those variety of buttons and information screens used to be fairly common ! But to the best of my knowledge , it does not . At least not on Sony television receiver . And honestly , anecdotally , I feel like most TV manufacturers have break making that kind of info available — or if they do , it ’s buried late in a menu somewhere .
As with all things tech , though , there sometimes are cab we can use to cypher it out . Or at least give ourselves some assurances that we ’re getting the sign we want . One of them ask get anAV receiverthat reads theEDID — that ’s short for continue video display recognition data point — and provides that info . Or you could spend thousands on devices like the onesMurideomakes for video professionals . I ’m assuming you ’re not interested in any of that .
So , for the format — SDR , HDR , HDR10,HDR10+,Dolby Vision — the beneficial room to ascertain out what you ’re nonplus is to click theWrench iconon your Sony remote control , then clickPicture and auditory sensation , scroll down toPictureand sink in that and then attend in the upper right . If it ’s HDR , it will say HDR ; if it is Dolby Vision , it will say so up there . If it ’s SDR , it will say nothing .
As for resolution , I do n’t have anything for you there . If you ’re on YouTube , you could check the resoluteness and even force it to the one you desire by clicking up , then on the background cog icon , and selecting the resolution . Then , there are the stats for the nerds section , which is also uncommitted on YouTube TV and can be accessed if you scroll down a bit further . This will distinguish you the resolve , the codec in use , the color place , your connection speeding , etc .
Sometimes , apps will give you some control over the default video answer you get . For example , you’re able to bless into your Netflix account on its website , clickAccount , come home on yourProfile icon , then scroll down toPlayback options , and chooseHigh(as oppose to Auto ) . This makes it so you may get some buffering at first , but Netflix will meet at the high useable quality . ( take for granted you have the program that substantiate 4K. ) It ’s not a great estimation if you have bandwidth caps . And often , 1080p HDR can be indiscernible from 4 grand HDR when all other factors are equal . But I sidetrack — each cyclosis military service is unlike .
But this remind me of something I really care about LG ’s TVs : They have a graphic that pops up when you start watching contentedness that tells you quite clear what the format is , even if it does n’t separate you the declaration . TCL does so , too .
Anyway , I hope that is of some assistance . I ’ve reached out to Sony to find out if it will portion out any secret bakshis on how to get at this info on its modern idiot box . I ’ll update this post if I get a reception .
Why is it so hard to get Atmos music
Richie writes : I recently bought an Onkyo AVR and some new cap utterer , and I thought I could be up and feed with Dolby Atmos euphony . But it was n’t that wanton . I thought because my receiver has Tidal built in , it would work easily . But , no . I have a Roku Ultra with the Tidal app , and it wo n’t work . Long story short , I had to corrupt an Apple TV in decree to get Dolby Atmos euphony to work ! Why is it so hard to get Dolby Atmos music to employment ? Especially since Dolby Atmos support seems to be everywhere ! I feel like with phone “ casting ” and Airplay , it should be well-heeled .
What ’s the deal with Atmos music being so hard to listen to ?
What can I say but Iknow , right ? It ’s kind of preposterous . Apple , Tidal , and Amazon Music Unlimited all offerAtmos Musicas a feature . You would think any machine with apps for those servicing would offer the full retinue of features . But they do n’t . Not even close . I can realise if , say , the Tidal app in an AV pass catcher is just not powerful enough to be coded to ordinate with Tidal in a way that empower and pick up the Atmos Music encode current . OK . But , when you ’re talking about Roku andGoogle TV / Android TVplatforms , where the gimmick that run those platforms are exceedingly powerful , I think itshouldbe a no - brainer .
I think the reason why , say , the Tidal app on Roku does n’t work for Atmos music is belike a small different from why the Tidal App on an Amazon Fire TV Cube might not crop . I can also see Amazon continue its better features for its own hardware . But at the end of the day , as consumer , we do n’t care , correct ?
This is one more reason I recommend theApple TVbox . It is , consistently , the one equipment and platform where the most amount of stuffjust works . It requires the least amount of workarounds . It ’s just the safe bet . And I imagine all that counts for a lot in the consumer electronics market place . ( It ’s also not that much more expensive than the other manufacturers ’ top product . ) If you’re able to get Atmos medicine over Wi - Fi using the Sonos app check aSonos Atmossound organization , but you ca n’t get the same experience using a Samsung Atmos soundbar with aSamsung TVwithout jumping through a bunch of hoop — well , I can understand why folks might bear more for Sonos . I call up folks are unforced to compensate a premium for few basketball , fewer question , and fewer frustrations .
Anyway , I ’m blue getting Dolby Atmos music is hard . And I recall it is dumb when getting Dolby Atmos for motion picture and boob tube is , at least relatively talk , so unbelievably easy now . It ’s stupefied , and I detest it , too .
Is VR the home theater of the future?
Chad asks : What are the pros and cons of using an Apple Vision Pro as a home picture theater alternatively of buying a large projector , Dolby surround auditory sensation , etc ? Is it possible that this is the place theater of the future tense ? Can this attack be cheaper and good timbre than what the traditional home movie house offering ?
I think theApple Vision Prowill provide awe-inspiring word-painting quality . I intend , if the pixel compactness is ripe , we ’re talking about faithful - kitchen range TV where no light loudness is suffer over long distance and absolutely keep in line ambient light floor . In other words , full darkness . So , the Vision Pro could offer the ultimate HDR television experience . And through noise - cancel , computational audio - enabledApple Airpods Pro or AirPods Max , we already hump we can get an incredible Dolby Atmos andspatial audioexperience . The tone will probably be outstanding .
Here ’s the affair , though . This is the one matter that will prevent the Apple Vision Pro from ever meaningfully competing with a family amusement outer space . That little Apple Vision Pro home theater ? It ’s a theater for one . You ’re all by yourself .
Now , there ’s nothing ill-timed with enjoying subject on your own ! In fact , it sound awesome in some instances . But , just like watching a braggart sporting effect with friends or in a crowd is often more exciting and , to some , more meaningful than watching alone , so too is watching motion-picture show and TV . There ’s something awesome about get a movie together with friends or house . Speaking in person , some of my favorite life memories come from those divvy up experiences .
Apple Vision Pro will never be capable to full replace those shared experiences . Sure , maybe you could look to your left and right and see avatars or even real - life representations of your friends or family . possibly you ’ll even be able to hear them if Apple integrates voice audio recording among participants — I ’m betting it ’ll do just that . But that sort of experience will never be the same or as meaningful as celebrate the same outer space together .
So , a postscript to a conventional home entertainment rig ? For trusted . A replacement ? No chance .
Universal remotes
Ben writes : Are there any universal remote control you recommend to control all the gadget in a frame-up , such as an AVR , TV , Blu - Ray player , and Apple TV ? I seem to recall them being fairly pop a couple of years ago , even being up to of controlling smart TVs and voguish gimmick like the Apple video 4K. In your opinion , is there any serious style to get around the rigamarole of juggling 3 unlike remotes just to watch one show , or is that a lost struggle ?
Frankly , I am not cognisant of any adequate oecumenical remotes . However , there is a Kickstarter project by Martin Borzak , whichhe calls Yio . Please note that I am not endorsing this until I have vetted it further .
Nobody has swooped in to occupy the emptiness that Logitech left when theHarmony universal remotes were stop . Yes , some grampus remotes are available for integrated systems , like those made by Control4 , Savant , Crestron , etc . But consumer - layer remote control like the Harmony blade no longer survive . I mean , Wirecutter ’s top pickaxe is theSofabaton , and that ’s act one out of two remote control , which I cogitate order us plenty .
Why did Logitech get out of Universal Remotes ? I ’ll ask . Logitech has headquarters across the river from me for its UE division . But I suspect it is because sales declined as HDMI CEC implementation — even though it is buggy and problematic — permit us to control multiple equipment with one remote control . I can operate a goggle box , Blu - ray histrion , Apple TV , and even some PS5 features with one remote just through HDMI CEC .
I think this pushed oecumenical remotes to the gross profit margin . Once again , we enthusiasts find the big - box consumer electronics space a very lonely one indeed . Which , if I had to guess , is why Marton Borzak is doing his matter .
TVs with built-in Dolby Atmos speakers
Jaimi Martinez Gomez write : I went to a storage , and the cat at the computer storage assure me that the LG C3 has Dolby Atmos Built speakers , and when I heard it , it did n’t sound precisely as Dolby Atmos . I just require to know if they are telling me the truth or if there ’s any TV with Dolby Atmos build up - in talker .
Because I also had the opportunity to try the A80L and the acoustic surface sound was awe-inspiring , but I think that it is n’t Dolby Atmos either .
Here ’s the deal : Dolby has decided to licence the Dolby Atmos name to applied science that , in my opinion , do not really save what I think most folks conversant with Dolby Atmos are expecting . I love Dolby . I do it the multitude there . I sleep together Dolby Atmos . I love Dolby Atmos Music . I have some really awesome things to say aboutDolby Flex Connectin a post coming out soon .
But ( and I interpret this is maybe a smartbusinessdecision ) I detest , hate , hatethat Dolby Atmos as a technology and mark has been so watered down to the point that a telecasting with some tiny , dinky speakers that do n’t really give up anything remotely cheeseparing to high - tone sound is getting the Dolby Atmos badge . I think , call it Dolby Audio or something else . Dolby is still a flex in the audio world . you may convey this TV has better than average sound quality by saying it has Dolby on - board sound . You do n’t have to use Dolby Atmos for that .
If it were up to me — and Dolby is in all probability just o.k. with itnotbeing up to me — I would not slap the Dolby Atmos badge on any TV outside of just advertising that it back Dolby Atmos . Saying the loudspeaker system built into any TV deliver a meaningful Dolby Atmos experience is , I recall , disingenuous and weakens the make .
